Thomas Stonewall Jackson

Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson

Thomas Jonathan Jackson was born at Clarksburg, West Virginia to parents Jonathan Jackson, an attorney, and Julia Beckwith Neale. They were married in September 1817 and had four children: Elizabeth, Warren, Thomas, and Laura Ann. Jackson's sister Elizabeth, age 6 and his father died of typhoid fever. Julia Jackson gave birth to Laura the day after her husband died. Widowed at age 28, Julia was left with extensive debts and the family was impoverished.

Julia Jackson remarried. Her new husband, Blake Woodson, disliked his stepchildren and the family had financial difficulties. A short time after the marriage, Thomas and Laura were sent to live with Jackson relatives in Jackson's Mill West Virginia; Warren was sent to Neale relatives. Julia Jackson died, as a result of childbirth complications, on Dec. 4, 1831. She left behind the three Jackson siblings and a newborn son (Thomas's half brother), William Wirt Woodson. Jackson and Laura spent the remaining years of childhood with their paternal uncles. Jackson's brother, Warren, died of tuberculosis in 1841.

Jackson attended the United States Military Academy at West Point. Jackson was not the first choice for his congressional district's appointment, but the top applicant withdrew from the academy after only one day. Jackson graduated in June 1846, standing 17th out of 59 graduates. Jackson began his U.S. Army career as a 2nd Lt., First Artillery Regiment. He served in the Mexian War as an Army Officer. In the spring of 1851 Jackson was offered and accepted the appointment to teach at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia; he resigned from the army.

On August 4, 1853, Jackson married Elinor Junkin, daughter of Dr. George Junkin (President of Washington College) and Julia Miller Junkin. Elinor soon died in childbirth on October 22, 1854; however, their child, a son, was stillborn.

On July 16, 1857, Jackson married for the second time. His wife was Mary Anna Morrison, daughter of Robert Hall Morrison and Mary Graham Morrison. Mary Anna's family resided in North Carolina; her father was the retired President of Davidson College. Mary Anna gave birth to a daughter, Mary Graham, on April 30, 1858; the baby died less than a month later, on May 25.

Jackson was ordered to Richmond to serve as a drillmaster for new army recruits. Jackson was placed in command of the cadets. Gov. John Letcher ordered Col. Jackson to take command at Harper's Ferry, where he organized the troops that would soon comprise the famous "Stonewall Brigade" in the Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia. He was then promoted to Brigadier General and fought at Battle of 1st Manassas, where he acquired the legendary nickname “Stonewall”. Jackson was then promoted to Major General and placed in command of the Valley of Virginia. Jackson's brilliant Shenandoah Valley Campaign included victories at Front Royal, Winchester, Cross Keys and Port Republic. Following the successful campaign,