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Stonewall Jackson, History of a Hero

Jackson, born in what is today West Virginiaproperly aligned. He was also deeply
in 1824 became an orphan as a boy and wasreligious, following the rules of the Bible
raised by his uncle. Although his educationas if they were a set of military
was scanty, he obtained an appointment toregulations. He established a Sunday school
West Point, but because of his rudimentaryfor slave children in town.He married twice,
education, found that he had to apply himselfhis first wife dying in childbirth - not an
mightily to pass his courses. Here he gaineduncommon occurrence in nineteenth century
a reputation as a quiet, almost withdrawn,America. He remarried and bought a house in
young man who had within him a deep resolveLexington and was very happy with his
to make something of himself.Jackson wassituation. Jackson and the VMI corps
commissioned as an office in the artilleryprovided a military presence for the
and soon found himself in a war. The Unitedexecution of John Brown. John Brown was not
States was involved in a war with Mexico,the end, but only the beginning of sectional
where many prominent Civil War officersstrife that would lead to war. When the war
learned about fighting firsthand. Jacksoncame, Jackson, like so many others living
certainly did. In several importantquiet, contented lives, joined the colors
engagements in and around Mexico City, thewhen his home was threatened. Taking a
young officer distinguished himself whiledetachment of cadets to Richmond to assist
expertly and courageously employing hiswith drilling new recruits, Jackson was
cannon against the enemy. General Winfielddispatched to Harper's Ferry to train new
Scott, the commanding general himself, madesoldiers there.Jackson had no time for the
note of Jackson's accomplishments.Jacksonrelaxed atmosphere of sunshine soldiers. He
stayed in Mexico for a while and served indrilled the men hard and established firm
various Army posts, including Florida, wherediscipline. Jackson had a full beard and
his exacting sense of duty and strictpiercing blue eyes. He was awkward in his
adherence to regulations and orders broughtmanner, careless in his dress, wearing the
down the wrath of his lackadaisical postmilitary coat he wore in Mexico and he wore a
commander. This experience soured Jackson onbattered cap pulled low over his eyes. He
the peacetime army and he accepted anhad no interest in the pomp and circumstance
appointment as a college professor of naturalof the parade ground or the privileges of
philosophy (physics) and artillery tactics atrank that some officers sought. Quiet,
the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington.serious, seemingly preoccupied, Jackson
Lexington was a small, tidy town at the endalways put his duty as a soldier first above
of the Shenandoah Valley.As an instructor,everything else and was uncomprehending when
Jackson earned the cadets' respect over time,others did not do the same.Although
but his methods and personality were hard tothoroughly disliked by his new trainees,
get used to. Each night after supper,Jackson cared not a whit. War was serious
Jackson would laboriously memorize his lessonbusiness and called for stern measures. He
for the next day. In class, he would repeatwould follow his orders and do his duty.
the lesson verbatim. If interrupted by aJackson did his job well. The same unit he
cadet's question, he would simply repeat wordtrained at Harpers Ferry he led on the
for word the last section he had just spoken.Manassas battlefield in the first major
Needless to say, he became a legend. Cadetsaction of the war. The brigade stood out as
called him "Tom Fool" Jackson.He was also acalm and ordered amid the confusion and
hypochondriac, always imagining someterror of battle - a direct result of
imbalance in his body. As a result, he ateJackson's stern and demanding discipline. As
only milk and corn or whole wheat bread toa reward for his exceptional performance at
assist his digestion and sat bolt upright inthe Battle of Manassas, Jackson was given
his chair, like a sculpture of an Egyptiancommand of a small army of 4,200 men with the
pharaoh, to ensure his internal organs weremission of defending the Shenandoah Valley.



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