-
-
On this day, Thomas Jackson was born, however he was orphaned at an early age and raised by his uncle.
-
Although he was not as smart as the other men, he was still accepted into West Point.
-
In 1847, he graduated from West Point and then went into the army as a second lieutenent of artillery in time for the end of the Mexican War.
-
After five years in the military, Jackson resigned from the military and began as a teacher of tactics at the Virginia Military Institute. However, his stern manner made not well liked by his students.
-
In 1853, he married Ellie Junkin. However, in 1854, she died in childbirth and Jackson became extremely depressed. He then went on a two year trip to Europe and returned in 1856.
-
After he returned from his long trip Europe, Jackson courted Mary Anna Morrison who he had known before his first marriage. Theybwere married in 1857.
-
After the First Battle of Bull Run, Jackson was promoted to major general for his great performance and also earned his nickname "Stonewall" because he would not back down and just "stood there like a stone wall."
-
Stonewall was put in charge of the Shenandoah Valley Campaign, and he brought them a victory against John C. Fremont at McDowell. After that, he went to the Seven Days Battle and had a bad performance, but he redeemed himself at Cedar Mt.
-
The victory of Cedar Mt. set the stage for the Confederate win at Bull Run, and because of Jackson's skills, caused Robert E. Lee to promote him to Commander of the Second Corps and lieutenent general after Antietam.
-
Because the tactics used at the Second Battle of Bull Run were so successful, they repeated these tactics at Chancellorsville. However, because the battle was at night, Jackson was mistaken for Union cavalry and shot four times in the by his own men.
-
After he was shot, they could not do anyhting to help his arm and they had to have it amputated. During this time, though, Jackson also got pneumonia and died eight days after his amputation.
