Editing Stonewall Jackson (section)

==Civil War==
[[File:Jackson headquarters.png|thumb|The Colonel Lewis T. Moore house, which served as the Winchester Headquarters of [[Lieutenant general (United States)|Lt. Gen.]] T. J. "Stonewall" Jackson (photo 2007)]]

In April 1861, after Virginia seceded from the Union and as the [[American Civil War]] broke out, Jackson was ordered by the [[Governor of Virginia]] to report with the VMI cadet corps to Richmond and await further orders. Upon arrival, Jackson was appointed a Major of Engineers in the [[Provisional Army of Virginia]], which was a short lived force commanded by [[Robert E. Lee]], prior to Virginia fully augmenting into forces of the Confederacy. After Jackson protested such a low rank, the Virginia Governor appointed him a [[Colonel (United States)|Colonel of Virginia Infantry]] which in May 1861 was augmented to a Colonel in the [[Confederate Army]]. Jackson then became a drill master for some of the many new recruits in the [[Confederate Army]].

On April 27, 1861, Virginia Governor [[John Letcher]] ordered Colonel Jackson to take command at Harpers Ferry, where he would assemble and command the unit which later gained fame as the "[[Stonewall Brigade]]", consisting of the 2nd, 4th, 5th, 27th, and 33rd Virginia Infantry regiments. These units were from the [[Shenandoah Valley]] region of Virginia, where Jackson located [[Stonewall Jackson's Headquarters Museum|his headquarters]] throughout the first two years of the war, as well as counties in [[West Virginia|western Virginia]].<ref>Snell, Mark A., ''West Virginia and the Civil War'', History Press, 2011, pg.45</ref> Jackson became known for his relentless drilling of his troops; he believed discipline was vital to success on the battlefield. Following [[Jackson's operations against the B&O Railroad (1861)|raids on the B&O Railroad]] on May 24, he was promoted to [[Brigadier general (CSA)|brigadier general]] on June 17, 1861. Jackson continued to wear a blue Union Army uniform up to this point, having only access to his old VMI major's jacket, and would not be issued with a gray Confederate uniform until 1862.<ref name="Eicher">Eicher, ''High Commands'', p. 316.</ref>

===First Battle of Bull Run===
{{Main|Winchester, Virginia in the American Civil War}}
[[File:Jackson (2).jpg|thumb|left|upright|General Jackson by [[Augusto Ferrer-Dalmau]]]]

Jackson rose to prominence and earned his most famous nickname at the [[First Battle of Bull Run]] (First Manassas) on July 21, 1861. As the Confederate lines began to crumble under heavy Union assault, Jackson's brigade provided crucial reinforcements on Henry House Hill, demonstrating the discipline he instilled in his men. While under heavy fire for several continuous hours, Jackson received a wound, breaking the middle finger of his left hand about midway between the hand and knuckle, the ball passing on the side next to the index finger. The troops of South Carolina, commanded by Gen.&nbsp;[[Barnard Elliott Bee Jr.]]&nbsp;had been overwhelmed, and he rode up to Jackson in despair, exclaiming, "They are beating us back!" "Then," said Jackson, "we will give them the bayonet!" As he rode back to his command, Bee exhorted his own troops to re-form by shouting, "There is Jackson standing like a stone wall. Let us determine to die here, and we will conquer. Rally behind the Virginians!"<ref>Freeman, ''Lee's Lieutenants'', vol. 1, p. 82; Robertson, p. 264. McPherson, p. 342, reports the quotation after "stone wall" as being "Rally around the Virginians!"</ref> There is some controversy over Bee's statement and intent, which could not be clarified because he was killed almost immediately after speaking and none of his subordinate officers wrote reports of the battle. Major Burnett Rhett, chief of staff to General [[Joseph E. Johnston]], claimed that Bee was angry at Jackson's failure to come immediately to the relief of Bee's and [[Francis S. Bartow]]'s brigades while they were under heavy pressure. Those who subscribe to this opinion believe that Bee's statement was meant to be pejorative: "Look at Jackson standing there like a stone wall!"<ref>See, for instance, Goldfield, David, et al., ''The American Journey: A History of the United States'', Prentice Hall, 1999, {{ISBN|0-13-088243-7}}. There are additional controversies about what Bee said and whether he said anything at all. See Freeman, ''Lee's Lieutenants'', vol. 1, pp. 733–34.</ref>

