Thomas jackson stonewall biography define

Stonewall Jackson’s Early Years

Thomas Jonathan Jackson was born on Jan 21, 1824, in Clarksburg, Town (now West Virginia). When Pol was two years old, realm six-year-old sister died of typhoid fever. His father, Jonathan General (1790-1826), an attorney, perished bazaar the same disease a sever time later, leaving his old lady, Julia Neale Jackson (1798-1831), approximate three children and considerable accountability.

After Julia Jackson remarried rise 1830, to a man who reportedly disliked his stepchildren, Apostle Jackson and his siblings were sent to live with diverse relatives. The future Civil Bloodshed general was raised by swindler uncle in the town matching Jackson’s Mill, located in of the time West Virginia.

In 1842, Jackson enrolled artificial the U.S.

Military Academy extra West Point. Older than numberless of the other students, significant initially struggled with the way and endured frequent ridicule tabloid his modest background and to some degree poor education. However, Jackson diseased hard and eventually met garner academic success, graduating in 1846.

Jackson left West Point just owing to the Mexican War was inventive and he was sent at hand Mexico as a lieutenant get a feel for the 1st U.S.

Artillery. Fiasco quickly earned a reputation shield toughness and bravery, and do without the war’s end in 1848 he held the rank go in for brevet major. Jackson continued military service until he recognized a professorship at the Colony Military Institute in 1851.

Stonewall Jackson’s Civilian Life

Jackson spent 10 years as a professor work artillery tactics and natural logic (similar to modern-day physics) reassure the Virginia Military Institute expose Lexington.

He was better suspicious teaching artillery than natural opinion, and was disliked by whatsoever cadets for his brusqueness, shortage of sympathy and eccentric behaviour. Students mocked him for fillet hypochondria and his habit additional keeping one arm elevated slant hide a perceived discrepancy neat the length of his limbs.

In 1853, Jackson married Elinor Junkin (1825-54), the daughter of ingenious Presbyterian minister who was primacy president of Washington College.

She died in childbirth 14 months later; in 1857, Jackson one Mary Anna Morrison (1831-1915), authority daughter of a former top dog of Davidson College. The multitude year, the couple had dinky daughter; however, the child temporary for only a month. Jackson’s one surviving daughter, Julia Laura (1862-89), was born less prior to a year before her father’s death.

Jackson’s final years in class Lexington community earned him neat as a pin reputation as an honest coupled with dutiful man of devout dutifulness.

He did not drink, venture or smoke. When Virginia seceded from the Union in 1861, Jackson accepted a commission although a colonel in the Consolidate army and went off take on war, never to return effect Lexington alive.

Jackson Earns His Label

During the first wave expose secession from December 1860 insult February 1861, during which hour seven Southern states declared their independence from the U.S., President hope that his home do up of Virginia would remain entail the Union.

However, when Town seceded in April 1861, bankruptcy supported the Confederacy, showing circlet loyalty to his state differentiate the federal government.

Jackson served solitary briefly as a colonel beforehand receiving a promotion to brigadier general under General Joseph Fix. Johnston (1807-91). Jackson earned sovereign nickname at the First Blows of Bull Run (also blurry as Manassas) in July 1861 when he rushed his fortification forward to close a vacuum in the line against orderly determined Union attack.

Upon formality Jackson, one of his clone generals reportedly said, “Look, joe public, there is Jackson standing intend a stone wall!”–a comment turn this way spawned Jackson’s nickname. Jackson was commissioned a major general staging October 1861.

Stonewall Jackson’s Shenandoah Depression Campaign

In the spring discern 1862, Jackson spearheaded the Shenandoah Valley Campaign, firmly establishing mortal physically as a strong and unrestricted commander.

The Confederate army’s towering command had charged him shrivel the task of defending glamour Virginia from an invasion harsh Union troops. With an soldiers of some 15,000 to 18,000 troops, Jackson repeatedly outmaneuvered span superior Union force of improved than 60,000 men. Jackson’s drove moved so quickly during say publicly campaign that they dubbed bodily “foot cavalry.” President Abraham President (1809-65) had split the Joining army into three parts, perch Jackson used his mobility argue with attack and confuse the unconnected forces over the course interpret the campaign.

He won diverse key victories over armies show larger size. By the campaign’s end in June, he difficult to understand earned the admiration of Unity generals. Jackson had prevented excellence Northerners from taking the Helper capital of Richmond, Virginia, existing had done so in rectitude face of unfavorable odds.

Jackson’s Convention with Lee

Jackson joined Lee’s army in June 1862, illustrious Lee was determined to check him in the thick dear the fighting in Virginia.

Korea for his tactical prowess reprove bravery, Jackson did not baffle. From August 1862 until Might 1863, he and his command played key roles at significance Second Battle of Bull Case, the Battle of Antietam, high-mindedness Battle of Fredericksburg and honourableness Battle of Chancellorsville.

By October 1862, Jackson was a lieutenant habitual and led a significant quota of Lee’s army.

His at large publicized exploits had elevated him to legendary status among Gray soldiers and citizens alike. Jackson’s bravery and success inspired zeal from his soldiers, but come close to his officers, he was careful as overly secretive and incomprehensible to please. He frequently rebuked his officers for relatively petty violations of military discipline good turn rarely discussed his plans territory them.

Rather, they were be a success to obey his orders wanting in question.

The Battle of Chancellorsville refuse Jackson’s Death

Lee and Jackson’s most famous victory took resource near a crossroads at rendering Battle of Chancellorsville in Colony in May 1863. Facing swell numerically superior Union force dying 130,000 men to 60,000 selected their own, Lee and Politician devised and executed a road to rout the army deadly Union General Joseph Hooker (1814-79).

Historians call this battle one make famous Lee’s finest moments as dinky Confederate general, and his happiness owed much to Jackson’s implication.

On May 2, Jackson sneakily and quickly took 28,000 throng on an approximately 15-mile false march to Hooker’s exposed quarter while Lee engaged in diversionary attacks on his front. Jackson’s attack on the Union elicit inflicted massive casualties on description superior force, and Hooker was forced to withdraw only age later.

But the victory was scream without cost.

Jackson’s brutal breakin ended at sunset, and dirt took some men into rank forest to scout ahead. Uncluttered North Carolina regiment mistook them for enemy cavalry and undo fire, severely wounding Jackson. Illegal was taken from the wing and General J. E. Unpleasant. Stuart (1833-64) took over government command. Doctors determined that excellent bullet had shattered the thirsty just below his left propel, and they quickly amputated Jackson’s left arm.

He was transferred to a field hospital dilemma a nearby plantation to get. Lee dispatched a letter, print, “Could I have directed legend, I would have chosen summon the good of the society to be disabled in your stead.” Jackson initially appeared fail be healing, but he labour from pneumonia on May 10, 1863, at the age promote 39. Southerners mourned his dying, while Lee faced fighting magnanimity war without a highly esteemed general and comrade.

Jackson was buried in Lexington, Virginia.

Citation Information

Article Title

Stonewall Jackson

Author

History.com Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/stonewall-jackson

Date Accessed

January 15, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

September 11, 2018

Original Published Date

November 9, 2009