JACKSON, THOMAS JONATHAN (ante), 1824-63; b. at Va., the third of four children of Jonathan Jackson, a lawyer, and his wife Julia Neale. The father died when Thomas was but three years old, and the mother, with three children, was left with out means of support. She taught school and worked at sewing. After three years of widowhood she married a lawyer named Woodson. He was poor, and the children were parceled out among their uncles and aunts. Fourteen months after her second marriage Mrs. WoodsOn died. Thomas went to live with Cummins Jackson. an uncle, Who acted the part of a father to him; and there the boy grew up to the age required for entrance to the national military academy, to which he was appointed in 1842. His appearance when he entered the academy is thus described: " A slender lad, who walked rapidly, with his head bent forward; a grave, thoughtful face, which gave him a dull look; but when any thing interested or excited him his form became erect, his eyes flashed like steel, and his smile—as sweet as a woman's—would illumine his whole face." He graduated June 30, 1846, with the usual rank of second lieutenant of artillery; the Mexican war had just commenced, and all the West Point graduates were ordered into active service, arriving before Vera Cruz, Mar. 9, 1847. After a siege of 20 days that city surrendered, and the little army under gen. Scott moved on towards the Mexican capital, defeating Santa Anna, at Ger•o Gordo, and winning other victories at Contreras and Churubuseo. At the latter place Jackson made his first military mark. The first lieut., then commanding a battery, was killed and Jackson took his place, behaving sa gallantly that he was given the rank of brevet captain. After Churnbusco gen. Scott defeated the enemy at Molino del Rey, and finally took the castle of Chapeltepoc, which was the last defense of the city of Mexico. In the assault on the castle Jackson showed the greatest courage and daring, for which he was warmly complimented by his superior officers. Soon after the capture of the city, Sept. 14, 1847, which put an end to the war, Jackson, now a major, was sent with his command to fort Hamilton, New York harbor, where he remained two years. Here he became absorbed in reflections upon religion, was baptized, and became an attendant of the Protestant Episcopal church. From fort Hamilton he was sent to fort Meade, near Tampa bay, Florida. Not long afterwards he was chosen professor of natural philosophy and artillery tactics in the Virginia military institute at Lexington. He resigned from the army in July, 1851, and accepted the pro fessorship. A few Months after settling at Lexington he joined the Presbyterian church, and took an active part in the usual religious work. Aug. 4, 1853, .Jackson married Miss Eleanor Junkin, who lived only 14 months—just as long as his mother lived after her second marriage. In the summer of 1836 he traveled in England and on the continent. July 15, 1857, he married Mary Ann Morrison, daughter of Dr. Robert Mor rison, a Presbyterian clergyman of North Carolina, and the pair settled down to a quiet life near Lexington. but soon to be disturbed by the coming rebel lion. Jackson went with his state, and on April 22, 1861, became once more a soldier, joining the army of the rebellion under gen. Robert E. Lee at Rich mond. • He was made a colonel and put in command at Harper's Ferry, which place became the rendezvous for all the troops in the valley of Virginia. Jackson was soon superseded at Harper's Ferry by gen. Joseph E. Johnston, and was put in command of five regiments of Virginia volunteers, forming the body afterwards known as the " Stone wall Brigade." The first work of importance done by Jackson in the war of the rebellion Was the destruction of the works, locomotives, and cars of the Baltimore and Ohio rail road at Martinsburg; and on this performance he wrote the following noticeable com ment: "It was a sad work; but I had my orders, and my duty was to obey. If the cost of the property could have been expended in disseminating the gospel of the Prince of Peace, how much good might have been expected!" Jackson had a skirmish at Haines's farm, where he had two men killed and ten wounded, and then he fell back to join the main body of the confederates near Winchester. July. 3, 1861, he was made a brigadier
general. In the battle of Bull Run Jackson had an active though not prominent part; prominent enough, however to secure his well-known sobriquet of " Stonewall," which came from a remark of gen. Bee, whom Jackson was supporting. Bee was in active engagement, and to encourage his men he pointed to his support ranged on a ridge near by and cried out: "There is Jackson standing like a stone wall; rally behind the Vir ginians." A moment later gen. Bee was killed. Immediately afterwards Jackson's force was engaged, whereupon he ordered, " Reserve your fire till they come within fifty yards; then tire and give them the bayonet; and when you charge, yell like furies..'' This is said to have been the origin of the afterwards well-known "rebel yell." After the Bull Run battle Jackson fell back beyond Centerville, and began to drill his troops; and, Oct. 7, 1861, lie was raised to major-general, taking command under gen. Johnston. Early in 1862 Jackson had the principal command in the Shenandoah valley, and by the secrecy and swiftness of his many sudden attacks he gave the union commanders much trouble, especially in the daring raids made by col. Ashby's cavalry. Jan. 31, 1862, Jackson'suddenly resigned in consequence of difficulties or jealousies with gen. Loring, but he was prevailed upon to withdraw his letter. When the series of engagements known as the "Seven days' battles" began, Jackson resumed active service under Lee, and with Ids command was prominent in the conflict at Cold Harbor, June 27, 1862, and at Malvern Hill four days afterwards. On Aug. 0 his command, having been ordered northward, engaged in the indecisive battle at Cedar mountain. Soon after this event Jackson's powers were enlarged, and he was given the command of almost the half of the confederate army of Virginia, being second in authority only to gen. Lee. Aug. 20 he was in command at the second Bull Run battle. Two weeks afterwards, by a wonderfully rapid movement, he captured nearly 11,000 union soldiers at Harper's Ferry; instantly ordered a forced march, and the second day afterwards arrived at Antietam in time to participate in the conflict at that place. His next active service was at the battle of‘Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862, where his behavior secured for him the rank of lieut.general. A period of comparative rest followed until May 2, 1863, when with about two-thirds of the confederate army he marched rapidly 15 miles to near Chancellorville, and by a surprise turned the right of the union army, driving it back upon the main body. Jackson supposed the fighting to be over, and that he had won an important victory; but with an escort of a few men rode into a forest to make observations. He had ridden some distance beyond the pickets, when one of the party remarked that he ought not thus to expose himself, but he replied, " There is no danger; the enemy is routed." He soon became aware that he was near the union lines, and the party rode back towards their own forces. They were mistaken for union cavalry, and Were fired upon by their own men; some were killed, some wounded, but for the moment Jackson escaped. He turned into a thicket and rode towards his lines, when his .own men fired again, and he received three shots, one in the hand and two in the arm, one of the latter breaking the bone and cutting the artery two inches below the shoulder. After riding a short distance he was assisted from his horse and through the battle, which had recommenced on the part of the unionists and was raging furiously, he was with great difficulty removed to a safe place. The arm was taken off, but he was attacked with pneumonia and died on Sunday, ten days after receiving the wound. Jackson was a muscular man, fully six ft. high, with a clear or pale complexion, bluish gray eyes, an aquiline nose, prominent chin, strong jaws, and a large skull, with high forehead. He was a man of intense convictions, of deep moral earnestness, and of exceeding vigor and promptness. in action. A bronze statue of hint was dedicated at Richmond, Va., in Oct. 1875.