Stonewall_Jackson

Have you ever had a twinge in your side and feel that your body just needs a good stretch' How about feeling those butterflies in your stomach and deciding that your alimentary canal had to be absolutely straight at all times' Or that your blood was imbalanced causing one arm to be heavier than the other' Many of us have not thought about the latter two, but for Thomas Jackson, an American hero, these were common worries. Born to Jonathan Jackson and Judith “Julia” Beckworth Neale on January 21, 1824 in Clarksburg, Virginia was a blue eyed baby boy. Thomas, named after his maternal grandfather, was the third child of Mr. and Mrs. Jackson. Thomas had an older sister, Elizabeth, and an older brother, Warren. In the following years, Julia became pregnant with her fourth child. During Julia’s pregnancy, Elizabeth became ill with Typhoid Fever leaving Jonathan to care for the sick child. On March 5, 1826, when Thomas was only two, he lost his first sibling. Within three weeks, his father, who was also contracted the illness, had died. Brought into this world on March 27, 1826, the day after their father’s death, was Thomas’ dear sister, Laura Ann. Julia found herself trying to make ends meet for her and her three young children; she moved the family into a rented one bedroom house. The family was left in debt after Jonathan’s passing. For income, she took in sewing and taught school to children. After four years of becoming a widow, Julia was going to marry a lawyer named Blake Woodson. The Neales and Julia’s children pleaded with her not marry Mr. Woodson, but she did anyway. Again, Julia became pregnant. Blake Woodson moved him and his new family to Ansted, Virginia. Julia became ill in the travels. Blake decided it would be best if the children were to live with relatives. Warren was sent to live with Julia’s brother, Alfred Neale near Parkersburg. Months later, Thomas and Laura were sent to Jackson’s Mill, to be raised by relatives of their father. After a short stay at the mill, the children were recalled by their mother. Julia had given birth to another boy, William Wirt Woodson, but her health had since taken a turn for the worst. The children arrived in time to hear their mother’s last blessing before she took her final breath on December 3, 1831. Thomas and Laura returned to life at Jackson’s Mill. Thomas threw himself into his studies while helping out on the farm. He attended school during the winter months and learned to read. Thomas was noted as an eager learned and a hard worker. Four years after his mother passed away, Thomas lost both his grandmother, Elizabeth Jackson, and grandfather, Edward Jackson. Their bachelor uncles did not feel it was right for the two children to be at the farm any longer. Laura was sent to live with her Aunt Rebecca White near Parkersburg while Thomas was sent to live with his Aunt Polly Brake near Clarksburg, Virginia. At age 11, Thomas decided because he and his Uncle Brake could not get along, he would run away. He walked close to 30 miles back to Jackson’s Mill and was welcomed by his relatives, especially his favorite uncle, Cummins Jackson. Thomas continued to work hard on the farm. He helped raised sheep and horses, he hauled wool, he ran the saw mill and grist mill, and most of all Thomas fished. In the fall of 1836, Thomas was visited by his brother Warren who was on his way to see Laura, their sister. Thomas joined Warren and both went on their way to visit Laura. While on their trip, Warren convinced Thomas what a brilliant idea it would be to start a business selling wood to steamboats just like their Uncle Alfred Neale. After their reunion with Laura, the two set off down the Ohio River to the Mississippi River. The boys soon found out that the work was demanding. Both boys health had began to deteriorate by the time they had decided to return home. After Thomas’ return, he found an interest in teaching. For four months, he would teach five school children the little knowledge he knew. Thomas’ love of reading and teaching brought a new friend into his life. Joseph Lightburn had recently moved to the area from Pennsylvania. The Lightburns had a large library and openly shared it Thomas. At age 14, Joseph introduced Thomas to the Bible. Little did he know, but Joseph made a major impact in Thomas’ life. Thomas began studying the military campaigns in the Bible and attended church services with the Lightburns. Thomas read the Bible and what he did not understand was explained to him by an elderly slave of Jackson’s Mill named Nancy Robinson or “Granny” to Thomas. At age 15, Thomas became ill with a stomach bug and was diagnosed with Dyspepsia. It was told to him by local physicians that hot mustard plasters to his chest and much horseback riding would help to alleviate his symptoms. Thomas found little relief in his prescription. This became the first of his lifelong ailments. Looking for a new turn in life, Thomas found that a position had opened up for a constable in the county’s west fork district. Thomas applied for the job and at 17 became the constable. Although the occupation was hard, the rides were long, and the men he encountered were dishonest, Thomas became a success. Warren Jackson died in late 1841 by what was either Tuberculosis or Malaria. Thomas soon returned to the education system when he learned that an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point became available in the district where he lived. Thomas and three others applied for the opening. Congressman Samuel L. Hays interviewed the four candidates: Gibson Butcher, Johnson Camden, Thomas Jackson, and Joseph Lightburn. With the highest mathematical score, Gibson Butcher was awarded the appointment to the Academy. Gibson Butcher’s stay at West Point was short. He returned home without informing his superiors. Gibson made it a point to Thomas that the military life was not for him, but if Thomas wanted it, it was all his. Thomas was thrilled about the opportunity for education and a military career. He visited every man of influence in his area to ask for a letter of recommendation. Once, when asked if he felt his limited education was enough to get him through West Point, Thomas replied, “I know that I shall have the application necessary to succeed. I hope that I have the capacity. I am determined to try, and I wish you to help me do this.” Letters in hand, Thomas traveled for days to Washington, D.C. He showed up at the Congressman’s office unannounced and informed him of Gibson Butcher’s resignation from West Point. He then presented the letters of support to Samuel