Pictorial history of the war for the Union, volume 2 (of 2) : $b A complete and reliable history of the war from its commencement to its close ... together with a complete chronological analysis of the warStephens, Ann S. (Ann Sophia)
History
Pictorial history of the war for the Union, volume 2 (of 2) : $b A complete and reliable history of the war from its commencement to its close ... together with a complete chronological analysis of the war
Stephens, Ann S. (Ann Sophia)
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
Thomas Jefferson Jackson—who, as we have seen, acquired the soubriquet
of “Stonewall,” was born at Clarksburg, Harrison Co., Va., January 21,
1824. The first years of his life were spent on his uncle’s farm. In
1842 he became a cadet at West Point, from which military school he
graduated in 1846, in the same class with McClellan and other students,
subsequently distinguished in the Civil War. As a boy and as a young
man, Jackson was noted for gravity of manners and reticence of nature;
quiet, studious, and thoughtful at all times, he was also deeply
religious in temperament and in faith. In the Mexican War, in 1848, he
served under General Taylor and under General Scott, and distinguished
himself at Contreras, Churubusco, and Chepultepec. In 1852, he resigned
his commission, being in ill health, and was afterwards appointed
Professor of Mathematics, in the Military Institute of Virginia. The
breaking out of the Rebellion found him there, and entering the rebel
service, he received a Lieutenant’s commission from Governor Letcher of
Virginia. His participation in the war was brief, but was marked by
daring exploits and many successes. He bore a conspicuous part in the
first battle of Bull Run, and as we have seen, made a dashing and
successful raid up the valley of the Shenandoah, pursuing Banks to the
Potomac, and getting away unscathed. He also took part in the battle of
Malvern, and he greatly harassed General Pope, during the campaign of
that officer. The capture of Harper’s Ferry was, in part, due to his
strategy; and he was engaged in the bloody battle of Antietam. He also
participated in the battle of Fredericksburg, and defeated Burnside’s
left wing, commanded by General Franklin. At the battle of
Chancellorsville his rank was that of Lieutenant-General, equivalent to
that of a corps commander, in the United States Army. His operations in
the latter fight have already been described. The manner of his death
was peculiar, and is worthy of minute description. Late in the afternoon
of the 2d of May, he had attacked and routed the Eleventh United States
Army Corps, under General Howard, forming part of the rear of the
Federal right wing. At about 8 o’clock in the evening, when returning
from this attack, attended by his staff, the cavalcade was mistaken, by
the rebels, for a body of Union cavalry, and was fired upon, in the
darkness. Jackson was struck by three balls. One passed through the left
arm, two inches below the shoulder joint, shattering the bone and
severing the chief artery; another ball passed through the same arm
between the elbow and wrist, making its exit through the palm of the
hand; a third ball entered the palm of the right hand about its middle,
passing through, and broke two bones. He was wounded on the plank road,
about fifty yards in advance of the enemy. He fell from his horse, and
was caught by Captain Wormley, to whom he remarked, “All my wounds are
by my own men.” He had given orders for his men to fire at any one
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