Stonewall Jackson served on the VMI Faculty as Professor of Natural and Experimental Philosophy & Instructor of Artillery from August 1851 until the beginning of the Civil War in April 1861. Thomas Stonewall Jackson was one of the strangest generals in the service of the Military. He was a religious, yet loved to battle. In spite of his religious convictions, most of his battles were fought on Sunday. He was highly disciplined, yet could ignore a direct order if he disagreed -- and get away with it. He was Robert E. Lees most trusted lieutenant, yet he felt himself obliged to none other than himself and God.
Over the years, the personal of Stonewall Jackson has attained almost mythical proportions. In life, he was almost impossible to know. In death, Jackson is even more of an enigma because the legend of the man is riddled with contradictions. Take, for example, the way in which Jackson got his famous nickname.
English: Confederate Lt. Gen. Thomas "Stonewall" J...
English: General Jackson's "Chancellorsville" Port...
Stonewall Jackson (between 1861 and 1863).Thomas Jonathan Jackson was born on January 21, 1824, in Clarksburg, Virginia (now West Virginia). His father, a lawyer, died when young Thomas was six and the death left the family impoverished. He was left to live with only his mother. After she was remarried life did not seem to go so well. His new father did not like children, so he was sent to live with his other relatives.
By a stroke of pure luck Thomas made it into the Military Academy. He was lucky because the cadet that was in his place thought the life of the military just wasn't for him. Therefore Thomas was promoted. Since Thomas was so shy his classmates did not notice him for six months. To them he was just a very strange person.
This was my essay on some of the life of...