Editing Stonewall Jackson (section)

=== U.S. Army and the Mexican War ===
Jackson began his [[United States Army]] career as a [[Second lieutenant#United States|second lieutenant]] in Company K of the 1st U.S. Artillery Regiment. His unit proceeded through Pennsylvania, down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to New Orleans, and from there the troops embarked for Point Isabel, Texas, from where they were sent to fight in the [[Mexican–American War]]. Jackson's unit was directed to report to [[Zachary Taylor|General Taylor]] and proceed immediately via Matamoros and Camargo to Monterey and then to Saltillo. Prior to the Battle of Buena Vista, Lieutenant Jackson's unit was ordered to withdraw from General Taylor's army and march to the mouth of the Rio Grande, where they would be transferred to Veracruz. He served at the [[Siege of Veracruz]] and the battles of [[Battle of Contreras|Contreras]], [[Battle of Chapultepec|Chapultepec]], and [[Battle for Mexico City|Mexico City]], eventually earning two [[Brevet (military)|brevet promotions]], and the [[Regular Army (United States)|regular army]] rank of [[First lieutenant (United States)|first lieutenant]]. It was in Mexico that Jackson first met [[Robert E. Lee]].

During the [[Battle of Chapultepec]] 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.<ref>Robertson, p. 69.</ref> The former episode, and later aggressive action against the retreating Mexican army, earned him field promotion to the brevet rank of major.<ref name="George Cullum" />

After the war, Jackson was briefly assigned to units in New York, and later to Florida during the [[Second Interbellum]] of the [[Seminole Wars]], during which the Americans were attempting to force the remaining [[Seminole]]s to move west. He was stationed briefly at [[Fort Casey (Florida)|Fort Casey]] before being named second-in-command at [[Fort Meade, Florida|Fort Meade]], a small fort about thirty miles south of [[Tampa, Florida|Tampa]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Eiedson |first=George T. |date=June 13, 1993 |title=Before He Was 'Stonewall,' Jackson Served in Florida |work=Orlando Sentinel |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1993/06/13/before-he-was-stonewall-jackson-served-in-florida/ |access-date=August 8, 2016}}</ref> His commanding officer was [[William H. French|Major William H. French]]. Jackson and French disagreed often, and filed numerous complaints against each other. Jackson stayed in Florida less than a year.<ref>Gwynne, S. C. ''Rebel Yell: The Violence, Passion, and Redemption of Stonewall Jackson''. New York: Scribner, 2014, pp. 110–18.</ref>