Stonewall Jackson: The Black Man's Friend

Book Description

Many historians have touched on Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson's relationship with African Americans in light of his Christian faith. Stonewall Jackson: The Black Man's Friend explores an aspect of his life that is both intriguing and enlightening: his conversion to Christianity and how it affected his relationship with Southern blacks. Covering the origin of Jackson's awakening to faith, the book challenges some widely held beliefs, including the assumption that this spiritual journey did not begin until his adulthood. Furthermore, Richard G. Williams Jr. examines a paradox of Jackson's life: his conversion to Christianity was encouraged by Southern slaves. That faith would one day lead Jackson to minister to other slaves through his Sunday school class.

Exploring in depth Jackson's now famous "Colored Sabbath School," Williams reveals—for the first time—the influence his efforts had on subsequent generations of African Americans. Using original documents, interviews, historical resources, and heretofore unpublished letters and photographs, Williams confirms the veneration with which blacks from Virginia esteemed Jackson, even years after his death—and some to this day. An interview with and photographs of two spiritual descendants of Jackson's black Sunday-school class adds a real-life connection to this fascinating dimension of the famed general's life.

The book also examines Jackson's documented youthful pangs of conscience regarding the illiteracy of American slaves—and how Providence ultimately came to use him to have a lasting and positive impact on Southern blacks.

Customer Reviews:

Engaging and compelling.......2007-05-17

Reviewed by Mark A. Raborn for Reader Views (5/07)

"Stonewall Jackson: The Black Man's Friend," Richard G. Williams Jr.'s biographical offering of Confederate General Stonewall Jackson, is an intimate and very interesting portrayal of Jackson's Christian efforts and influence on others around him, most remarkably the enslaved Negroes of his era. Expertly written and splendidly researched, Williams reveals a portion of Jackson's character that is predictably amiss in much of modern academia. Indeed, I remember learning about the premature death of Jackson, the brilliant military strategist, who was shot by his own forces; however, I only learned of his enthusiasm for Christ while reading this work.

Williams presents Jackson as a spiritual philanthropist who worked in earnest to bring salvation to his fellow man, relating numerous accounts of his Christian witness to those in bondage. However, this writing is not only a testimony of Christian faith, but a valuable historical chronicle of Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson's life and character, both as an individual and as a professional soldier. Williams takes the reader into Jackson's world with such clarity and ease that it would seem he was actually there, pen in hand, throughout the journey of Jackson from orphaned child to Major General; through mortality and burial and a legacy of character, faith and bravery that transcends the years.
Of Jackson's work with the Rockbridge Bible Society (the "genesis of Jackson's black Sunday School class"), Williams writes (as quoted from one Robert Lewis Dabney, a contemporary of Jackson): "The free blacks of the quarters, all of whom he had visited in their humble dwellings, and encouraged to give a pittance of their earnings to print Bibles. He argued that these small sums were better spent thus than in drink or tobacco; that the giving of them would elevate their self-respect, and enhance their own interest in the Holy Book."

Williams goes on to write: "One can picture the devout and zealous Presbyterian deacon (Jackson) knocking respectfully and confidently at the door of a free black's shanty, hat in hand, perhaps becoming a little doubtful about soliciting funds from such impoverished members of society. After noticing the poor condition of the humble home, somewhat ashamed, Jackson may have considered turning and walking away before the door opened. Imagine Jackson describing the work of the Bible society to these illiterate blacks: the publication of tracts and books for Sabbath schools and education for the ministry. He would be soliciting donations for reading materials from those who could not read." Scenarios like this certainly offer one a different and, perhaps, a clearer perspective on the life and character of Stonewall Jackson.

Williams' style is engaging and compelling: offering the reader a sense that you really come to "know" Stonewall Jackson as a person, a friend and as a fellow Christian believer. I highly recommend "Stonewall Jackson: The Black Man's Friend" to anyone with an interest in extremely well-written historical accounts with an uplifting, positive tone.

Proud to be a Virginian.......2007-04-20

This is an excellent book about a side that most people do not know about Stonewall Jackson. Not only was he a great general, but he was also a great man and christian. I found this book easy to read and really enjoyed it.

Stonewall Jackson: The Black Man's Friend.......2007-03-29

I find this book extremely interesting. The other side of General T. Jackson and the work he accomplished within the Confederacy. A must for the students of Stonewall Jackson.

