In his own words...
Posted on 01/21/2003 6:48:46 AM PST by Valin
One of the greatest fighting generals in the Confederacy, and known best by his nickname of "Stonewall," Jackson was born in Clarksburg, Virginia on January 21, 1824. Raised of Scottish-Irish ancestry, his parents died in poverty, and Thomas was raised by his uncle. Although Jackson never had the opportunity to be formally enlightened for higher education, he did have the privilege of entering West Point in July 1842. Although his grades were not great the first year, he applied himself and they improved with each year, whereby he graduated seventeenth in his class of fifty-nine in 1846. During the Mexican War, Jackson served in an exemplary manner at Vera Cruz, Cerro Gordo and Chapultepec. Eighteen months after joining the army, he was promoted to major, receiving acclaim from General Winfield Scott. In the late 1840s, Jackson served at Forts in New York and Florida.
In 1851, Jackson became a professor of artillery and natural philosophy at the Virginia Military Institute (V.M.I.) in Lexington, while still a member of the army, but resigned his commission a short time later. When John Brown was hanged on December 2, 1859, Jackson was the commander of the V.M.I. Cadet Corps, who were present.
Jackson, now a major in the Virginia Militia, was ordered to go to Richmond on April 21, 1861 at the beginning of the Civil War. Upon his arrival, although he was not well known, he was made a colonel of the Confederate Infantry and assigned to Harpers Ferry. Several weeks later on June 17, he was promoted to brigadier general and assigned to the army of General Joseph Johnston. During the Battle of First Bull Run, Jackson was a defiant figure on the field of battle, and when observed by Brigadier General Barnard E. Bee, he said, "There is Jackson standing like a stone wall." Consequently, his nickname of "Stonewall" was born. Again, his actions so great at this battle, he was promoted to major general on October 1, 1861.
Less than one month later, on November 5, 1861, Stonewall was placed in command of the Shenandoah Valley, which was a district of the Department of Northern Virginia. As winter was approaching, Jackson was condemned when he assigned men under the command of Brigadier General William Loring to man outposts in the bitter cold. This upset Loring, yet Jackson's proven ability to move his men quickly made him a champion in the Confederacy. Jackson left his headquarters at Winchester, Virginia in March 1862, upon learning that General Johnston had withdrawn from Manassas on March 8 and 9. This would begin Jackson's Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1862. Originally, at Kernstown, Jackson, who took the offensive, suffered heavy losses, but in the process, skillfully managed to sidetrack three Union armies. This afforded Jackson praise, as by doing this, he kept a determining number of Union troops in the area, that might have otherwise been sent to aid General McClellan's unsuccessful advance on Richmond.
In the early spring of 1862, from April 17 to May 12, Stonewall began working closely with General Robert E. Lee on a plan to attack Brigadier General Nathaniel Banks and his Union army. This planned attack was designed to prevent Banks from joining with Union General Irvin McDowell in his plight toward Fredericksburg. On May 8, while General McClellan was moving toward Richmond, Jackson first attacked Union Major General John C. Fremont and his troops west of Staunton, Virginia. Meanwhile, General Johnston, Jackson's commander, believed that Union General Banks and his army was too strong and ordered Jackson not to attack him as they had previously planned. However, Jackson believed that he could defeat Banks, so he appealed to Richmond for permission. General Robert E. Lee, knowing of the plan he had discussed earlier with Jackson, gave him the approval to attack. On May 23, 1862, Jackson ordered his attack on Banks at Front Royal, Virginia, and in doing so, drove Banks and his army back across the Potomac River. Jackson and Lee's plan was a success. So good was Jackson that many historians site this maneuver in the Shenandoah Valley as the finest example of military strategy and deployment.
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"Reserve your fire until they come within fifty yards! Then fire and give them the bayonet! And when you charge, yell like furies!" ~July 21, 1861, Manassas, VA
"Hurrah for Old Jack!"
