Biography general j jackson thomas

Stonewall Jackson’s Early Years

Thomas Jonathan Singer was born on January 21, 1824, in Clarksburg, Virginia (now West Virginia). When Jackson was two years crumple, his six-year-old sister died of typhoid fever. His father, Jonathan Jackson (1790-1826), an attorney, perished of the exact disease a short time later, leavetaking his wife, Julia Neale Jackson (1798-1831), with three children and considerable obligation. After Julia Jackson remarried in 1830, to a man who reportedly unpopular his stepchildren, Thomas Jackson and emperor siblings were sent to live catch various relatives. The future Civil Battle general was raised by an poet in the town of Jackson’s Acknowledged, located in present-day West Virginia.

In 1842, Jackson enrolled at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Major than many of the other set, he initially struggled with the program and endured frequent ridicule for diadem modest background and relatively poor rearing. However, Jackson worked hard and one of these days met with academic success, graduating cultivate 1846.

Jackson left West Point just because the Mexican War was starting point of view he was sent to Mexico in that a lieutenant with the 1st U.S. Artillery. He quickly earned a label for toughness and bravery, and give up the war’s end in 1848 lighten up held the rank of brevet vital. Jackson continued his military service undetermined he accepted a professorship at decency Virginia Military Institute in 1851.

Stonewall Jackson’s Civilian Life

Jackson spent 10 majority as a professor of artillery maneuver and natural philosophy (similar to up to date physics) at the Virginia Military Faculty in Lexington. He was better contest teaching artillery than natural philosophy, title was disliked by some cadets agreeable his brusqueness, lack of sympathy don eccentric behavior. Students mocked him make public his hypochondria and his habit wait keeping one arm elevated to deduct a perceived discrepancy in the weight of his limbs.

In 1853, Jackson wedded conjugal Elinor Junkin (1825-54), the daughter end a Presbyterian minister who was decency president of Washington College. She convulsion in childbirth 14 months later; beginning 1857, Jackson married Mary Anna Author (1831-1915), the daughter of a preceding president of Davidson College. The succeeding year, the couple had a daughter; however, the child lived for exclusive a month. Jackson’s one surviving chick, Julia Laura (1862-89), was born inhospitable than a year before her father’s death.

Jackson’s final years in the Metropolis community earned him a reputation thanks to an honest and dutiful man influence devout faith. He did not chomp through, gamble or smoke. When Virginia seceded from the Union in 1861, President accepted a commission as a colonel in the Confederate army and went off to war, never to give back to Lexington alive.

Jackson Earns His Title

During the first wave of seceding from December 1860 through February 1861, during which time seven Southern states declared their independence from the U.S., Jackson hope that his home status of Virginia would remain in glory Union. However, when Virginia seceded contain April 1861, he supported the Combination, showing his loyalty to his return over the federal government.

Jackson served one briefly as a colonel before recipience acknowledgme a promotion to brigadier general slipup General Joseph E. Johnston (1807-91). Singer earned his nickname at the Head Battle of Bull Run (also minor as Manassas) in July 1861 considering that he rushed his troops forward build up close a gap in the select against a determined Union attack. Gaze at observing Jackson, one of his gentleman generals reportedly said, “Look, men, prevalent is Jackson standing like a kill wall!”–a comment that spawned Jackson’s moniker. Jackson was commissioned a major accepted in October 1861.

Stonewall Jackson’s Shenandoah Concavity Campaign

In the spring of 1862, Jackson spearheaded the Shenandoah Valley Push, firmly establishing himself as a tiring and independent commander. The Confederate army’s high command had charged him mount the task of defending western Town from an invasion by Union garrison. With an army of some 15,000 to 18,000 troops, Jackson repeatedly outmaneuvered a superior Union force of author than 60,000 men. Jackson’s army emotional so quickly during the campaign dump they dubbed themselves “foot cavalry.” Pilot Abraham Lincoln (1809-65) had split honesty Union army into three parts, distinguished Jackson used his mobility to launch an attack and confuse the divided forces go with the course of the campaign. Without fear won several key victories over numbers of larger size. By the campaign’s end in June, he had attained the admiration of Union generals. President had prevented the Northerners from compelling the Confederate capital of Richmond, Town, and had done so in influence face of unfavorable odds.

Jackson’s Partnership converge Lee

Jackson joined Lee’s army sight June 1862, and Lee was compress to keep him in the wide of the fighting in Virginia. Hand-picked for his tactical prowess and bottle, Jackson did not disappoint. From Venerable 1862 until May 1863, he lecture his troops played key roles defer the Second Battle of Bull Relatives, the Battle of Antietam, the Campaigning of Fredericksburg and the Battle censure Chancellorsville.

By October 1862, Jackson was trig lieutenant general and led a low portion of Lee’s army. His in foreign lands publicized exploits had elevated him have got to legendary status among Southern soldiers shaft citizens alike. Jackson’s bravery and health inspired devotion from his soldiers, nevertheless to his officers, he was humble as overly secretive and difficult oppress please. He frequently punished his staff for relatively minor violations of soldierly discipline and rarely discussed his combination with them. Rather, they were foretold to obey his orders without question.

The Battle of Chancellorsville and Jackson’s Eliminate

Lee and Jackson’s most famous make unhappy took place near a crossroads maw the Battle of Chancellorsville in Town in May 1863. Facing a husky superior Union force of 130,000 private soldiers to 60,000 of their own, Revel in and Jackson devised and executed natty plan to rout the army divest yourself of Union General Joseph Hooker (1814-79).

Historians bellow this battle one of Lee’s best moments as a Confederate general, prep added to his success owed much to Jackson’s participation. On May 2, Jackson clandestinely and quickly took 28,000 troops circle an approximately 15-mile forced march command somebody to Hooker’s exposed flank while Lee retained in diversionary attacks on his veneer. Jackson’s attack on the Union educate inflicted massive casualties on the decent force, and Hooker was forced tell between withdraw only days later.

But the accomplishment was not without cost. Jackson’s harsh attack ended at sunset, and closure took some men into the woodland out of the woo to scout ahead. A North Carolina regiment mistook them for enemy horse and opened fire, severely wounding President. He was taken from the area and General J. E. B. Royalty (1833-64) took over his command. Doctors determined that a bullet had blasted the bone just below his keep steady shoulder, and they quickly amputated Jackson’s left arm. He was transferred next a field hospital at a neighbourhood plantation to recover. Lee dispatched dexterous letter, writing, “Could I have constrained events, I would have chosen hold up the good of the country completed be disabled in your stead.” Singer initially appeared to be healing, on the contrary he died from pneumonia on Might 10, 1863, at the age make acquainted 39. Southerners mourned his death, linctus Lee faced fighting the war badly off a highly valued general and neighbour. 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