Jackson (V)

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

THOMAS JONATHAN, an American military officer; born in Clarksburg, Va., Jan. 21, 1824; was grad. uated at the United States Military Academy in 1846; served through the "STONEWALL" JACKSON Mexican War, winning promotions more rapidly than any other officer of his grade during that war. When the Civil War began, he was commissioned colonel in the Virginia forces; was placed in command of the Virginia brigade; met the advance of General Patterson at Falling Waters on July 2, 1861, gave the National force a decided check, and captured a number of prisoners. Soon after he was commissioned Brigadier-General. In the first battle of Bull Run he won his new name "Stonewall" when Gen. Bernard E. Bee, in the crisis of the fight, shouted: "See, there is Jackson standing like a stonewall; rally on the Virginians!" He was promoted Major-General and placed in command of the district that included the Shenandoah valley and the section of Virginia N. W. of it. During the winter he drove the National forces out of his district. In March, 1862, he fell back before Banks' army of 35,000 men, and Banks reported him "in full retreat from the valley" and started a column to cross the mountains and attack Johnston in flank, as he was falling back from Manassas, when Jackson suddenly turned, marched 18 miles in the morning, and with 2,700 men fought at Kernstown, near Winchester, 8,000 of the National troops, and though defeated, accomplished his purpose in recalling the column which was moving on Johnston's flank, quietly moved up the valley and took a strong position in Swift Run Gap. Then followed in rapid succession the uniting of Ewell's division with his at Luray, the driving in of Banks' flank at Front Royal, the cutting of his retreating column at Middletown, and on May 25, the rout of Banks' army from the heights of Winchester. He was about to cross the Potomac into Maryland in pursuit of Banks, when he learned that Fremont from the W., and Shields, the head of McDowell's column, from the E., were marching to form a junction in his rear at Strasburg. He at once put his army in motion, and by forced marches reached the point of danger in time to hold Fremont in check with one hand and Shields with the other till his whole army, prisoners, and immense wagon trains loaded with captured stores passed on in safety. He then moved leisurely up the valley, burning the bridges over the Shenandoah to prevent a junction between Fremont and Shields. He next hastened to Richmond, where he united with General Lee in attacking McClellan. His skill in the Seven Days' battles, his defeat of Pope's advance under Banks at Cedar Run, his flank march to Pope's rear, and the pertinacity with which he held him at bay along the Warrenton road till Lee could come up with Longstreet and drive him into the fortifications around Washr's Ferry ington, his capture of Harper's with 11,000 prisoners, 13,000 stand of small arms, 73 pieces of artillery, and large quantities of provisions and stores of every description, and his conduct on the field of Sharpsburg, all added greatly to his fame. He was promoted Lieutenant-General in October, 1862; and held the extreme right of Lee's army at Fredericksburg, where he repelled the attack of Franklin. Toward the end of April, 1863, he was sent with 22,000 men to make a march to This was bril- Hooker's flank and rear. liantly executed and Jackson routed that flank of Hooker's army, and was proceeding to cut him off from his line of retreat and take a position where Hooker would have been compelled to attack him in position, when in returning from one of those bold reconnaissances which he so frequently made, his party was mistaken for the enemy and fired on by his own men and he was very severely wounded. His left arm was amputated, his other wounds, dressed, and he was improving hopefully, when pneumonia suddenly developed and caused his death in Guinea Station, Va., May 10, 1863.