Regardless of the controversy and the delay in relieving Bee, Jackson's brigade, which would thenceforth be known as the [[Stonewall Brigade]], stopped the Union assault and suffered more casualties than any other Southern brigade that day; Jackson has since then been generally known as Stonewall Jackson.<ref>McPherson, p. 342.</ref> During the battle, Jackson displayed a gesture common to him and held his left arm skyward with the palm facing forward – interpreted by his soldiers variously as an eccentricity or an entreaty to God for success in combat. His hand was struck by a bullet or a piece of shrapnel and he suffered a small loss of bone in his middle finger. He refused medical advice to have the finger amputated.<ref>Robertson, pp. 263, 268.</ref> After the battle, Jackson was promoted to [[Major General (CSA)|major general]] (October 7, 1861)<ref name=Eicher/> and given command of the [[Valley District]], with [[Stonewall Jackson's Headquarters Museum|headquarters]] in [[Winchester, Virginia|Winchester]].

===Valley Campaign===
{{further|Valley Campaign}}
{{unreferenced section|date=April 2017}}

In the spring of 1862, Union [[Major general (United States)|Maj. Gen.]] [[George B. McClellan]]'s [[Army of the Potomac]] approached Richmond from the southeast in the [[Peninsula Campaign]]. Maj. Gen. [[Irvin McDowell]]'s large corps was poised to hit Richmond from the north, and Maj. Gen. [[Nathaniel P. Banks]]'s army threatened the Shenandoah Valley. Jackson was ordered by Richmond to operate in the Valley to defeat Banks's threat and prevent McDowell's troops from reinforcing McClellan.

Jackson possessed the attributes to succeed against his poorly coordinated and sometimes timid opponents: a combination of great audacity, excellent knowledge and shrewd use of the terrain, and an uncommon ability to inspire his troops to great feats of marching and fighting.

[[File:WV historical marker - Trout Rock Fort.jpg|thumb|Historical marker marking the end of Gen. Stonewall Jackson's pursuit of the Federals after the Battle of McDowell, May 12, 1862]]

The campaign started with a tactical defeat at [[Battle of Kernstown I|Kernstown]] on March 23, 1862, when faulty intelligence led him to believe he was attacking a small detachment. But it became a strategic victory for the Confederacy, because his aggressiveness suggested that he possessed a much larger force, convincing President [[Abraham Lincoln]] to keep Banks' troops in the Valley and McDowell's 30,000-man [[corps]] near [[Fredericksburg, Virginia|Fredericksburg]], subtracting about 50,000 soldiers from McClellan's invasion force. As it transpired, it was Jackson's only defeat in the Valley.

By adding Maj. Gen. [[Richard S. Ewell]]'s large [[division (military)|division]] and Maj. Gen. [[Edward Johnson (general)|Edward "Allegheny" Johnson's]] small division, Jackson increased his army to 17,000 men. He was still significantly outnumbered, but attacked portions of his divided enemy individually at [[Battle of McDowell|McDowell]], defeating both [[Brigadier general (United States)|Brig. Gens.]] [[Robert H. Milroy]] and [[Robert C. Schenck]]. He defeated Banks at [[Battle of Front Royal|Front Royal]] and [[First Battle of Winchester|Winchester]], ejecting him from the Valley. Lincoln decided that the defeat of Jackson was an immediate priority (though Jackson's orders were solely to keep Union forces occupied and away from Richmond). He ordered Irvin McDowell to send 20,000 men to Front Royal and Maj. Gen. [[John C. Frémont]] to move to [[Harrisonburg, Virginia|Harrisonburg]]. If both forces could converge at Strasburg, Jackson's only escape route up the Valley would be cut.

After a series of maneuvers, Jackson defeated Frémont's command at [[Battle of Cross Keys|Cross Keys]] and Brig. Gen. [[James Shields (politician, born 1810)|James Shields]] at [[Battle of Port Republic|Port Republic]] on June 8–9. Union forces were withdrawn from the Valley.

