He takes apart and critiques jacksons strategy, tactics and decisions in the pivotal sites and conducts a post mortem on those decisions through the eyes of a trained military strategist. I highly recommend this book if you are a student of the civil war or a fan of the confederacy and stonewall jackson such as myself. According to the insiders guide to virginias blue ridge, rommel also visited highland county prior to world war inot ii to study stonewall jacksons tactics at the battle of mcdowell in 1862. After he left the army, jackson taught artillery tactics and mathematics at the. The board adjusted the manual to the existing american military practice by revising the. The subject of my talk tonight is the military genius of stonewall jackson. Founded in 1839, virginia military institute is the nations first statesupported. Gods and generals is a 2003 american period war drama film written and directed by ronald f.
Included on this page are links to full text correspondence, as well as to full text information about various topics of interest to jackson researchers. The book exploring the small towns of virginia and maryland places rommel in monterey, va. Some of his battle tactics are still studied today in military schools. To the cadets, virginia military institute, march 18612 the institute the virginia military institute vmi, along with other premier military colleges of the south, such as the citadel and the university of alabama, still exists today as a highly respected, reputable, and honorable institution. Demonstrating the discipline that jackson had instilled, the virginians held the line, leading brigadier general barnard bee to exclaim, there is jackson standing like a stone wall. General stonewall jackson the stonewall jackson lake project was named for thomas jonathan stonewall jackson, a famous general in the confederate army during the civil war, who was born on january 21, 1824, in nearby clarksburg. Jackson astounded the country with his sharp strategy in battle and gogetter attitude since he was a common man with no formal military training. We shall endeavor to identify those characteristics which each man shared, and we shall describe the specific quality which made each man a superb military leader, but in very different ways. Jackson went on to play an important role in many major civil. May 06, 2020 jackson, stonewall the wounding of stonewall jackson at the battle of chancellorsville, may 2, 1863. Stonewall jackson 18241863 contributed by william garrett piston.
The virginia military institute archives holds a large collection of stonewall jacksons personal papers, jackson images, and other information about his life and times. Lcuszc41760 that jackson was the ablest of general robert e. Discover how famous generals such as napoleon, rommel, and stonewall jackson were able. Stonewall jackson s command, the valley district of the department of northern virginia, expanded significantly during the campaign as reinforcements were added, starting with a force of a mere 5,000 effectives and reaching an eventual peak of 17,000 men. General thomas jonathan stonewall jackson is widely regarded as one of the greatest tactical commanders in american military history. Union general, very cautious, said that he could not capture richmond because he did not have enough soldiers. A biography focusing on jackson as an individual as well as a military strategist and general, by one of the countrys leading civil war historians. It is an adaptation of the 1996 novel of the same name by jeffrey shaara and prequel to maxwells 1993 film gettysburg. Thomas stonewall jackson and about half of the army were sent to capture harpers ferry. The civil war begins, section 1, chapter 11 quizlet. A few days after the battle of gettysburg, the official prussian military observer who. Thomas stonewall jackson 18241863 military history.
Rommel comes to virginia to study stonewall jackson 1930s. Please enjoy this selection of stonewall jackson quotes. The lessons learned then may have prevented the loss of hundreds of thousands in the senseless direct frontal assaults of world war i. Start studying the civil war begins, section 1, chapter 11. Artillery tactics at the virginia military institute. General jackson served in the army of occupation after the first world war he later was professor of military science and tactics at georgetown university and also taught at cornell. Revered by his men, respected by his foes, jackson became seemingly invincible. The rest of the confederates moved north and west toward south mountain and hagerstown, maryland. True courage a memorial sermon for general thomas j. General thomas jonathan stonewall jackson was struck by fire from confederate lines on may 2nd while at chancellorsville.
