Military officer; born in
Clarksburg, Va., Jan. 21, 1824; graduated at
West Point in 1846, entering the 2d Artillery; served in the war with
Mexico; was brevetted captain and major; and resigned in 1852 with health impaired, becoming professor in the Military Institute at
Lexington, Va. He entered the
Confederate service, as colonel, in April, 1861, and commanded the Army of observation at
Harper's Ferry.
His first engagement was at
Falling Waters.
Jackson commanded
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a brigade in the
battle of Bull Run, where he received the name of “
Stonewall.”
A furious charge, made by a New York
regiment, under
Col. Henry W. Slocum, had shattered the
Confederate line, and the troops had fled to a plateau whereon
General Jackson had just arrived with reserves.
“They are beating us back!”
exclaimed
Gen. Bernard E. Bee. “Well, sir,” replied
Jackson, “we will give them the bayonet.”
Bee was encouraged.
“Form! Form!”
he cried to the fugitives; “there stands
Jackson like a stone wall.”
The effect of these words was wonderful.
The flight was checked, order was brought out of confusion, and ever afterwards the calm general was called “
Stonewall.”
He attained the rank of lieutenant-general, and was accidentally shot by his own men, while reconnoitring during the
battle of Chancellorsville; and, from his wounds, and a sudden attack of pneumonia, he died in Guinea Station, Va., May 10, 1863.