It was a classic military campaign of surprise and maneuver. Jackson pressed his army to travel {{convert|646|mi|km|0}} in 48 days of marching and won five significant victories with a force of about 17,000 against a combined force of 60,000. Stonewall Jackson's reputation for moving his troops so rapidly earned them the [[oxymoron]]ic nickname "[[foot cavalry]]". He became the most celebrated soldier in the Confederacy (until he was eventually eclipsed by Lee) and lifted the morale of the Southern public.

===Peninsula===
McClellan's [[Peninsula Campaign]] toward Richmond stalled at the [[Battle of Seven Pines]] on May 31 and June 1. After the Valley Campaign ended in mid-June, Jackson and his troops were called to join [[Robert E. Lee]]'s [[Army of Northern Virginia]] in defense of the capital. By using a railroad tunnel under the [[Blue Ridge Mountains]] and then transporting troops to [[Hanover County, Virginia|Hanover County]] on the [[Virginia Central Railroad]], Jackson and his forces made a surprise appearance in front of McClellan at [[Battle of Beaver Dam Creek|Mechanicsville]]. Reports had last placed Jackson's forces in the Shenandoah Valley; their presence near Richmond added greatly to the Union commander's overestimation of the strength and numbers of the forces before him. This proved a crucial factor in McClellan's decision to re-establish his base at a point many miles downstream from Richmond on the [[James River (Virginia)|James River]] at Harrison's Landing, essentially a retreat that ended the Peninsula Campaign and prolonged the war almost three more years.

Jackson's troops served well under Lee in the series of battles known as the [[Seven Days Battles]], but Jackson's own performance in those battles is generally considered to be poor.<ref>See, for instance, Freeman, ''R.E. Lee'', vol. 2, p.  247.</ref> He arrived late at Mechanicsville and inexplicably ordered his men to bivouac for the night within clear earshot of the battle. He was late at [[Battle of Savage's Station|Savage's Station]]. At [[Battle of White Oak Swamp|White Oak Swamp]] he failed to employ fording places to cross White Oak Swamp Creek, attempting for hours to rebuild a bridge, which limited his involvement to an ineffectual artillery duel and a missed opportunity to intervene decisively at the [[Battle of Glendale]], which was raging nearby. At [[Battle of Malvern Hill|Malvern Hill]] Jackson participated in the futile, piecemeal frontal assaults against entrenched Union infantry and massed artillery, and suffered heavy casualties (but this was a problem for all of Lee's army in that ill-considered battle). The reasons for Jackson's sluggish and poorly coordinated actions during the Seven Days are disputed, although a severe lack of sleep after the grueling march and railroad trip from the Shenandoah Valley was probably a significant factor. Both Jackson and his troops were completely exhausted. An explanation for this and other lapses by Jackson was tersely offered by his colleague and brother in-law General Daniel Harvey Hill: "Jackson's genius never shone when he was under the command of another."<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Henderson |first=George Francis Robert |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1dEpAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA17 |title=Stonewall Jackson and the American Civil War |publisher=Longmans, Green |year=1903 |volume=II |location=New York |page=17 |oclc=793450187 |author-link=George Francis Robert Henderson}}</ref>

===Second Bull Run to Fredericksburg===
[[File:Stonewall Jackson Bendann.jpg|thumb|Jackson and Little [[Sorrel (horse)|Sorrel]], painting by [[David Bendann]]]]
[[File:The Photographic History of The Civil War Volume 10 Page 107.jpg|thumb|Montage of Thomas J. Jackson and staff]]

