Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson
The Brilliant Tactical General
The Civil War
This war was between the North, the Union, and the South, the Confederacy. The Confederacy was made up of the seven slave states which had seceded from the Union.
Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth president, was also the president of the Union and the head general was Ulysses S. Grant. Jefferson Davis was the president of the Confederacy and Robert E. Lee was the lead general. Stonewall Jackson worked closely with the Confederacy's head general and was as valuable to the army because of his brilliant military strategies.
North vs South
Abraham Lincoln
Jefferson Davis
Thomas Johnathan "Stonewall" Jackson
One of his earliest participations was his role as a lieutenant in the Mexican American war. At this war, he had met Robert E. Lee, who later became a close friend and general.
After some primary military experiance, Jackson had gone to teach at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia.
Later on, in 1861, Jackson was hired as a drill master for new recruits for the Civil War.
With a new promotion, Jackson was soon serving battle hours.
Although he was stern at sometimes, he outshone other generals with his intelligent and stratigic military tactics.
Battle of Bull Run
It was on July 21, 1861, near the start of the American Civil War.
The Union forces were battling the Confederate troops in Virginia and were winning.
The Confederate troops were tired and were becoming discouraged, as well as decreasing in numbers rapidly.
By then, General Jackson had been sent to aid the shrinking Confederate force and was greeted with a warm welcome.
When General Jackson had gotten to the scene of Bull Run, it was said that a soldier said." Look at Jackson standing like a stonewall!"
After the soldiers had seen Jackson standing boldly on the hill, they gained morale support along with physical manpower and the day ended with a Confederate victory.
At the end of that long, soul-testing day, not only had the Confederate side celebrated a winning, but General Thomas Jackson earned a new title as well.
Portrait of the Battle of Bull Run
Jackson at the Battle of Bull Run
Propaganda of the Battle of Bull Run
"There is Jackson standing like a stone wall. Let us determine to die here, and we will conquer. Rally behind the Virginians!"-Brig. General Barnard Elliott Bee, Jr
Shendoah Valley Campaign
In the spring, the Union had threatened to overrun the Confederacy capitol, so the Confeceracy had to have a counteraction as well.
Their counteraction was to try to overrun the Union's capitol as well.
But, along the way there, Jackson encountered a large Union army in the way.
They obviously cound not fight because it would have been nearly impossible to had defeated a army as large as the Union's was with the small Confederate army.
So, Jackson thought up of a plan.
Surprisingly, the plan had worked and the Confecerate forces pushed onto the Union's Capitol.
Death of "Stonewall" Jackson
At the Battle of Chancerllorville, Jackson had gotten his left arm amputated because of a bullet, but that was not his cause of death.
A few days after this unfourtunate event, Jackson had caought pneumonia and died several days after.