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.
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