Thomas Jonathan Jackson (1824 - 1863)

Born 21 Jan 1824 in Clarksburg, Virginia, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Anna (Morrison) Jackson — married 16 Jul 1857 in Cottage Home, Lincoln county, North Carolina, United States

Descendants

Died 10 May 1863 at age 39 in Guinea Station, Virginia, United States

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Biography

Thomas Jackson is Notable.

Lt General Thomas Jackson served in the United States Civil War.
Enlisted: 1861
Mustered out: 1863
Side: CSA
Regiment(s): 116th Infantry Brigade

Lt. Gen. Thomas Jackson Died in Military Service during the United States Civil War.

Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson (January 21, 1824 – May 10, 1863) served as a Confederate general (1861–1863) during the American Civil War, and became one of the best-known Confederate commanders after General Robert E. Lee. Jackson played a prominent role in nearly all military engagements in the Eastern Theater of the war until his death, and had a key part in winning many significant battles.

Born in what was then part of Virginia (in present-day West Virginia), Jackson received an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point and graduated in the class of 1846. He served in the U.S. Army during the Mexican–American War of 1846–1848 and distinguished himself at Chapultepec. From 1851 to 1861 he taught at the Virginia Military Institute, where he was unpopular with his students. During this time, he married twice. His first wife died giving birth, but his second wife, Mary Anna Morrison, lived until 1915. When Virginia seceded from the Union in May 1861 after the attack on Fort Sumter, Jackson joined the Confederate Army. He distinguished himself commanding a brigade at the First Battle of Bull Run in July, providing crucial reinforcements and beating back a fierce Union assault. In this context Barnard Elliott Bee Jr. compared him to a "stone wall", hence his enduring nickname.

Jackson performed exceptionally well in the campaigns in the Shenandoah Valley in 1862. Despite an initial defeat due largely to faulty intelligence, through swift and careful maneuvers Jackson was able to defeat three separate Union armies and prevent any of them from reinforcing General George B. McClellan's Army of the Potomac in its campaign against Richmond. Jackson then quickly moved his three divisions to reinforce General Lee's Army of Northern Virginia in defense of Richmond. He performed poorly in the Seven Days Battles against George B. McClellan's Army of the Potomac, as he was frequently late arriving on the field. During the Northern Virginia Campaign that summer, Jackson's troops captured and destroyed an important supply depot for General John Pope's Army of Virginia, and then withstood repeated assaults from Pope's troops at the Second Battle of Bull Run. Jackson's troops played a prominent role in September's Maryland Campaign, capturing the town of Harpers Ferry, a strategic location, and providing a defense of the Confederate Army's left at Antietam. At Fredericksburg in December, Jackson's corps buckled but ultimately beat back an assault by the Union Army under Major General Ambrose Burnside. In late April and early May 1863, faced with a larger Union army now commanded by Joseph Hooker at Chancellorsville, Lee divided his force three ways. On May 2, Jackson took his 30,000 troops and launched a surprise attack against the Union right flank, driving the opposing troops back about two miles. That evening he was accidentally shot by Confederate pickets. The general lost his left arm to amputation; weakened by his wounds, he died of pneumonia eight days later.

Military historians regard Jackson as one of the most gifted tactical commanders in U.S. history. His tactics are studied even today. His death proved a severe setback for the Confederacy, affecting not only its military prospects, but also the morale of its army and the general public. After Jackson's death, his military exploits developed a legendary quality, becoming an important element of the ideology of the "Lost Cause "West Point

In 1842, Jackson was accepted to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. Because of his inadequate schooling, he had difficulty with the entrance examinations and began his studies at the bottom of his class. Displaying a dogged determination that was to characterize his life, he became one of the hardest working cadets in the academy, and moved steadily up the academic rankings. Jackson graduated 17th out of 59 students in the Class of 1846. It was said by his peers that if he had stayed there another year, he would have graduated first.

U.S. Army and the Mexican War

Stained-glass windows formerly in the Washington National Cathedral. At left top, Jackson reading the Bible in Confederate camp; left bottom, professor in Virginia Military Institute; bottom right, Mexican-American War; upper right, Jackson enters heaven. The windows were removed in 2017. Jackson began his United States Army career as a second lieutenant in the 1st U.S. Artillery Regiment and was sent to fight in the Mexican–American War from 1846 to 1848. He served at the Siege of Veracruz and the battles of Contreras, Chapultepec, and Mexico City, eventually earning two brevet promotions, and the regular army rank of first lieutenant. It was in Mexico that Thomas Jackson first met Robert E. Lee.

