8 – Thomas ‘Stonewall’ Jackson (1824 – 1863) [Robert E. Lee]
This may be a slightly controversial entry, not because Jackson wasn’t an outstanding general, but because he didn’t really stand in the shadow of Lee. Nonetheless, Lee was the General-in-Chief of the Confederate States Army, which meant that he was Jackson’s superior in terms of command.
Jackson was born in Clarksburg, Virginia, in 1824 and despite having little in the way of regular schooling, he gained a place at West Point military academy in 1842. He excelled to the point where he was allowed choose the arm of the military he wanted to join, and he chose artillery. It was in this field that he performed well during the American-Mexican War (1846 – 1848). After the war, he was stationed in Florida and New York, but his forthright and uncompromising attitude ensured he clashed with his fellow officers.
He is known for his array of peculiar personal traits which was one of the reasons why he hated his spell as a teacher at Virginia Military Institute. His attitude towards African-Americans was very different to the prevailing behavior at the time. So much so that he was held in high regard by African Americans in the town of Lexington. According to historian S. C. Gwynne, writer of Rebel Yell, Jackson acquired three slaves for the sole purpose of ensuring they didn’t suffer at the hands of cruel slave owners. He also taught slaves how to read, an action that increased his unpopularity amongst his peers.
Although Jackson did not want secession because he knew the violence that would ensue, he stayed loyal to Virginia and agreed to join the Confederacy. He apparently got his nickname during the Battle of the First Bull Run in July 1861 when General Bee said: “Look at Jackson standing there like a stone wall.” There is confusion over whether Bee even said these words and if he did, whether he was praising or mocking Jackson. Regardless, from that point on, his group were known as the Stonewall Brigade.
Jackson frustrated the Union armies during the Shenandoah Valley Campaign which lasted almost a year. During that time, he defeated four enemy armies and inflicted heavy losses on them. He joined Lee in June 1862 and played important roles in the Second Battle of Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville. The latter is arguably his signature victory as along with Lee, Jackson routed the Union army of General Hooker in May 1863 despite being significantly outnumbered.
However, Chancellorsville proved to be a turning point in the war against the Confederates despite their great victory. When Jackson’s attack ended, he took some men into the forest on a scouting mission. A North Carolina regiment opened fire in the belief that Jackson and his men were the enemy. Jackson was shot during the encounter, and his arm was amputated in a bid to save his life. It wasn’t enough as Lee’s ‘right hand’ died on May 10. Despite his reputation for secrecy and as a disciplinarian, Jackson was admired throughout the South and his death deeply impacted the soldiers and citizens of the region.