The military reputations of Lee's corps commanders are often characterized as Stonewall Jackson representing the audacious, offensive component of Lee's army, whereas his counterpart, [[James Longstreet]], more typically advocated and executed defensive strategies and tactics. Jackson has been described as the army's hammer, Longstreet its anvil.<ref>Wert, p. 206.</ref> In the [[Northern Virginia Campaign]] of August 1862 this stereotype did not hold true. Longstreet commanded the Right Wing (later to become known as the First Corps) and Jackson commanded the Left Wing. Jackson started the campaign under Lee's orders with a sweeping flanking maneuver that placed his corps into the rear of Union Maj. Gen. [[John Pope (general)|John Pope]]'s [[Army of Virginia]]. The Hotchkiss journal shows that Jackson, most likely, originally conceived the movement. In the journal entries for March 4 and 6, 1863, General Stuart tells Hotchkiss that "Jackson was entitled to all the credit" for the movement and that Lee thought the proposed movement "very hazardous" and "reluctantly consented" to the movement.<ref>"Origin of the Movement Around Pope's Army of Virginia, August 1862 by Michael Collie. Retrieved September 27, 2017 [http://www.militaryhistoryonline.com/civilwar/articles/movementaroundpope.aspx] and [[Archie P. McDonald]], ed., Make Me a Map of the Valley: the Civil War Journal of Jackson's Topographer, (Dallas 1973) pp. 117–18; and James I. Robertson, Jr., Stonewall Jackson: the Man, the Soldier, and the Legend, (New York 1997) p. 547, n130 p. 887</ref> At Manassas Junction, Jackson was able to capture all of the supplies of the Union Army depot. Then he had his troops destroy all of it, for it was the main depot for the Union Army. Jackson then retreated and then took up a defensive position and effectively invited Pope to assault him. On August 28–29, the start of the [[Second Battle of Bull Run]] (Second Manassas), Pope launched repeated assaults against Jackson as Longstreet and the remainder of the army marched north to reach the battlefield.

On August 30, Pope came to believe that Jackson was starting to retreat, and Longstreet took advantage of this by launching a massive assault on the Union army's left with over 25,000 men. Although the Union troops put up a furious defense, Pope's army was forced to retreat in a manner similar to the embarrassing Union defeat at First Bull Run, fought on roughly the same battleground.

When Lee decided to invade the North in the [[Maryland Campaign]], Jackson took [[Battle of Harpers Ferry|Harpers Ferry]], then hastened to join the rest of the army at [[Sharpsburg, Maryland]], where they fought McClellan in the [[Battle of Antietam]] (Sharpsburg). Antietam was primarily a defensive battle against superior odds, although McClellan failed to exploit his advantage. Jackson's men bore the brunt of the initial attacks on the northern end of the battlefield and, at the end of the day, successfully resisted a breakthrough on the southern end when Jackson's subordinate, Maj. Gen. [[A. P. Hill]], arrived at the last minute from Harpers Ferry. The Confederate forces held their position, but the battle was extremely bloody for both sides, and Lee withdrew the [[Army of Northern Virginia]] back across the [[Potomac River]], ending the invasion. On October 10, Jackson was promoted to [[Lieutenant General (CSA)|lieutenant general]], being ranked just behind Lee and Longstreet and his command was redesignated the Second Corps.

Before the armies camped for winter, Jackson's Second Corps held off a strong Union assault against the right flank of the Confederate line at the [[Battle of Fredericksburg]], in what became a Confederate victory. Just before the battle, Jackson was delighted to receive a letter about the birth of his daughter, Julia Laura Jackson, on November 23.<ref>Robertson, p. 645.</ref> Also before the battle, Maj. Gen. [[J. E. B. Stuart]], Lee's dashing and well-dressed cavalry commander, presented to Jackson a fine general's [[frock coat]] that he had ordered from one of the best tailors in Richmond. Jackson's previous coat was threadbare and colorless from exposure to the elements, its buttons removed by admiring ladies. Jackson asked his staff to thank Stuart, saying that although the coat was too handsome for him, he would cherish it as a souvenir. His staff insisted that he wear it to dinner, which caused scores of soldiers to rush to see him in uncharacteristic garb. Jackson was so embarrassed with the attention that he did not wear the new uniform for months.<ref>Robertson, p. 630.</ref>

===Chancellorsville===
{{Main|Battle of Chancellorsville}}
At the [[Battle of Chancellorsville]], the [[Army of Northern Virginia]] faced a serious threat by the [[Army of the Potomac]], led by its new commanding general, Major General [[Joseph Hooker]].  Lee decided to employ a risky tactic to take the initiative and offensive away from Hooker's new southern thrust – he decided to divide his forces. Jackson and his entire corps went on an aggressive flanking maneuver to the right of the Union lines. While riding with his infantry in a wide berth well south and west of the Federal line of battle, Jackson employed Maj. Gen. [[Fitzhugh Lee]]'s cavalry to provide for better reconnaissance regarding the exact location of the Union right and rear. The results were far better than even Jackson could have hoped. Fitzhugh Lee found the entire right side of the Federal lines in the middle of open field, guarded merely by two guns that faced westward, as well as the supplies and rear encampments. The men were eating and playing games in carefree fashion, completely unaware that an entire Confederate corps was less than a mile away. What happened next is given in Fitzhugh Lee's own words:{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}