During the assault on Chapultepec Castle on September 13, 1847, he refused what he felt was a "bad order" to withdraw his troops. Confronted by his superior, he explained his rationale, claiming withdrawal was more hazardous than continuing his overmatched artillery duel. His judgment proved correct, and a relieving brigade was able to exploit the advantage Jackson had broached. In contrast to this display of strength of character, he obeyed what he also felt was a "bad order" when he raked a civilian throng with artillery fire after the Mexican authorities failed to surrender Mexico City at the hour demanded by the U.S. forces. The former episode, and later aggressive action against the retreating Mexican army, earned him field promotion to the brevet rank of major.

After the war, Jackson was briefly assigned to forts in New York, and then to Florida during the Second Interbellum of the Seminole Wars, during which the Americans were attempting to force the remaining Seminoles to move West. He was stationed briefly at Fort Casey before being named second-in-command at Fort Meade, a small fort about thirty miles south of Tampa. His commanding officer was Major William H. French. Jackson and French disagreed often, and filed numerous complaints against each other. Jackson stayed in Florida less than a year.

Lexington and the Virginia Military Institute

Stonewall Jackson In the spring of 1851,[24] Jackson accepted a newly created teaching position at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI), in Lexington, Virginia. He became Professor of Natural and Experimental Philosophy and Instructor of Artillery. Parts of Jackson's curriculum are still taught at VMI, regarded as timeless military essentials: discipline, mobility, assessing the enemy's strength and intentions while attempting to conceal your own, and the efficiency of artillery combined with an infantry assault.

Though he spent a great deal of time preparing in depth for each class meeting, Jackson was unpopular as a teacher. His students called him "Tom Fool". He memorized his lectures and then recited them to the class; any student who came to ask for help was given the same explanation as before. And if a student asked for help a second time, Jackson viewed him as insubordinate and punished him. For his tests, Jackson typically had students simply recite memorized information that he had given them. The students mocked his apparently stern, religious nature and his eccentric traits. In 1856, a group of alumni attempted to have Jackson removed from his position.

Jackson's peculiar personal traits contributed to his unpopularity as an educator. With little sense of humor, he once tried to get a cadet dismissed from VMI for playing a prank on him. He was a hypochondriac who had sinus problems and arthritis and stood for long periods of time to keep his internal organs in place, a tiring activity that he believed contributed to good health. He rarely ate much food and often subsisted on crackers and milk. He required little sleep but was known to take catnaps. He liked mineral baths.

The founder of VMI and one of its first two faculty members was John Thomas Lewis Preston. Preston's second wife, Margaret Junkin Preston, was the sister of Jackson's first wife, Elinor. In addition to working together on the VMI faculty, Preston taught Sunday School with Jackson and served on his staff during the Civil War

Name

Name: Thomas Jonathan /Jackson/^[1][2][3]

Birth

Date: 1824

Place: Clarksburg, Virginia, which is now part of West Virginia^[1][2][3]

Death

Date: 1863

Place: Guinea Station, Virginia, near Chancellorsville^[1][3]

Cause: Died after being shot by sentries while returning to his own lines with members of his staff.

Marriage

July 16, 1857, at "Cottage Home," Lincoln County, N.C, home of Rev. Robert Hall MORRISON, D. D. father of Mary Anna MORRISON ^[4]

Biographical sketch

Thomas grew up at Jackson's Mill a few miles north of Weston, Lewis County, Virginia.

When he was a little older, he worked for Minter Bailey, Sr., proprietor of the popular Bailey House in Weston.

Thomas worked at the Bailey House in Weston, Lewis County, Virginia in his youth

Legacy

• Stonewall County, Texas is named in his honor, as is Jackson County, Oklahoma

Thomas Jonathan was born in 1824. He passed away in 1863.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Source: #S-1149948350 Repository: #R-1283599974 Title: American Civil War General Officers Author: Historical Data Systems, comp. Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 1999.Original data - Data compiled by Historical Data Systems of Kingston, MA from the following list of works. Copyright 1997-2000. Historical Data Systems, Inc. PO Box 35 Duxbury, Massachusetts 0 Note: http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=hdsofficers&h=1433&ti=0&indiv=try Note: Data: Text: Name: Thomas Jonathan Jackson Birth: 1824 in Clarksburg Death: 1863
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Source: #S-1280757182 Repository: #R-1283599974 Title: Family Data Collection - Births Author: Edmund West, comp. Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2001. Note: http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=genepoolb&h=2388535&ti=0&indiv=try Note: Data: Text: Name: Thomas Jonathan Jackson Birth Date: 24 January 1824Birth Place: Clarksburg, WV, USA
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} Source: #S-1282017783 Repository: #R-1283599974 Title: United States Obituary Collection Author: Ancestry.com Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2006.Original data - See newspaper information provided with each entry. Page: Newspaper: Daily Oklahoman, The; Publication Date: 2 May 2005; Publication Place: Oklahoma City , OK , Us. Note: http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=web-obituary&h=7651562&ti=0&indiv=try Note: Data: Text: Name: Thomas Jackson Birth Date: 21 January 1824Birth Place: Death Date: 10 May 1863Death Place:
4. ↑ "Woman's Who's Who of America 1915-1915" p 426

