Stonewall Jackson
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  Thomas Jonathan  Jackson was born January 21, 1824, at Clarksburg deep in the mountains of what is now West Virginia. Although Jacksons were longtime residents of the area, his father was a struggling attorney with mounting debts. Jackson was only two years old when the father and an infant sister died of typhoid fever. For four years the widow and three children were virtual wards of the town. Mrs. Jackson remarried, but her new husband did not care for the children and  was  financially unable  to care for them. They were sent to live with relatives
   Julia Jackson died, as a result of childbirth complications, on Dec. 4, 1831. She left behind the three Jackson siblings and a newborn son (Thomas's half brother), William Wirt Woodson (1831-1875). Jackson and Laura spent the remaining years of childhood with their paternal uncles. Jackson's brother, Warren, died of tuberculosis in 1841.
   Jackson attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, although he was not the first choice for his congressional district's appointment. The top applicant withdrew from the academy after only one day and Thomas took his place. Jackson graduated in June 1846, standing 17th out of 59 graduates. Jackson began his U.S. Army career as a 2nd Lt., First Artillery Regiment.
   As a  United States Army officer he served in the Mexican War, 1846-1848; stationed at Carlisle Barracks, PA; Ft. Hamilton, NY; Ft. Meade, FL.
   In the spring of 1851 Jackson was offered and accepted the appointment to teach at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia; he resigned from the army and on August 4, 1853,  married Elinor Junkin. Elinor (Ellie) died in childbirth on October 22, 1854. Their child, a son, was stillborn.
   On July 16, 1857, Jackson married for the second time. His wife was Mary Anna Morrison (1831-1915), daughter of Robert Hall Morrison and Mary Graham Morrison. Mary Anna's family resided in North Carolina; her father was the retired President of Davidson College.
Mary Anna gave birth to a daughter, Mary Graham, on April 30, 1858; the baby died less than a month later, on May 25, 1858.
                                                                          WAR BREAKS OUT
 

   At the  outbreak of the Civil War saw Jackson still teaching at VMI,  was ordered to Richmond, along with the entire corps of cadets, to drill new army recruits. Less than a week later on June 17, 1861, he was promoted to brigadier general and given a brigade of five infantry regiments from the Shenandoah Valley. His first duty as a general was to help destroy railroad property as nearby Martinsburg.  On July 2, Jackosn and one of his regiments easily repulsed a Federal prate near Falling Waters, Virginia.
   The most famous nickname in American history came when Jackson and his brigade on July 21 at Manassas. When a Union army moved into Virginia to seize the railroads at Manassas Junction, the forces of Johnston an  Beauregard combined to resist the advance.  Jackson's brigade was back of the crest of Henry House Hill.  In early afternoon Federals broke through the first lines of the defenders and swept up the hill in anticipation of victory. Jackson ordered his men to the hilltop. Gen. Barnard E. Bee, seeing the force in position, shouted to his faltering South Carolina troops: "Look, men! There stands Jackson like a stone wall! Rally behind the Virginians!"
Stonewall Jackson's line held fast in hours of vicious combat. A late afternoon counterattack by fresh Confederate regiments sent exhausted Federals in retreat toward Washington. The South had gained a victory and found a hero.
  His greatest achievement was the 1862 Shenandoah Valley campaign. That spring, Jackson's responsibilities were twofold: to block any Union advance into the valley, and to prevent Federals there and at Fredericksburg from reinforcing George B. McClellan's army moving on Richmond.
    Rebuffed at Kernstown on March 23, Jackson retired up the valley. He appeared suddenly at McDowell on May 8 and sent a Federal force in retreat. Then he marched rapidly northward down the valley. On May 23. Jackson overpowered the Federal garrison at Front Royal. drove the main Federal army from Winchester two days later, and then fell back when three Federal armies totaling 64,000 soldiers began converging on Jackson's 17,000 Confederates. On June 8 and 9, Jackson inflicted defeats on his pursuers at Cross Keys and Port Republic. He had thwarted every Union effort made against him. He did it, through a combination of hard marches, knowledge of terrain, unexpected tactics, heavy attacks concentrated at one point, and self confidence.
Jackson  on orders from Lee shifted his army to Richmond to assist Lee in the counterattack against McClellan.  Jackson's  role in the Seven Days' Battle was critical and became controversial. He failed to make his expected June 2 arrival at Mechanicsville and  was also late the next day in reaching the field at Gain's  Mill. On June 30, whether from fatigue or lack of directives from Lee, Jackson remained inactive at White Oak Swamp, while conflict raged a few miles away at Frayser's Farm.
   On August 9, at Cedar Mountain. Jackson defeated the Gen. John Pope's army, and later that month, He executed the flank movement  which made him  both feared and famed. He swung his men almost sixty miles around Pope's right, captured the main Federal supply depot in the rear of Pope's army,  and then held off Pope army at Second Manassas until Lee's forces arrived sending the Union forces reeling in defeat.
   Spring 1863 brought a new advance from the Federal army. In the tangled confusion of the Virginia Wilderness, Jackson performed his most spectacular flanking movement. A twelve mile march brought Jackson and 28,000 men opposite Gen. Joseph Hooker's unprotected right. Late in the afternoon of May 2, Jackson unleashed his divisions in an attack that drove the routed Federals some two miles before darkness brought the battle to a standstill. Jackson was anxious to continue pressing forward. For the only time in the Civil War, he rode out to make a personal reconnaissance of the enemy's position. He was returning through thick woods to his own lines when Confederates mistook the general and his staff for Union cavalry and opened fire.
   Three bullets struck Jackson. One shattered the bone in his left arm below the shoulder. Jackson was rushed to the surgeon and his arm was amputated immeaditly. At 3:30 AM, one and one-half hours after the amputation, Pendleton, his Assistant  called and told him General Hill had been wounded and the troops were in great disorder and that General Stuart who had taken command and sent him to report to General Jackson to ask his advice. Dr. McGuire, at first, refused to permit the interview, but Pendleton said the fate of the Army was at stake and Dr. McGuire relented. As Pendleton entered Jackson's tent, he said, "I am glad to see you. I thought you had been killed." Pendleton gave General Jackson Stuart's message. He asked many rapid questions, became quiet, obviously concentrating and thinking. His nostrils dilated, his eyes flashed, then his face relaxed and he said, "I don't know, I can't tell. Say to General Stuart to just do what he thinks best.
  Captain Wilbourn riding to General Lee with the news of Jackson's wounds, reached him about 3:00 AM Sunday. He was awakened and told of Jackson being wounded. As they sat on General Lee's blankets under a pine tree, General Lee  wept as Wilbourn related the details. At 3:30 AM Sunday, Hotchkiss arrived bringing General Lee more information. General Lee would not talk of Jackson's wounding.
   At 11:30 AM, General Lee received a note from General Jackson telling him he had been wounded and that General Hill was in command. Turning to his aide Colonel Marshall, General Lee dictated his famous letter to General Jackson.