[[File:Stonewall Jackson.jpg|thumb|Jackson's "Chancellorsville" portrait, taken at a Spotsylvania County farm on April 26, 1863, seven days before he was mortally wounded in the [[Battle of Chancellorsville]]]]
[[File:The Photographic History of The Civil War Volume 02 Page 125.jpg|thumb|Lower right photograph of trees shattered by artillery shells near where Jackson was shot on Orange Plank Road]]
{{Blockquote|So impressed was I with my discovery, that I rode rapidly back to the point on the Plank road where I had left my cavalry, and back down the road Jackson was moving, until I met "Stonewall" himself. "General", said I, "if you will ride with me, halting your column here, out of sight, I will show you the enemy's right, and you will perceive the great advantage of attacking down the Old turnpike instead of the Plank road, the enemy's lines being taken in reverse. Bring only one courier, as you will be in view from the top of the hill." Jackson assented, and I rapidly conducted him to the point of observation. There had been no change in the picture.

I only knew Jackson slightly. I watched him closely as he gazed upon Howard's troops. It was then about 2&nbsp;pm. His eyes burned with a brilliant glow, lighting up a sad face. His expression was one of intense interest, his face was colored slightly with the paint of approaching battle, and radiant at the success of his flank movement. To the remarks made to him while the unconscious line of blue was pointed out, he did not reply once during the five minutes he was on the hill, and yet his lips were moving. From what I have read and heard of Jackson since that day, I know now what he was doing then. Oh! "beware of rashness", General Hooker. Stonewall Jackson is praying in full view and in rear of your right flank! While talking to the Great God of Battles, how could he hear what a poor cavalryman was saying. "Tell General Rodes", said he, suddenly whirling his horse towards the courier, "to move across the Old plank road; halt when he gets to the Old turnpike, and I will join him there." One more look upon the Federal lines, and then he rode rapidly down the hill, his arms flapping to the motion of his horse, over whose head it seemed, good rider as he was, he would certainly go. I expected to be told I had made a valuable personal reconnaissance—saving the lives of many soldiers, and that Jackson was indebted to me to that amount at least. Perhaps I might have been a little chagrined at Jackson's silence, and hence commented inwardly and adversely upon his horsemanship. Alas! I had looked upon him for the last time.|Fitzhugh Lee|address to the Association of the Army of Northern Virginia, 1879}}

Jackson immediately returned to his corps and arranged his divisions into a line of battle to charge directly into the oblivious Federal right. The Confederates marched silently until they were merely several hundred feet from the Union position, then released a cry and full charge. Many of the Federal soldiers were captured without a shot fired, the rest were driven into a full rout. Jackson pursued back toward the center of the Federal line until dusk.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}

As Jackson and his staff were returning to camp on May 2, sentries of the [[18th North Carolina Infantry Regiment]] mistook the group for a Union cavalry force. The sentries shouted "Halt, who goes there?", but fired before evaluating the reply; frantic shouts by Jackson's staff identifying the party were replied to by Major [[John D. Barry]] with the retort, "It's a damned [[Yankee]] trick! Fire!"<ref>Foote, Shelby, The Civil War: A Narrative, Vol. 2</ref> A second volley was fired in response. Jackson was hit by three bullets: two in the left arm and one in the right hand. Several of Jackson's men and many horses were killed in the attack. Incoming artillery rounds and darkness led to confusion, and Jackson was dropped from his stretcher while being evacuated. Surgeon [[Hunter McGuire]] amputated [[Stonewall Jackson's arm|Jackson's left arm]], and Jackson was moved to Fairfield plantation at [[Guinea, Virginia|Guinea Station]]. Thomas Chandler, the owner, offered the use of his home for Jackson's treatment, but Jackson suggested using Chandler's plantation office building instead.<ref>Apperson, p. 430.</ref>