This fresh and authoritative account of the civil wars first two years challenges the assumption that robert e. Life is an admirable study of his military career doctor dabney s. Jackson played a prominent role in nearly all military engagements in the. Stonewall jackson at vmi the vmi museum is a major repository of artifacts relating the life of one of americas revered civil war generals, thomas j. A biography of civil war general stonewall jackson. General bernard bee, at a critical moment, was trying to rally his own men. They enjoyed a close working relationship that lee never developed with any of his other subordinates and much like lee was idolised by his men, his death in action was a serious blow to the confederate war effort. Dabney introduction stonewall jackson general thomas jonathan stonewall jackson, born in the mountains of what is now west virginia on jan. Stonewall jackson was born in clarksburg then virginia, west virginia, on january 21, 1824. As the battle raged on july 21, jackson s command was brought forward to support the crumbling confederate line on henry house hill. While much has been written about jacksons tactics, very little attention has been paid to his leadership of the soldiers who executed his tactical plans. Henderson, chapter xii, pages 345346 originally published in 1898. The collection also contains a relatively small number of civil war era papers, as well as the papers of mary anna morrison jackson, his second wife, and papers of the arnold family.
Feb 20, 2015 what made stonewall jackson such a legend. Where confederate general jackson got his nickname, stonewall jackson. Jackson is considered one of the greatest tacticians who ever lived. As the battle raged on july 21, jacksons command was brought forward to support the crumbling confederate line on henry house hill. Similarly, general patton possessed an inspirational leadership quality, which made him second to only stonewall jackson in terms of battlefield success. It is an adaptation of the 1996 novel of the same name by jeffrey shaara 3 and prequel to maxwells 1993 film gettysburg.
The film stars stephen lang as stonewall jackson, jeff daniels as lieutenant colonel joshua chamberlain and robert duvall as general robert e. He drew the attention of general lee and earned himself the nickname stonewall. For the best part of a year, jackson used his abilities to harass and baffle union armies repeatedly. This religious manual, usually learned in early life by. Stonewall jackson resources virginia military institute. Sep 14, 2017 animated a quick overview of the military principles of concentration of force and defeat in principle. Jac kson played a prominent role in n early all mil itary engagements in the eastern theater of the war until his death, and had a key part in winning many. A skilled military tactician, he served as a confederate general under robert e. Stonewall jackson has long fascinated those interested in the american civil war as well as general students of military history, all of whom still question exactly what jackson did in the shenandoah in 1862 and how he did it. Thomas jonathan stonewall jackson as january 21, 1824 may 10, 1863 was a confederate general during the american civil war, and probably the most wellknown confederate commander after general robert e. Thomas jonathan stonewall jackson january 21, 1824 may 10, 1863 served as a confederate general 18611863 during the american civil war, and became one of the bestknown confederate commanders after general robert e. From that time on, jackson was known as stonewall jackson. Stonewall jackson civil war virginia stonewall jackson army. Jun 14, 2011 according to the insiders guide to virginias blue ridge, rommel also visited highland county prior to world war inot ii to study stonewall jacksons tactics at the battle of mcdowell in 1862.
Thomas jonathan stonewall jackson january 21, 1824 may 10, 1863 was a confederate general during the american civil war, and one of the bestknown confederate commanders after general robert e. Stonewall jackson, major general, united states army. Gwynnes book rebel yell details the life of the souths most beloved martyr, the confederate general who left a brutal battlefield legacy thats. Stonewall jackson a flawed but brilliant commander. Confederate general bernard bee, at a critical moment, was trying to rally his own men. He ranks today as among the halfdozen greatest soldiers that america has produced. Mcclellan, who was waging the peninsular campaign against richmond, the confederate capital. Confederate general braxton bragg lead his army into kentucky in an attempt to regain control of. He saw jackson and his brigade holding fast and shouted, there stands jacksons brigade like a stone wall. While his solid determination to hold ground at the first battle of bull run earned him his nickname, it was the valley campaign and his encirclement of a union army that earned him global renown as a tactical genius. Military academies in both hemispheres still teach his tactics. A skilled military tactician, he served as a confederate general under. Confederate lieutenant general thomas stonewall jackson 18241863 serves as a prime.