Hays whom immediately nominated Thomas for the vacancy. After two worrisome days, on June 19, 1842, Thomas received the appointment letter to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point from the Secretary of War. His nerves were nowhere near calm now. Thomas was nervous about passing the physical and oral examinations to get into the Academy. Thomas arrived to West Point on June 20, 1842. Taking the exams only a few days later, Thomas found his time there studying. On June 25, Thomas Jonathan Jackson found his name on the list of “Duly Qualified.” West Point was no easy feat for Thomas, now with the middle name Jonathan after his father. He found that he was unable to learn the curriculum as fast as others. Thus, he dedicated what little time he had to himself studying. Although, he studied for hours, even after nightfall, he fell to the bottom of his class. It was said that Thomas would stare at a blank wall and strain to memorize the facts or figures. Lessons and years in the Academy continued. Although, Thomas’ grades improved significantly over time, he felt his health was diminishing. Thomas felt that one arm was longer and heavier than the other. He would pump his arm in the air to balance the blood throughout the rest of his body. For the remainder of his life, Thomas would be “under habitual fear of some chronic and fatal disease.” U.S. Military Academy at West Point’s Class of 1846 consisted of 59 cadets. Thomas ranked 17th and left the Academy with the brevet rank of Second Lieutenant in the 1st U.S. Artillery Regiment. Within months, 1st U.S. Artillery was assigned to the Mexican-American war. Between 1846 and 1848, LT Jackson partook in the Seize of Veracruz, the Battles of Contreras and Chapultepec, along with the March into Mexico City. During the war, Thomas met Robert E. Lee whom would later be referred to as his right arm. After America’s success in the Mexican-American War, Thomas was assigned to Fort Meade in Florida. It was there that Thomas butted heads with a superior and opted for a position teaching natural and experimental philosophy at Virginia Military Institute. En route to Virginia, Thomas visited New York to see Dr. Lowry Barney for his dyspepsia. Dr. Barney insisted Thomas’ condition was related to stress and encouraged him to relax and enjoy life. In September 1851, Thomas began teaching and it was soon found out that his delivery of lessons was poor. He would memorize the lessons the day before and would recite it to the young cadets. If a topic was unclear to a student and he asked a question, Thomas would recite the lesson over again. Although the professor was the butt of jokes at school, Thomas was less socially inept. He made friends in the community and was well known on and off campus. With the help of his close friends, Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Hill and Mr. John Lyle, Thomas found his religious home in Lexington Presbyterian Church. He became a devout Christian, read the Bible daily and prayed numerous times each day. He stopped dancing and playing cards. He dedicated every Sunday to the Lord. He refused to read the newspaper, write a letter or do anything unless it included the Bible on Sabbath Day. By the time the Thomas’ first year of teaching had come to an end, he was a very happy man. In a letter to his sister, Laura he wrote, “I have for months back admired Lexington, but now for the first time, have I truly and fully appreciate it. Of all places which have come under my observation in the U. States, this little village is the most beautiful.” While in Lexington, Thomas fell in love with Elinor “Ellie” Junkin. Ellie was the daughter of Dr. George Junkin, the president of Washington College and a Presbyterian minister. The couple married August 4, 1853. Thomas was as happy as could be. Within the first few months of their marriage, Ellie became pregnant. The baby was to be due in October. Both parents were elated. On October 22, Ellie gave birth to a stillborn son. Ellie died in the process of delivery. The tragedy struck Thomas the hardest. Throughout the next months, Thomas’ threw himself into his faith and religion. He worked harder to please the Lord. In the summer to follow, Thomas traveled abroad throughout Europe. When he returned home months later, he seemed to have put his grief aside. Seeking happiness, Thomas soon courted and married his close friend’s sister-in-law, Mary Anna Morrison. Though he was happy in his marriage, Thomas’ health began to fail. He suffered from digestive issues, hearing and vision loss, and neuralgia of the face. An addition to the Jackson family came on April 30, but the baby died less than a month later. During late 1859, now Major Jackson leading the VMI cadets accompanied the Virginia Militia with an order to keep the peace at the hanging of John Brown, a militant abolitionist and Harper’s Ferry raid leader accused of murder and treason. Slavery became a huge issue and elections were just around the corner. Abraham Lincoln was elected President of the United States. Many of the southern states feared President Lincoln would put an end to slavery and began to secede. Eleven states eventually seceded from the Union to form the Confederate States with Jefferson Davis as their president. Thomas was named a colonel in the Virginian army. Within months, the Union and Confederacy were at war. The two armies fought in many skirmishes to include Harpers Ferry and Falling Waters, but the first major battle of the Civil War took place near Manassas, Virginia where Colonel Jackson was assigned. During this battle, Thomas was shot in the finger. The Confederacy appeared to be losing the battle when Colonel Jackson gave his men the order, “Steady, men, steady! All’s well!” Union forces continued to press on. It is said that a frantic General Barnard E. Bee saw Jackson in the midst of battle smoke “standing like a stone wall.” By the end of the day, the Confederates defeated the North and Colonel Thomas Jackson had earned himself the nickname of “Stonewall.” As the men of First Brigade took on the name of Stonewall Brigade, a now Major Colonel Stonewall Jackson received orders to defend the Shenandoah Valley from Union troops. Thomas settled in Winchester and had his wife, Anna visit him for the winter. Although the peace was nice, Thomas knew it would not last long. In early 1862, a pregnant Anna returned home and Stonewall and his troops marched to Washington. Over the course of many more battles, Jackson “became known as one of the most hated and feared of all the Confederate commanders,” to the North.