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[|Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson]

January 21, 1824 in Clarksburg, Virginia was Thomas Jackson's birthday. Jackson's father and sister Elizabeth died of typhoid fever in March. Julia gave birth to Laura Ann the day after. The widowed Julia was only 28 and was left with enormous debt. She remarried to Blake Woodson. He disliked his stepchildren and after a small amount of time Laura Ann and Thomas were sent with relatives at at Jackson's Mill, Virginia (now West Virginia); Warren was sent to Neale relatives. Mrs. Jackson died of childbirth complications December 4, 1831, leaving behind three Jackson siblings and a newborn son. William Wirt Woodson (Thomas's half brother, 1831-1875). Laura and Jackson lived with their uncles throughout the rest of their childhood. In 1841 Warren died of tuberculosis.

Stonewall went to West Point, New York to join the United States Military Academy. He graduated June 1846, 17th out of 59 graduates. Jackson started his military career as a 2nd Lt. Not long after all the West Point graduates were sent to Mexico to fight for the American border. Jackson went with the army to Mexico City and in September, 1847, and won the war. We got 500,000 square miles of land after the [|Mexican War].

In 1851 Jackson became a teacher after he left the army. For ten years, he taught at the Virginia Military Academy. He married twice during this time. Elinor Junkin died a year after they married in 1853. Mary Anna Morrison married Stonewall in 1857. She was the daughter of a minister.

July 18, 1861,during the battle of Bull Run Brigadeer- General Barnard E. Bee gave Thomas Jackson his nickname when General Bee said "There is Jackson standing like a stone wall.". In planning conferences Stonewall impressed his Confederate friends; also with his skill on the battlefield. Thomas Jonathan Jackson was a Brigadeer-General by June 17, 1861; Major-General October 7, 1861; Lieutenant-General October 10, 1862 (it was the highest rank he got).

Jackson observed the Sabbath very strictly. He was so brave because he knew God would take care of him. Jackson even said prayers before going into battle. His soldiers respected and loved Jackson.

May 2, 1863 Stonewall was wounded by Confederate fire. Before he died, Jackson's left arm needed to be amputated (cut off). Jackson died May 10, 1863 of pneumonia at Guiney's Station. His last words were "Let us cross the river and rest under the shade of the trees.". When he died the South lost one of their greatest generals. Jackson's funeral was May 15, 1863, Lexington, Virginia.

Resources: americancivilwar.com/south/stonewall_jackson.html xroads.virginia.edu/~ug97/monument/jacksbio.html Stonewall Jackson by Don McLeese Rourke Publishing