Gods and Generals, the epic screen adaptation of Jeff Shaara's heralded best-selling novel, is a dramatic look back at the Civil War - America's bloodiest conflict, in which more than 620,000 lives were lost. A prequel to the acclaimed screen drama Gettysburg, also directed by Ron Maxwell, the film is based on events that are sweeping in scope and made all the more compelling by the human-scaled drama it depicts. A moving portrayal of a nation divided, Gods and Generals begins in early 1861 and continues through 1863, climaxing with the stunning Battle of Chancellorsville. The film illuminates heroes from both sides of the war, such as Colonel Joshua Chamberlain (JEFF DANIELS), a professor at Maine's Bowdoin College who gave up a promising academic career to enlist in the Union army, then went on to become one of the North's finest military leaders; Confederate Generals Robert E. Lee (ROBERT DUVALL), a distinguished 25-year veteran of the United States Army and native Virginian, forced to choose between allegiance to his country and loyalty to his home state; and Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson (STEPHEN LANG), a devoutly religious man whose faith and courage and audacity made him an outstanding soldier and Lee's most trusted lieutenant. The tremendous suffering and bravery of the Civil War was not confined to the battlefields. Gods and Generals also tells the story of the wives and families who were forced to assume responsibility at home, often in cities under direct attack from the opposition. Joshua Chamberlain's wife Fanny (MIRA SORVINO), Thomas Jackson's wife Anna (KALI ROCHA) and Jane Beale (MIA DILLON), whose family was caught in the Battle of Fredericksburg, reflect the spirit, courage and anxiety of those who were left behind. Encompassing 158 speaking roles and thousands of battlefield "re-enactors," Gods and Generals vividly brings to life not only the Civil War's legendary leaders, but also the legions of anonymous soldiers and citizens who fought passionately and courageously for their vision of freedom. TED TURNER PICTURES presents, an ANTIETAM FILMWORKS production of a Ron Maxwell film, Gods and Generals, starring JEFF DANIELS, STEPHEN LANG and ROBERT DUVALL as Robert E. Lee. Gods and Generals also stars MIRA SORVINO, KEVIN CONWAY, C. THOMAS HOWELL and FRANKIE FAISON. Directed and written for the screen by RONALD F. MAXWELL, based on the book by JEFFREY M. SHAARA. Produced by Ronald F. Maxwell; co-produced by NICK GRILLO; co-executive produced by RONALD G. SMITH; executive produced by TED TURNER, ROBERT KATZ, ROBERT REHME, MOCTESUMA ESPARZA and MACE NEUFELD; associate executive produced by ROBERT J. WUSSLER. The talented creative team includes director of photography KEES VAN OOSTRUM A.S.C.; editor DONALD "CORKY" EHLERS; production designer MICHAEL Z. HANAN; visual effects producer THOMAS G. SMITH; music by JOHN FRIZZELL and RANDY EDELMAN; music production and supervision by DAVID FRANCO. Terms of Use/Privacy Policy © 2002 Warner Brothers.
"If Stonewall Jackson had led the children of Israel through the wildreness, it would not have taken him forty years; for he would have made the march in three days and on half rations." - anonymous Confederate soldier
Happy Birthday Gen. TJ "Stonewall" Jackson. I have his portrait alongside of Gen. Robert E. Lee on my wall. The best and brightest lights of the Southern cause of freedom.
You should know that nobody ever called General Jackson 'Stonewall' to his face. He believed that the honor of that title belonged to the brigade he commanded since they did all the work and not to him.
Jackson had a cousin who rose to the rank of Brigadier General in the cavalry, William Lowther Jackson. He was known by his men as 'Mudwall' Jackson. True story.
I recall from my history course that he was involved in promoting literacy for blacks.
The tale that Jackson was involved in any literacy program for slaves is a common misconception. Jackson taught Sunday school at the Presbyterian Church where he was a deacon, and one of the two classes was for blacks, slave and free. Such classes were not uncommon in the south where the churches saw it as their Christian duty to make the word of God known to slaves and free blacks alike. But they were not taught to read, since that was illegal.
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