Stonewall Jackson: The Black Man's Friend.......2007-01-11

This is an excellent work on the in-depth Christian character of Thomas (Stonewall) Jackson. Mr. Williams has obviously spent countless hours gleaning the information contained in this volume. His interviews with several direct links to the Lexington Colored Sabbath School add just the right touch to tie all the information together.
I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking information on the true character of T.J. (Stonewall) Jackson.

Stonewall Jackson: The Man, the Soldier, the Legend

Average customer rating:

Excellent insight into the way Thomas Jackson became "Stonewall"
History at its Finest.
Great, but needs better maps
AN OUTSTANDING BIOGRAPHY OF LEE'S BEST LIEUTENANT!
PRAYER WARRIOR

Stonewall Jackson: The Man, the Soldier, the Legend
James Robertson
Manufacturer: MacMillan Reference Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0028646851

Amazon.com

A distinguished Civil War historian unravels the complex character of the Confederacy's greatest general. Drawing on previously untapped manuscript sources, the author refutes such long-standing myths as Stonewall Jackson's obsessive eating of lemons and gives a three-dimensional account of the profound religious faith frequently caricatured as grim Calvinism. Though the author capably covers the battles that made Jackson a legend--Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, etc.--he emphasizes "the life story of an extraordinary man." The result is a biography that will fascinate even those allergic to military history.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent insight into the way Thomas Jackson became "Stonewall".......2007-09-13

This is a great book that helps its readers understand how a poor orphan from Virginia became arguably the greatest general in American history.

History at its Finest........2007-07-29

It is clear that this book was a labor of love to its author. Robertson presents Jackson in a fair light that draws out all his eccentricities and quirks while also presenting his military genius and moral fortitude. The book is well written and thoroughly researched. Upon completion of reading this book you will feel that you knew the man.

Great, but needs better maps.......2007-07-08

If you want a thorough and highly readable book on Jackson, this is the one. The prose of its 700+ pages read like a good novel and keep you interested. My only comlaint is with the quality and quantity of maps. There are too few and those that exist lack details. Trying to follow Jackson's travels using the maps is well nigh impossible because most of the places mentioned in the text are not on the few maps present.

AN OUTSTANDING BIOGRAPHY OF LEE'S BEST LIEUTENANT!.......2007-07-08

He may have had humble beginnings in rural western Virginia, but Thomas Jonathan Jackson was destined for greatness. Caring, fearless and compassionate, but also hard, ruthless and cunning, Jackson became one of the greatest leaders in American and world history, and would forever be known as "the Mighty Stonewall."
Dr. James I. Robertson, Jr., one of the country's leading Civil War historians, give us a fascinating look at one of the greatest leaders in American military history. This fascinating account sifts through the legends and myths to present the real Jackson, a man full of paradoxes; a man who could be ruthless and cruel on the battlefield, but was also a devout Christian, and a loving husband and father. Robertson also presents exciting accounts of the battles that made him famous, while also putting us on an emotional level with the man, something that even the best of fiction fails to do sometimes.
Without a doubt, Robertson has written the definitive history of the life of Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson. Historians and non-historians will find much to appreciate. Don't let the epic length scare you away; it's a great read that all should enjoy!
Grade: A+

PRAYER WARRIOR.......2007-05-27

"Yell like Furies!" Stonewall commanded and the most raw and famous, yet to be recorded, most dreaded and terrible battle cry was born.

Robertson's monumental work on Stonewall Jackson will stand the test of time as the most accurate account of this strange, enigmatic, but charismatic VMI professor. His whole life is lovingly told, his character accurately analyzed. His "Bibliography" is 25 pages long, his "Notes" 135 pages. I cried the last two chapters. Do they make men like this anymore? Maybe at West Point where he went to college, but nowhere I've been looking. I cried and cried.

"Shh. The general is praying," one of his barefoot, beloved soldiers would exclaim. And everyone would be still and silent.

I'll always remember the silent, beautiful valley I beheld at Blacksburg, from my motel room early in the morning, before I moved up north to Massachusetts. Little did I know that 15 years later, these silent towns would be terrorized by a lone, crazed college killer at the very college where Professor Robertson teaches Civil War history at Virginia Tech. He is a well decorated Civil War scholar who's received numerous awards for his research. I've read elsewhere that he decided to become a civil war historian during his Air Force tour during the Korean War. "You may be what ever you will resolve to be", is an oft quoted Jackson phrase which can be found in Robertson's "Stonewall Jackson's Book of Maxims". And so Robertson followed this prescription.

