"The submarine USS Stonewall Jackson, one of the most famous Confederate generals in the War Between the States, is named for Lieutenant General Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson." Stonewall Jackson made great contributions to the early success of the Confederate Army at the First and Second Battles of Manassas, the Battle at Antietam and the Battle of Chancellorsville. The Confederate Army had many disadvantages in the war against the Union. It had far fewer people, fewer factories to manufacture war materials and less artillery than the Union. Despite all it"s obstacles, the Confederacy demonstrated an excellent sense of military leadership that was responsible for keeping the South involved in the war for such a long period of time. Stonewall Jackson was an essential member of that military leadership.

             Thomas Jonathan Jackson was born on January 21, 1824, in Clarksburg, Virginia. When Thomas was only two years old both his father and his sister Elizabeth died of typhoid fever leaving his mother with the responsibility of the three children. Soon after the death of his mother, Thomas and his siblings were forced to live in the home of their Uncle Cummins Jackson at Jackson"s Mill. At the time, formal education was not easily obtained so most of Jackson"s education was self-taught. Even though Jackson was not .

             very well educated, his desires were to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point. .

             Thomas Jackson decided to set out for Washington, D.C. to obtain an appointment to West Point. When Jackson arrived he presented himself before the Secretary of War and asked for an appointment to the academy. Despite the fact of Jackson"s had little education, his impressive determination allowed for him to receive an immediate appointment from the Secretary of War. Although he started slowly, Jackson finished seventeenth in his class and was commissioned as a second Lieutenant in charge of Artillery.