Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson
Family Life
Thomas Jackson was born January 21 of 1824 in Clarksburg, Virginia as the third-born of his 4 siblings. He had a complete family until his father and older sister died of typhoid fever when he was 2, leaving the family in rambles. After a while, his mother finally remarried to Blake Woodson, a man Tnomas and his brother evidently disliked. When Thomas's mother finally grew tired of them and her new husband always arguing, she sent her boys to go live with relatives in Jackson's Mill, Virginia. Then, in 1831, Thomas's mother died giving birth to Thomas's half-brother William, who died later of tuberculosis.
After going to many public schools, Thomas enrolled into the US Military Academy at West Point, New York in 1842. Jackson was admitted into the school only one day after turning in his registration, but that didn't mean he was going to like it there. His classmates would always tease him for being in a poor family and having average education, but instead of putting him down, the insults only made him strive to succeed.
Military Life
Thomas Jackson first began his military life during the Mexican-American War, where he served 2nd lieutenant in the 1st US Artillery. He fought under General Winfield Scott in the battles of Contreras, Chapultepec, and Mexico City. Thomas proved to have outstanding skills that brought him up to a brevet major and considered him a war hero. Jackson retired for a while in the military after the Mexican-American War, but soon got back into things as the Civil War arose. Living in his home state, Virginia, Thomas hoped it wouldn't secede from the Union, but it did, so he supported his home state and joined the Confederacy's side of the war. During the First Battle of Manassas, Thomas Jackson earned his very popular nickname "Stonewall" as he ordered his men to bridge a gap in the defensive line against a Union attack. General Barnard Bee was impressed at Jackson's actions and gave him the nickname Stonewall, and Thomas was also promoted to major general for his courage and quick thinking on the battlefield. In 1862, Jackson was asked to join General Robert Lee's army, in which he agreed and met up with him in the Peninsula. Stonewall did have a state of error from June 15 to July 1 of 1862, but he made up for it with his great attacks at the battle of Calvary Mountain. One of Jackson's other great saves is when he held back the Union army in the bloody battle of Antietam, at least until Robert Lee ordered his army to withdraw from the fight. Thomas was also victorious in the Battle of Chancellorville, where he was now fighting as a lieutenant general, and in the Battle of Chancllorville, where he attacked General John Hooker's Army of the Potomac by the rear and forced them to retreat. May 2 of 1863, Thomas was accidentally shot by a friendly fire and had his arm removed, then just eight days later, he died at the young age of 39.
Thomas Jackson was born January 21 of 1824 in Clarksburg, Virginia as the third-born of his 4 siblings. He had a complete family until his father and older sister died of typhoid fever when he was 2, leaving the family in rambles. After a while, his mother finally remarried to Blake Woodson, a man Tnomas and his brother evidently disliked. When Thomas's mother finally grew tired of them and her new husband always arguing, she sent her boys to go live with relatives in Jackson's Mill, Virginia. Then, in 1831, Thomas's mother died giving birth to Thomas's half-brother William, who died later of tuberculosis.
After going to many public schools, Thomas enrolled into the US Military Academy at West Point, New York in 1842. Jackson was admitted into the school only one day after turning in his registration, but that didn't mean he was going to like it there. His classmates would always tease him for being in a poor family and having average education, but instead of putting him down, the insults only made him strive to succeed.
Military Life
Thomas Jackson first began his military life during the Mexican-American War, where he served 2nd lieutenant in the 1st US Artillery. He fought under General Winfield Scott in the battles of Contreras, Chapultepec, and Mexico City. Thomas proved to have outstanding skills that brought him up to a brevet major and considered him a war hero. Jackson retired for a while in the military after the Mexican-American War, but soon got back into things as the Civil War arose. Living in his home state, Virginia, Thomas hoped it wouldn't secede from the Union, but it did, so he supported his home state and joined the Confederacy's side of the war. During the First Battle of Manassas, Thomas Jackson earned his very popular nickname "Stonewall" as he ordered his men to bridge a gap in the defensive line against a Union attack. General Barnard Bee was impressed at Jackson's actions and gave him the nickname Stonewall, and Thomas was also promoted to major general for his courage and quick thinking on the battlefield. In 1862, Jackson was asked to join General Robert Lee's army, in which he agreed and met up with him in the Peninsula. Stonewall did have a state of error from June 15 to July 1 of 1862, but he made up for it with his great attacks at the battle of Calvary Mountain. One of Jackson's other great saves is when he held back the Union army in the bloody battle of Antietam, at least until Robert Lee ordered his army to withdraw from the fight. Thomas was also victorious in the Battle of Chancellorville, where he was now fighting as a lieutenant general, and in the Battle of Chancllorville, where he attacked General John Hooker's Army of the Potomac by the rear and forced them to retreat. May 2 of 1863, Thomas was accidentally shot by a friendly fire and had his arm removed, then just eight days later, he died at the young age of 39.