Ellwood Family Cemetery in Spotsylvania Courthouse, Spotsylvania County, Virginia:

Find A Grave: Memorial #2739 Thomas Jonathan Jackson

Arm of Stonewall Jackson: Ellwood Family Cemetery Spotsylvania Courthouse, Spotsylvania County, Virginia

Biography on memorial page, Ellwood Family Cemetery in Spotsylvania Courthouse, Spotsylvania County, Virginia:

Civil War Confederate Lieutenant General. Born in what is now the state of West Virginia, in the town of Clarksburg to parents who unable to secure medical attention died literally as the result of extreme poverty. Orphaned, he was taken in and raised by an uncle. Desiring an education, he applied to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, realizing acceptance meant a free education. Though, ill-prepared, he applied himself and his grades improved each year resulting graduating in 1846 17th in a class of 59. He performed stellar service in the Mexican War, then resigned from the Army to accept a professorship at Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia. His summer vacations from teaching were spent traveling to the North and in Europe where his interests were aroused in art and culture. His peaceful life ended with the start of the Civil War. He was ordered to Richmond as part of the cadet corps. The South believed his experience as a teacher merited making him a Brigadier General. He did not disappoint: After receiving his nickname "Stonewall" at Bull Run because of his battlefield demeanor, he continually impressed the Confederacy with his skill on the battlefield distinguishing himself in the Valley campaign, the Battle of second Manassass and the Battle of Fredericksburg to become a Southern hero. During the Chancellorsville Battle, Jackson rode forward to scout with a party. As darkness descended, they returned in the direction of their lines coming upon posted Confederates who mistaking them for Union combatants opening fire killing two staff members outright while three bullets struck General Jackson. He was transported some 28 miles by horse ambulance to Chandler plantation at Guinea Station to an outbuilding His left arm was amputated at the shoulder. Recovery was unsuccessful and he succumbed to fever and pneumonia after languishing for eight days with his wife by his bedside. His body was taken to Richmond, placed in a casket and then by packet boat to Virginia Military Institute where Cadets met and carried the remains to his old classroom where it lay in state. A battery fired salutes from sunrise to sunset. The body enveloped in the Confederate Flag was borne on a caisson to Lexington Presbyterian, the family church for services, and then completed with burial in the family plot at Lexington Cemetery. The body was disinterred later and reburied beneath a statue in the cemetery center which was also renamed for him. Much remains of the life of General Jackson: A granite monument marks the actual spot of his wounding and stands on the grounds of the Chancellorsville Battlefield Visitor Center. The office building where Jackson was taken has been restored and is part of the Fredricksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park. Many items used during the General's stay are still there and other pieces from the era along with a few reproductions recreate a scene reminiscent of the last days of his life. The Stonewall Jackson House located in Lexington is the only home that was ever owned by the General and his wife. He lived in the house while he taught at the V.M.I. It is on the National Register and furnished with period pieces including many of Jackson's personal possessions. The V.M.I. museum is the ultimate repository. It holds a large collection of his personal paper and images and artifacts such as his favorite hat, two uniforms, the raincoat worn when shot and many items from the his former classroom and above all his mounted steed Little Sorrel.

• Repository: R-1283599974 Name: Ancestry.com Address: http://www.Ancestry.com Note:

• Source: S-1282997015 Repository: #R-1283599974 https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/5761482/person/-1299518998/facts

• Ancestry.com. 1860 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, Utah, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Original data: 1860 U.S. census, population schedule. NARA microfilm publication M653, 1,438 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d

• Ancestry.com. U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1700s-Current [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. Original data: Find A Grave Memorial for Thomas Jonathan Stonewall Jackson. Note: There are two other Find A Grave memorial pages for Stonewall Jackson. .

• Historical Data Systems, comp. U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865 [database on-line]. Provo, Utah, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2009.

• Wikipedia: Stonewall Jackson
• Wikidata: Item Q216124

• WikiTree profile Jackson-2554 created through the import of Doughty Lopez.ged on May 31, 2011 by Ian Doughty. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Ian and others.

• Find A Grave: Memorial #536

• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/536/thomas-jonathan-jackson

• Kelly, Dennis P. “The Battle of Shepherdstown.” Civil War Times Illustrated, Vol 20, no. 7 (Nov 1981): 8.

• Civil War Times Illustrated – November 1981