Stonewall Jackson Essays

The seventh president of the United States had a colorful military career before he became Commander in Chief. Andrew Jackson, born 1767 in South Carolina, was a prisoner of war during War of Independence; "his treatment resulting in a lifelong dislike of Great Britain," ("Andrew Jackson" n.d.). After the British captured the belligerent Jackson, he was "ordered to clean a British officer's boots. When he refused, the officer drew his sword and slashed Jackson's hand to the bone," (Patrick, n.d.). This memorable treatment by the British inspired Jackson to take up arms against the British in the War of 1812. It also helped to foment Jackson's political ideologies that were staunchly anti-federalist. In addition to his encounters with the British during the Revolutionary War, Jackson was notorious for having "indulged in many a duel," including one in which he killed Charles Dickenson (Patrick, n.d.).

Famed Confederate General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson’s legacy is hardly easy to define. His is most remembered for cunning speed and brutality in battle and many consider him without equal. The same strategies Jackson used in the Shenandoah Valley campaign were scrutinized by both Rommel and Patton for inspiration in WWII. Jackson’s personal discipline carried over into his command. Although his men were often barefoot and near starvation, he pushed them forward into battle, not wishing to sacrifice the element of surprise. Many of his battles were actually waged on Sundays which contradicts Jackson’s steadfast devotion to Christianity that many attribute to fanaticism.

In 1801 Andrew Jackson was selected to be the commander of the Tennessee militia. His military experience helped him in the war of 1812, when he won against the creeks Indians at horseshoe bend. By winning that battle he had gained twenty million acres, which is the present day Georgia and Alabama. After what Andrew Jackson has done to his nation he was promoted to a major general. After a couple years he was named a national hero, because of his tremendous win against the British. When he had led five thousand soldiers to victory against seven thousand five hundred British, in New Orleans. After his success he received a gold medal. Also his troops had nicknamed him old hickory, because it was said that Andrew Jackson was “as tough as old hickory wood” (pg 1). In 1817 Jackson had his first Seminole war, and he captured the Pensacola, which is in Florida, then he went on to capture Spanish territory. By capturing that area he became the military governor of Florida, because he overthrew the previous governor, who was José Masot, who was secretly helping out the Indians in wars. So that title of being a governor of Florida, he had held for ten months.

b. Stonewall Jackson – Earned his nickname at the Battle of Bull Run because of his refusal to back down against the Union Army

He went to Dartmouth College but left to go to West Point. He graduated in 1808.

Although some people believe that Thomas Jackson was negatively affected by growing up with his bachelor uncle Cummins Jackson, this unusual background ultimately made Stonewall Jackson the great U.S. military figure he is today. Cummins Jackson had a strong work ethic, which was pushed onto a young Stonewall Jackson. Stonewall Jackson's father died when Jackson was very young, leaving Jackson without a father figure the mold him into a respectable man.

President Jefferson Davis supported the south. He was born on June 3, 1808 in Christian County Kentucky of one of the ten siblings . He had nine siblings. Four brothers named Joseph Emory Davis, Isaac Williams Davis, Benjamin Davis, and Samuel A. Davis. Five sisters named Matilda Davis, Amanda Jane Davis, Anna Elizi Davis, Lucinda Farrar Davis, and Mary Ellen Davis. His father and his uncles fought in the American Revolution War. His three older brothers fought in the War of 1812. Jefferson Davis grew up on plantation near Woodville, Mississippi. Then he went back to Kentucky to go to boarding school. In 1824 Davis was sixteen years old when President James Monroe requested Davis to become a cadet at the United States Military at West Point. In 1828 Davis graduated from West Point twenty third in his class.

Thomas Jonathan Jackson was born on January 21, 1824 in Clarksburg, Virginia. His father died when Jackson was two years old and his mother when he was seven. Upon becoming an orphan, he lived with his uncle and worked on his farm. Jackson had three years of schooling that started when he was thirteen. He attended West Point Academy and graduated in 1846. Impressively, he finished seventeenth in his class. In the Mexican-American War, Jackson served as a brevet second lieutenant from 1846 through 1848. After resigning from the military, Jackson accepted a teaching position at Virginia Military Institute.

Thomas Jonathan “Stonewall” Jackson was born January 21, 1824 in Clarksburg, Virginia. In 1846 he began his official military career with the US Army as a brevet second lieutenant in the Mexican-American War. This is where Thomas Jackson first met Robert E. Lee. After many victories in war he was promoted to rank of major.

Jefferson Davis attended a boarding school for his education. After that he enrolled in Jefferson College in Mississippi. Later he transferred to Transylvania University in Kentucky. Davis also attended United States Military Academy at West point. He then entered

He was born on January 21, 1824. Born in Clarksburg, Virginia. This is now known as West Virginia. Jackson was only two years old when his six year old sister passed away due to a disease called typhoid fever. After that, a short time later his father Jonathan Jackson passed on as well due to the same disease. All he had for a family was his mom Julia Neale Jackson (his father’s wife). The family had also taken on a major amount of debt. Then Julia remarried to a man that was said not to like his stepchildren. The kids of Julia were sent to live with relatives, which probably had a lot to do with her new husband not being very fond of his step children. So then Thomas Jackson, a future war hero, a man that wrote his legend in history, was raised by his Uncle in the town of Jackson’s mill. This town was also located in what is known now as

McClellan started his military profession by entering the United States Military Academy in 1842. He graduated second in a class of 59 in 1846. He was selected as a brevet second lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers and served under General Winfield Scott during the Mexican-American War. Upon the flare-up of the Civil War, Ohio Governor William Dennison selected McClellan significant general of Ohio Volunteers on April 23, 1861. This advancement, alongside the backing of Governor Denison, urged Lincoln to commission McClellan a noteworthy general in the Regular Army, making him one of the most astounding positioned personal in the administration under just Winfield Scott.

“Let us cross over the river, and rest under the shade of the trees.”1 These were some of Stonewall Jackson’s Final words. Jackson was one of the most charismatic and influential Generals to have ever participated in the American Civil War. It was his work ethic, morality, and immense military expertise that gained him his infamous recognition and respect. Just a small overview of his life will clearly explain how Stonewall Jackson earned his merit as being one of the most outstanding Civil War generals that this country has ever seen.

Stonewall Jackson was known for his intense attention to detail in military strategy, eccentric style of teaching at VMI, and strange encounters with others, all traits of a person with Asperger’s Syndrome.

During the Civil War James became part of the Union army as a lieutenant colonel without military experience. He was apart of the Battle of Shiloh, the Siege of Corinth, and the Battle of Chickamauga. James