Stonewall Jackson had the most christian command of anyone in the civil war. He hand picked his commanders, many of whom were either ministers themselves or were ministers' sons. "Rejoice in that day when they cast out your name as evil", Christ foretold. I don't think there was ever a more Christ-led soldier that has EVER lived on the face of this earth. Everything Jackson did was accepted by him as G-d's will. G-d's will was sought through daily prayer. Thomas Jonathan Jackson's life was a testimony to His great G-d. He was unassuming in character and dress. He never became arrogant, nor basked in any of his accomplishments, he was simply doing G-d's will. Anyone would have mistaken Jackson as a simple farmer by his bearing as Robertson reveals from soldiers' written descriptions of him. (What a hothead he was in combat though with all that artillery knowledge inside that Scots-Irish noggin). Who in their last hours would talk about the Amalekites in the bible and talk about how soldiers ought to observe the sabbath??!!

I learned in my 7 grade history class that the South had the best commanders on the field. Poor guys. They learned to do much more with much less and manage to scrape by every time while they sent tens of thousands of yankees scrambling for home. I loved J.E.B. Stuart and the contrast so obvious between Stonewall Jackson and himself that Robertson reveals. The colorful cavalryman was the only person who could make Stonewall Jackson laugh when he was about his field command. Stonewall was usually very quiet, focussed, and stern at those times. In Robertson's "Acknowledgments", he mentions that he, Emory Thomas, a J.E.B. Stuart biographer, and several other Civil War historians, meet yearly on the banks of the New River in southwest Virginiia to share their research. Sounds like a grand time to me.

A Union soldier spoke of the problems of command within their ranks. Following their Port Republic fiasco, he wrote that they had 5 commanders all of whom were "equal in rank and envious of each other's reputation. Neither will do anything which would reflect credit on the other. Each one desires all the glory himself." As the union army retreated, Maj. Gen. Freemont cast his last parting shots on the make shift hospitals. Later when Maj. Gen. Shields asked that they be allowed to attend their wounded and bury their dead. Stonewall "tartly refused. The wounded were already receiving care... the dead buried." Jackson then considered it proper to follow with a strong reprimand. "Your wounded were permitted to lay on the field longer than they otherwise would have been had not General Freemont's artillery, hours after the termination of the engagement, not only so fired upon the ambulances and their parties as to drive them from the field. The hospital was also fired upon, notwithstanding it as well as the ambulances were marked by hospital flags.""

What was somewhat new to me was that noone, at least on the southern side, expected a war, if it developed, to last. Most people, like Jackson and Lee, did not like slavery, and what they really fought for was the preservation of their homes. They felt they were invaded and that their self-liberties were being infringed upon in violation of the constitution. Many people did not have slaves, most had a few. Thomas Jackson as a child, being orphaned at a young age, congregated with slave children and even taught one to read who escaped through the underground railroad. I think that of any lies that are propagated by my government the greatest lies revolve around what really happened during the civil war and immediately afterwards. Supposedly, on my father's side I am somehow related to Stonewall Jackson and related to Alexander Hamilton on my mother's side. What's interesting about Hamilton, is that not only did he have southern relatives, but that he predicted, he prophesied that there would probably be a civil war and he was killed in 1804. Jackson predicted a few years before Fort Sumpter that he feared there would be a war and that properties would be taken away. Sound familiar to any of you history buffs? So the civil war is very near and dear to me because these people who marched barefoot for years through snow and sleet and rain fighting a desperate, losing battle are my people.

I love this book. Unfortunately, it was borrowed from a family member's friend who I'm sure would like it back. However, this book would be the premier civil war book within my collection. I loved this book, wish I could keep it.

Colonel John Patton of the 21st Virginia within Jackson's sphere would have a grandson who would follow in Stonewallian marches liberating the beleagured Bastogne and quote the Frenchman Bosuet: "Hands lifted up smash more battalions than hands that strike...And if we go from bad to worse it is simply because we have not prayed".

THE TRUTH HAS BEEN TOLD!!!

Thank you so much Professor Robertson.