Again, stonewall jacksons military career, either in full or in part, has been narrated by more than one of his staff officers, whose intercourse with him was necessarily close and constant. Philosophy and artillery tactics at the virginia military institute in lexington, virginia. The five flaws of the brilliant general stonewall jackson. If jacksons military and political leaders had listened, jacksons tactics could have saved tens of thousands of lives on both sides of the conflict. Study 12 terms the civil war begins, section 1, chapter 11. But this book demonstrates the military mind of one of americas finest soldiers, general thomas stonewall jackson. Without doubt stonewall jackson is the most famous of the confederate commanders of the american civil war after general robert e lee. Thomas jonathan stonewall jackson jan 21, 1824 may 10, 1863 served as a confederate general during the american civil war. This, along with winning new orleans, put jackson on the map politically for his road to the white house. Such tactics will win every time, and a small army may thus destroy a large one in detail, and repeated victory will make it invincible. The spring of 1862 found jackson again in the shenandoah valley, where his diversionary tactics prevented reinforcements being sent to federal army general george b. On july 21, 1861, jackson was in command of a brigade during the battle of first manassas bull run. Stonewall jackson at vmi vmi museum virginia military.
Acclaimed military historian bevin alexander offers a fresh and cogent analysis of stonewall jacksons military genius and reveals how the civil war might have ended differently if jacksons strategies had been adopted. Jackson, stonewall the wounding of stonewall jackson at the battle of chancellorsville, may 2, 1863. Lee was the confederacys preeminent military strategist. His military career includes the valley campaign of 1862 and his service as a corps commander in the army of northern virginia under robert e. The military reputations of lees corps commanders are often characterized as stonewall jackson representing the audacious, offensive component of lees army, whereas his counterpart, james longstreet, more typically advocated and executed defensive strategies and tactics. See more ideas about stonewall jackson, american civil war and civil war photos.
With your indulgence, id like to begin shortly after jacksons death by focusing on gettysburg. Stonewall jackson is remembered as a military genius. Stonewall jackson quotes in this collection of stonewall jackson quotes, we hear the general s opinion on things such as proper military strategy, and the dangers of alcohol. Both serving as generals and commanders in the army, lee and jackson demonstrated bravery and well thought out military strategies. Jacksons valley campaign, also known as the shenandoah valley campaign of 1862, was confederate maj. General stonewall jackson the stonewall jackson lake project. Stonewall jackson, a famous general in the confederate army during. Stonewall jackson was a west point graduate, veteran of the mexican war 18461848, instructor at the virginia military institute in lexington, and confederate general under robert e. Lee gave jackson the job of occupying federal troops in the shenandoah valley. A talk by bevin alexander given at the chambersburg civil war seminars and tours, plaza hotel, hagerstown, md. When he was eighteen, thomas entered the united states military academy at.
Stonewall jackson quotes american civil war stories. General lee decided to employ a risky tactic to take the initiative and. Battles and leaders of the civil war, volume 5 on jstor. Stonewall jacksons spring 1862 campaign through the shenandoah valley in virginia during the american civil war. Using speed and superior tactics jackson is able to defeat several larger. Mcclellan to protect the capital and respond to the invasion. The stonewall jackson papers consist primarily of jacksons outgoing personal correspondence for the years 18441860. Jackson was hit by three bullets, one bullet in his right hand, a second in his left wrist, and the third struck him in his left arm between the shoulder and elbow. The passage of years has only deepened the fascination and reverence for confederate general thomas jonathan stonewall jackson. His valley campaign of 1862 is a classic example of the effective use of maneuver warfare.
Thomas jonathan stonewall jackson as january 21, 1824 may 10, 1863 was a confederate general during the american civil war, and probably the most wellknown. John selby, a sandhurst alum and englishman, analyzes stonewall as a military commander. Employing audacity and rapid, unpredictable movements on interior lines, jacksons 17,000 men marched 646 miles 1,040 km in 48 days and won several minor. He is almost universally considered the most famous confederate. He takes apart and critiques jackson s strategy, tactics and decisions in the pivotal sites and conducts a post mortem on those decisions through the eyes of a trained military strategist. But such knowledge will no more teach a man to lead an army like napoleon than a knowledge of grammar will teach him to write like gibbon. Thomas stonewall jackson 182463 was a war hero and one of the souths most successful generals during the american civil war 186165. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Thomas jonathan stonewall jackson january 21, 1824 may 10, 1863 served as a confeder ate genera l 18611863 during the american civil war, and became one of the bestknown confederate commanders after gene ral robert e. Army command and general staff college in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree master of military art and science by perry c.
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