Stonewall Jackson

A detailed Summary of Stonewall Jackson

When told to chose an influential person in American history on whom to write a report I immediately went to the Civil War. No other event in American history has change our country as much as the Civil War. It and the people in it had a lasting impact on the way we live today. The Civil War abolished slavery and helped to begin the campaign for equal right s for everybody in America. It also contributed to a change in the economy, allowing the United States to become a world power. The person I chose was General Stonewall Jackson: a Confederate general in the Civil War.

Stonewall Jackson's real name was Thomas Jonathan Jackson. He was born on January 21, 1824 in Clarksburg Western Virginia(now known as West Virginia) to parents of Scotch-Irish decent. His father died when he was three and his mother when he was seven, leaning himself, a younger sister, and an older brother orphans. Before his mother died however, she gave Jackson a deep sense of morality that was strengthened through religion. Jackson went to live with his uncle, Cummins Jackson, who owned a farm. On the farm Jackson worked with the slaves, helped raise the crops and livestock, and ran a gristmill for his uncle.

nsidered brilliant and he learned slowly. Once he learned something though he never forgot it. Jackson also had a few health problems. As a child he was weak and had constant stomach troubles. These problems included nervous indigestion and other chronic discomforts which followed him throughout his life.

Three years later Jackson retired his commission and took a job to teach at the Virginia Military Institution as a Professor of Natural Philosophy and an instructor of artillery. At this time Jackson is twenty-eight years old. He is six feet tall, has gray-blue eyes, a very fair and ruddy countenance and side whiskers. He was often mistaken to be an Englishman.

General Stonewall Jackson's last battle was the Battle of Chancellorsville which the Confederates won. During this battle Jackson was shot twice in the left arm and once in the right hand by his own troops. They were surprised and fired on him as he was riding down the road. Jackson fell from his horse and was carried from the battlefield. He soon caught pneumonia due to his wounds and became delirious. He was also suffering from shock. His last words were "Let us cross over the river and rest under the shade of the trees." General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson died Sunday May 10th, 1864.

Next, Jackson won a nomination to the United States Military Academy at West Point. He arrived at West Point in 1842 at the age of eighteen. His friends were dubious about his ability and educational qualifications because they all knew that he was a poor student. He was ranked among the lowest section in his class and was inept at the military exercises. His swordsmanship was clumsy at best and it seemed to take an effort on his part to just stay on his horse. Add to that his rusticity and quiet demeanor and he became the class oddball. Many of the cadets picked on him that first year, but when he either avoided or failed to respond to most of their pranks they gave up. Jackson didn't do well at his lessons. It took him days to complete a lesson because he often didn't understand them. The longer he was at West Point though the quicker he got and by his fourth and last year he had moved from 51st in his class to 17th. Jackson graduated on July 1, 1846. Other graduates included George B. McClellan, George a Pickett, and Ambrose Hill. All of whom made a name for themselves during the Civil War.

Jackson, now twenty-two, becam

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Approximate Word count = 1628
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: History