Stonewall: A Biography of General Thomas J. Jackson

Average customer rating:

OK--But Not Great
Extremely Well Sourced
Only Okay
Portrait of a Strange and Brilliant Man
Good Biography on Stonewall

Stonewall: A Biography of General Thomas J. Jackson
Byron Farwell
Manufacturer: W. W. Norton & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0393310868

Customer Reviews:

OK--But Not Great.......2007-07-25

Biography's of great historical figures are frequently given to exaggeration. Farwell set out to give an account of the "real" Stonewall Jackson, rather than an overly ballyhooed legend. In some respects he did that, painting Jackson as an oddball, eccentric, prude, who bordered on insanity. While the book succeeded in painting Jackson as being more human, I felt the overall tone of the book was far too critical and cynical. It seemed every good thing Jackson did was credited to other soldiers or blind luck...while every bad thing Jackson did was blamed upon his ignorance, stubborness, or lack of sleep. In all honesty, I came away from the book wondering if the author had and "ax to grind" against Stonewall Jackson. Overall the book was well written, and would provide a reality check to those who envison Jackson as being super-human. But just as there are numerous puff pieces on Jackson that make him better than he was...I feel this book to be somewhat of a debunking, which makes Jackson look much worse than he was. In reality, he was somewhere in between. He was a good and godly man who had an uncanny ability to lead men in battle. But he was hard to get along with and a little too bull-headed at times. For a much more accurate view, I would suggest "Stonewall Jackson: The Man, The Soldier, The Legend" By James I. Robertson

Extremely Well Sourced.......2007-02-13

This book is a "must read" for everyone looking for a balanced view of Jackson. Farwell's history of Jackson's military exploits and personal shortcomings (as in Florida prior to secession) are well supported by reference to original documents and by the author's personal research.

Only Okay.......2004-11-17

I gave the book three stars for the information but the author's opinions make this book less valuable then it otherwise might have been. For instance he claims the fact that Jackson never lamented his decisions meant he never thought he made a mistake. Jackson wasn't the type of person to go around talking about feelings so no one knows if he did or not. Also the author claims he must have an child out of wedlock and cites sources (just the word sources and not actual people) while at the same time discounting others who claimed the rumors were a lie. The author is just a bit too judgmental and quick to believe things without any proof to back them up. The information may be okay but I found it hard to read with so many of the author's opinions being paraded around as facts.

