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"Stonewall" Jackson Biography

Military Leader / Civil War Figure

Name at birth: Thomas Jonathan Jackson

Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson was one of the most honored generals of the American Civil War, the Confederate general who lost his arm and then his life from "friendly fire." A graduate of West Point (1846), Jackson distinguished himself as a young officer in the U.S. - Mexican War (1846-48), then spent ten years as a professor of natural philosophy and an instructor in artillery tactics at the Virginia Military Institute (1851-61). A disciplined and aggressive master of tactics, he fought at the first Battle of Bull Run and won the nickname "Stonewall" for his calm demeanor and stout defense of Henry Hill. Commander of the forces in the Shenandoah Valley, he succeeded against Union forces throughout the region in battle after battle. He was with Robert E. Lee at the Seven Days' Battles and fought at Manassas Junction, Second Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg and Chancellorville. After the battle at Chancellorville (May 2-4, 1863), Jackson was wounded by his own soldiers and his left arm was amputated. A week later he died, possibly of pneumonia.

Extra credit: His other nickname was "Old Blue Light," for his eyes... Jackson was present at the execution of abolitionist John Brown... Lee's famous response to Jackson after he was wounded was "You have lost your left. I have lost my right arm."

General Jackson's arm is featured in our loop Exhumation Celebration.