The other day, an associate of mine asked why I decided to write my first biography on Stonewall Jackson. It was a simple question, but honestly one that I had never REALLY pondered. I mean I “knew” why I wrote the book, but I never took the time to define its “real” inspiration in my own mind. I know that I was drawn to Jackson and moved by the story of his life and death, but it really goes far beyond that. I think, in retrospect, that my attraction to the good general was NOT because of what he did on or off the battlefield, but more of WHY he did what he did.
If you take the time to step back for a moment and look at the historical events that formed the “legend” of Stonewall Jackson, the answer (for me at least) lies in the nickname itself. What made Thomas Jackson – Stonewall Jackson? What makes a man, stand “like a Stonewall” on a battlefield, unflinching, amidst total chaos and carnage?
It’s no secret that military tactics during the Civil War were very primitive due to the limitations of weaponry. In other words, you had to get close to your target. Now think about it, the mere concept of lining up on an open field and marching (in an organized fashion) towards a mile-wide wall of continuous musket fire and multiple batteries of cannon is absolutely insane. The very notion of that task goes far beyond any type of logical behavior or self-preservation. YET they did it. And that my friend is the definition of guts.
A good friend of mine is a combat veteran who served in the U.S. Marine’s Recon division. Following his tour in Iraq, he returned to the states and was attending school at Quantico Marine Base here in Virginia. As part of their curriculum, the students there study multiple Civil War battles that took place in our area.
During the course, my neighbor and I periodically discussed the material they were covering and he shared with me how utterly amazed he and his classmates were with the suicide-style of fighting employed by the Union and Confederate armies. The whole idea of “Napoleonic warfare” was ridiculous to them. After all, they had been trained to use stealth tactics, suppressive fire, and to hide behind things.
Now, picture in your mind’s eye a lone commander, arriving at the first real engagement of a war. His men are scared, nervous and stumbling to form ranks. Cannonballs are bouncing by. Explosions are going on in the air. The field is covered in a thick cloud of smoke and the cries of wounded echo through the din. Troops are running from the front, there is confusion, death, agony and disorder. Yet this man sits calmly atop his horse, observing the events surrounding him and oblivious to the danger. At least that is how it appears. BUT, the fact of the matter is that he is not oblivious, he is brave. He possesses a great faith in both God and his men and the courage he displays is infectious. Soon his troops rally behind him and victory is snatched from the jaws of defeat.
That single, defining moment at First Manassas was what ultimately made Jackson worthy of the name Stonewall and ultimately WHY I chose to write about him. It was his faith, courage and conviction.