Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 3.djvu/77

 UNDER THE CONFEDERACY

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tenant of artillery in Magruder's battery, took part in Gen. Scott's campaign, from Vera Cruz to the city of Mexico, and was twice brevetted for meritorious conduct at Cherubusco and Chapultepec. After the war, he was on duty for a time at Fort Ham- ilton, New York harbor, and later was sent ti' Fort Meade, Florida. He resigned in 1 85 1, to accept the professorship of philos- ophy and artillery tactics in the Virginia Military Institute. He was noted for the faithfulness with which he performed his duties, but he was not greatly approved as a teacher. He was zealous in religious mat- ters, was an officer in the Presbyterian church, and took such a deeo interest in the slaves, that he led a Sunday school for them, and which was maintained for many years after his death. Soon after Virginia se- ceded, he took command of his troops at Harper's Ferry, and, under the Confederate establishment, he was given a brigade under Gen. Joseph E. Johnston. At a critical mo- ment, in the battle of Bull Run, he came in haste and ciiecked the Federal onslaught, and gave the Confederates an opportunity to take the aggressive and gam the victory. This episode was the occasion of Jackson receiving his sobriquet as "'Stonewall" from Gen. Bee's exclamation, "See, there is Jackson, standing like a stone wall : rally on the Virginians." For his conduct in this affair, Jackson was promoted to ma- jor-general. In November, 1861, he was given command of the district including the Shenandoah Valley and the Virginia region northwest of it. He cleared it' of Federal troops, but winter weather obliged him to return to Winchester. In March, 1862, with five thousand men, he displayed masterly strategy against Gen. Banks, whom, by a

forty miles retreat, he allowed to occupy Winchester. From there, Banks sent away portions of his command in various direc- tions, when Jackson made a forced march, and made a vigorous attack on the enemy at Kernstown. In this affair, Jackson was defeated, but he had crippled Banks' com- mand so that it returned to the valley. In April, 1862, he was given command of all the Confederate troops in northern Virginia — his own division of 8,000 men, and Ewell's division, numbering about the same, in all about 16,000 men. These were threatened by Banks, with 20,000 men, while Gen. Edward Johnson's force of 3,000 men was opposing Fremont's army of 15,000 men. Making a rapid circuitous march, Jackson joined his force to that of Johnson, and on INIay 8 struck Fremont a paralyzing blow. Return- ing rapidly to the valley, he surprised Banks (who had detached a portion of his command to the Rappahannock), crushing his troops at Front Royal, May 23, and two days later at Winchester, driving the Fed- erals beyond the Potomac, and taking im- mense quantities of stores. From this on, Jackson's movements were rapid, and his successes brilliant. Stationed at Winchester, he was almost surrounded by converging forces, when by an early march, May 31, he /nade Strasburg, interposing his troops be- tween McDowell and Fremont, and succeed- ed in sending his prisoners and stores to a place of safety. Retreating up the valley, pursued by Fremont and McDowell, by ex- ceedingly rapid movements, he defeated them in turn, and they retreated to the lower Shenandoah. Jackson now rapidly marched t'L the aid of Lee, and on January 27, 1862, in the battle of Gaines' Mills, defeated Gen. Porter, and then followed the retreating