Headquarters
May 3, 1863
General Thomas J. Jackson, Commanding Corps
General: I have just received your note, informing me that you were wounded I cannot express my regret at the occurrence. Could I have directed events, I should have chosen for the good of the country to be disable in your stead.
I congratulate you upon the victory, which is due to your skill and energy.

                                                                                                                   Very respectfully, your obedient servant
                                                                                                                                                     R.E. Lee, General.

   In the afternoon, General Lee send a message to move Jackson to Guinea Station as soon as his condition permitted. He would be spared if the Federals swooped around from Ely's Ford on the Rapidan. General Lee had sent troops to prevent that movement. Dr. McGuire told Jackson of General Lee's message to move him. He replied, "If the enemy does come, I am not afraid of them. I have always been kind to their wounded and I am sure they will be kind to me." If he did move to guinea Station, he did not want Dr. McGuire to go with him. There had been so many complaints about wounded generals taking surgeons off with them.
  On Monday, the 4th, about 8:00 AM, Jackson left the Field Hospital in an ambulance on a mattress accompanied by Dr. McGuire. Major Crutchfield was also in the ambulance. They traveled 27 miles on rough roads which Major Hotchkiss had attempted to clear of wagons and obstructions. The teamsters resented having to give way to an ambulance until they heard who was in it. They arrived at the Chandler House about 8:00 PM. On Tuesday, May 5th, the third day after his amputation, Jackson awakened refreshed. Dr. McGuire said his wounds were doing well. Healing was occurring by first intention to some extent in the stump and the rest of the wound was healthy. During the night of May 6-7 (Wednesday-Thursday) the fifth day after amputation a striking change occurred. Jackson awakened about 1:00 AM. He was nauseous and had pain. He would not awaken Dr. McGuire who was asleep on a cot in his room. Jackson ordered his servant Jim to put wet towels on his abdomen. On Thursday, the 7th, Mrs. Anna Jackson and Baby Julia arrived. She was five months old and still nursing. Anna had been told of his wounding on May 3rd. Captain Joseph Morrison had been sent by Jackson to get her. Dr. Morrison came at 2:00 PM. When Jackson saw him he said "An old familiar face!" Dr. McGuire summoned Dr. David Tucker from Richmond, who had much experience with pneumonia, as a consultant.
   On Saturday, May 9th, the seventh day after amputation, there was marked deterioration of his strength. Dr. Tucker after examining him said there was nothing he could do for him. Jackson said to Dr.McGuire, "I see from the number of doctors here you think my condition is serious, but I thank God, if it is His Will, I am ready to go."
  On Sunday, May 10th, the eighth day after amputation, Dr. Morrison told Anna, General Jackson would not live long. Mrs. Jackson said he should know it. In the early morning, Anna said to The General that he would soon be in Heaven. As Sunday continued, Jackson was weakening. At 1:30 PM, Dr. McGuire noted momentary consciousness and told him he had but two hours to live. Jackson whispered, "Very good. it's all right." He declined brandy and water and said, "It will only delay my departure and do no good. I want to preserve my mind to the last."
   A few moments before he died he ordered A. P. Hill to prepare for action. "Pass the infantry to the front rapidly. Tell Major Hawks"--then stopped.
  One of the greatest General's ever  was dead.


  


Cadets pay their respects to Stonewall Jackson
Stonewall Jackson