Stonewall Jackson

Who Was Stonewall Jackson?

A skilled military tactician, Stonewall Jackson served as a Confederate general under Robert E. Lee during the American Civil War. He distinguished himself in key battles such as Manassas, Antietam, and Fredericksburg. Jackson’s career came to an abrupt end when he was accidentally shot by Confederate troops at the Battle of Chancellorsville, leading to the loss of his arm and his eventual death.

Early Life

Thomas Jonathan Jackson was born on January 21, 1824, in Clarksburg (now part of West Virginia), to Jonathan Jackson, a lawyer, and Julia Beckwith Neale. He was the third of four children. When Jackson was just two years old, both his father and his older sister, Elizabeth, died from typhoid fever. His mother, struggling as a young widow, remarried in 1830 to Blake Woodson. However, Jackson and his siblings did not get along with their stepfather and were sent to live with relatives in Jackson’s Mill, Virginia (now West Virginia). Tragically, Jackson’s mother died in 1831 from complications during childbirth, leaving behind her infant son, William Wirt Woodson, who also died from tuberculosis in 1841. Following these hardships, Jackson was raised by his paternal uncles.

Jackson attended local schools before enrolling at the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1842. He gained admission only after the initial candidate from his congressional district withdrew. Although older than most of his peers, Jackson struggled academically and faced ridicule from classmates due to his modest background and education. Nevertheless, his perseverance paid off, and he graduated in 1846, ranking 17th in a class of 59.

Mexican-American War

Jackson’s graduation coincided with the outbreak of the Mexican-American War, where he served as a 2nd lieutenant in the 1st U.S. Artillery. Demonstrating exceptional courage and resilience, he earned distinction under General Winfield Scott’s command. Jackson participated in several key engagements, including the Siege of Veracruz, and the battles of Contreras, Chapultepec, and Mexico City. It was during this conflict that Jackson met Robert E. Lee, with whom he would later collaborate during the Civil War. By the end of the war, Jackson had been promoted to brevet major and was regarded as a war hero. Following the conflict, he served in New York and Florida.

Civilian Life

In 1851, Jackson retired from active military service and accepted a position as a professor at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) in Lexington, Virginia. At VMI, he taught natural and experimental philosophy, as well as artillery tactics, offering a curriculum that included subjects such as physics, astronomy, and acoustics.

Despite his intellectual abilities, Jackson’s personal quirks and cold demeanor made him unpopular among his students. A hypochondriac, he believed he suffered from a physical imperfection, which led him to raise one arm while teaching in an attempt to conceal it. Though his eccentricities were the subject of ridicule, Jackson’s effectiveness as a professor was widely acknowledged.

In 1853, Jackson married Elinor Junkin, the daughter of a Presbyterian minister. However, Elinor died in 1854 following childbirth complications. In 1857, Jackson remarried to Mary Anna Morrison, and they had a daughter in 1859, though she tragically died shortly after birth. In 1862, Jackson and his second wife had a daughter, Julia, named after his late mother.

Jackson’s military service was reactivated in 1859 when he took part in the execution of abolitionist John Brown after the latter’s failed raid at Harper’s Ferry. This marked the beginning of Jackson’s return to military life, eventually leading to his pivotal role in the American Civil War.

Civil War and Accomplishments

Between late 1860 and early 1861, several Southern states declared their independence and seceded from the Union. Initially, Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, a Virginian by birth, hoped that his home state would remain loyal to the Union. However, when Virginia seceded in the spring of 1861, Jackson chose to side with the Confederacy, aligning himself with his state over the national government.

On April 21, 1861, Jackson was ordered to report to the Virginia Military Institute (VMI), where he assumed command of the VMI Corps of Cadets. At that time, the cadets were serving as drillmasters, training new recruits to join the Confederate cause. Soon after, Jackson was commissioned as a colonel by the state government and relocated to Harper’s Ferry. There, he prepared his troops for what would later become the “Stonewall Brigade.” Jackson’s leadership earned him a promotion to brigadier general under General Joseph E. Johnston.

Jackson first gained national recognition during the First Battle of Bull Run (also known as the First Battle of Manassas) in July 1861. During the battle, Jackson famously stood firm in the face of a Union attack, earning the nickname “Stonewall” after General Barnard E. Bee, impressed by his resolve, declared, “There is Jackson standing like a stone wall.” Following this, Jackson was promoted to major general for his bravery and strategic acumen.

In the spring of 1862, Jackson launched the Valley Campaign in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, defending the region from a Union invasion. His successful defense, which included a series of impressive victories, solidified his reputation as one of the Confederacy’s most skilled commanders. By the summer of 1862, Jackson joined General Robert E. Lee’s army, continuing to serve as a key figure in the defense of Virginia.

However, during the Seven Days Battles from June 15 to July 1, 1862, Jackson’s performance was less impressive. His leadership during the defense of Richmond was criticized, though he redeemed himself with his bold, rapid maneuvers at the Battle of Cedar Mountain.

In August 1862, at the Second Battle of Bull Run, Jackson’s deceptive tactics caused Union General John Pope to mistakenly believe that Jackson was retreating. This miscalculation allowed General James Longstreet to launch a devastating counterattack, leading to a Confederate victory and forcing Pope’s army to retreat.

Jackson also played a crucial role at the Battle of Antietam in September 1862, where, despite heavy casualties, he successfully held his defensive position until General Lee ordered a retreat back across the Potomac River.

In October 1862, after the reorganization of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, Jackson was promoted to lieutenant general and placed in command of the second corps. Under his leadership, his forces achieved a decisive victory at the Battle of Fredericksburg.

Jackson’s most significant triumph came in May 1863 at the Battle of Chancellorsville. In a bold move, he flanked General Joseph Hooker’s Army of the Potomac, launching a devastating rear attack that inflicted heavy casualties and forced Hooker to retreat.

Death

On May 2, 1863, Jackson was accidentally shot by friendly fire from the 18th North Carolina Infantry Regiment during the battle. His left arm was amputated in an effort to save him, but his condition worsened. On May 4, Jackson was transferred to a second field hospital at Guinea Station, Virginia, where he succumbed to complications from his injuries on May 10, 1863, at the age of 39. His final words were, “Let us cross over the river, and rest under the shade of the trees.” Jackson’s death marked a tragic end to the life of one of the Confederacy’s most admired and formidable military leaders.