Stonewall Jackson

Stonewall Jackson, born Thomas Jackson, was one of the most famous Confederate generals during the Civil War. The nickname "Stonewall" was given to him based on how he never wavered in his fighting. Accounts of the way he fought say that "Jackson sat astride on his horse like a stone wall." His men eventually took on the same name. They were called the "Stonewall Brigade." Jackson and his men were involved in fighting all throughout Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. The most notable battles that he was a part of were Bull Run, Chancellorsville, and Sharpsburg. Jackson was a very "God-fearing" man, and he demanded that his men were too. He went to church as often as he could. Before the war he had been a physics professor at Virginia Military Institute. His students said that he was very quirky, and did not have the best personality. It was a shock to most people that Jackson went from being a professor to a Confederate general. Sadly, Jackson was shot and wounded during the battle of Chancellorsville, as a result of friendly fire. He was taken to a local residents home, where he contracted pneumonia and died. His funeral and the procession that followed was arguably as big if not bigger then that of some presidents. He was mourned throughout the Confederacy. Most historians believe that if Jackson had not been killed, then the war could have gone the other way. The fact is, we will never know. Jackson is truly an American tragedy.

Stonewall Jackson sits astride his horse "Little Sorrel." 

The book Rebel Yell is a fairly new book. It is very good. It gives a very detailed look into the life of Stonewall Jackson. It's a New York Times bestseller as well.

Stay tuned for more blog posts about tales from Tennessee and beyond.

The Fort Pillow Massacre

The Fort Pillow Massacre occurred in conjunction with the Battle of Fort Pillow. The fort was located just north of Memphis, Tennessee, overlooking the Mississippi River. The battle was somewhat of a minor skirmish during the Civil War. The Confederates had reached Fort Pillow as part of their raid into West Tennessee to destroy Union supply lines. The massacre however, would become one of the most brutal events of the Civil War. The Confederates, led by Nathan Bedford Forrest, went through and murdered around 300 African-American prisoners of war. This can be compared to The Saltville Massacre, which Champ Ferguson was involved in, the casualties, and number of men involved were much different though. These soldiers had been taken prisoner during the battle. Accounts after the massacre say that the Union soldiers who were murdered, surrendered. Their surrender, however, was ignored by Forrest and his men. The fact that there were 300 African-American soldiers there stands out because there were approximately 600 total soldiers at the fort. This figure means that Forrest and his cavalry murdered half of the garrison at Fort Pillow. This was a tough blow to the Union. The Fort Pillow Massacre led to controversy for the remainder of the war. Forrest was given the label "Butcher Forrest," and his actions at Fort Pillow followed him for the rest of his life. The events at Fort Pillow were truly horrendous no matter how one looks at it.

General Nathan Bedford Forrest.

The entrance to Fort Pillow State Park.

The fort as it looks today. Most everything has been reconstructed.

The book The River was Dyed with Blood goes into great detail about Fort Pillow, Nathan Bedford Forrest, and the aftermath of the massacre. I highly recommend it!!

Stay tuned for more blog posts about tales from Tennessee and beyond.