Portrait of a Strange and Brilliant Man.......2003-10-25

This is an interesting and well-written biography, although not one that I found to be satisfactory on every level. Like John Kennedy and other public figures who died violently at the height of their careers, Stonewall Jackson entered into history in a kind of apotheosis which probably tended to exaggerate his achievements. Aware of the adulatory material that has been written, Byron Farwall is not exactly on a debunking crusade with this book, but he strives so hard for objectivity that readers have to wonder if he errs on the other side and exaggerates the shortcomings of his subject. It's no distortion, of course, to portray Jackson as a quirky personality - the historical record leaves little doubt about that. Like Ulysses Grant, George Pickett, and other military leaders who achieved prominence during the Civil War, Jackson went through West Point with a relatively undistinguished record. A rough country boy with minimal early education, Jackson had to work doubly hard for everything he did accomplish, and he had a reputation for being something of an odd duck and a bumpkin. Two enduring aspects of his nature already apparent at this stage, however, were ambition and a ruthless self-discipline, and he had managed to climb from near the bottom of his class to the top third by the time he graduated. Again like other future Civil War leaders, his first exposure to combat was in the Mexican War, where he was assigned as an artillery officer. He demonstrated a talent for command there, but what marked him more than anything was a utter fearlessness under fire and a hunger to distinguish himself, an objective he accomplished despite what was for Jackson the disappointingly short duration of the war. Assigned later to garrison duty in Florida, his frustrated ambition, no doubt aggravated by boredom, propelled him into petty but vicious conflict with his commanding officer, an ugly little affair in which Jackson revealed his propensity for sustained vendettas against people seemingly out of portion with any real offense. Disillusioned with the peacetime military, Jackson took a job as an instructor at the young Virginia Military Institute. He seemed happy enough in this job, which he held for ten years, even though by most accounts he lacked much talent for it, his stiff manner and inarticulate speech making him unpopular with students. He heard his real calling, of course, with the coming of the Civil War, and he lost no time in seizing the opportunity. It is in the depiction of Jackson's wartime military career that this biography fails for me. It's can't be wholly without reason that Jackson became the legend he did, and Robert E. Lee - nothing if not a judge of military talent - observed that the Southern Cause suffered more from the loss of Jackson at Chancellorsville than it gained from the victory. Yet even though Farwell acknowledges Jackson's "brilliance", even occasionally his "genius", these qualities really don't come alive in the narrative. In describing Jackson's victories, Farwell invariably focuses on the incompetence of his opponents, or on the valor of his soldiers, or on his "luck" in somehow being in the right place at the right time. Except in a couple of episodes, we don't really get a feel for the man in action. In contrast, Jackson's failures, such as during the "Seven Days" campaign in the summer of `62, are placed squarely on his shoulders, recounted for us in the context of his poor planning, rashness, compulsive secrecy, inability to accept advice, and his often dysfunctional relations with peers and subordinates. Farwell does a more balanced job, in my judgment, in depicting Jackson's personality and his private life. We certainly see the vindictiveness, self-righteousness, and eccentricity that often characterized his behavior. But Farwell reveals another side to the man as well. Numerous accounts survive that indicate a great deal of personal warmth and humor when he was relaxing with friends or family. Prior to the war, he spent time in New York and Europe, clearly enjoying cosmopolitan pleasures seemingly at odds with the stereotypical image of him as a dour Presbyterian fanatic. His relationship with his wife, while patronizing by modern standards, was intensely loving and faithful, and fully reciprocal. Apparently based in fact was the odd and touching story portrayed in the recent movie "Gods and Generals". During one lull in the fighting, Jackson spent time at a private home near Fredericksburg, where a little girl attached herself too him, coaxing out of him a playful and kindly side rarely apparent during the war years. To the astonishment of his staff, Jackson wept openly when news came to him later that the child had died of scarlet fever. After being wounded in a nighttime "friendly fire" incident in the very midst of his triumph at Chancellorsville, Jackson had an arm amputated and died from pneumonia contracted during his convalescence. The religious faith which led him to see the hand of God in every victory or defeat, allowed him to approach this painful demise with the same disregard he showed towards the prospect of sudden death in battle. This complex and contradictory portrait of Jackson seems consistent with his nature, and I found this dimension of Mr. Farwell's book to be highly enlightening. While I haven't read other biographies of Stonewall , I imagine that further reading is necessary to get a fully rounded picture of the man's role in the American Civil War.

Good Biography on Stonewall.......2003-10-10

Farwell's biography is a good comprehensive read of one of the most famous Civil War figures and covers many events in his life.

Among the areas Farwell focuses on include:

1. Early childhood (and rough years they were)
2. West Point years(met many future Civil War generals there).
3. War with Mexico (many instances of bravery).
4. Prewar years at VMI (not well-liked by the cadets).
5. Marriages and family life (tragic yet happy years).
6. Religious faith (strong Christian).
7. Early Civil War service (mainly successful)
8. Emergence as a brilliant general (2nd Bull Run, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, etc.).

While Farwell is sympathetic to his subject, he pulls no punches when describing Jackson's weaknesses (uncommunicative to fellow generals, willingness to hold on to grudges, sometimes cold-hearted).

Book Description

"YOU MAY BE WHAT EVER YOU WILL RESOLVE TO BE."

This was the credo that governed and defined the life of Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, perhaps the most extraordinary figure in American military history. From his childhood as an unloved, poorly educated orphan, it was Jackson's pure determination that impelled him from his humble origins. A shy man, with some particularly odd habits, Jackson was an outcast by many standards. But it was his single-mindedness of purpose that landed him a position at West Point where he struggled but ultimately prevailed. It was his unflappable courage combined with an emerging and unshakeable faith in God that led him to distinguish himself in the Mexican-American War. Then, after serving as a professor at the Virginia Military Institute, Jackson rose to true glory during the Civil War where, during the first major battle, he received what is perhaps the most famous nickname in military history. Beloved by his men whom he drove to the limits of endurance, feared and yet admired greatly by his enemies whom he constantly surprised with his brilliant tactics, Jackson was a general who, in the heat of battle, was seemingly blind to his own personal danger. Victory after victory, he allowed himself no personal triumph but would often be seen astride his faithful horse, Sorrel, his hand thrust toward the sky, deep in prayer of thanks to the God who had allowed his cause to prevail.

James I. Robertson Jr., history professor at Virginia Tech and the recognized authority on the life of "Stonewall" Jackson, offers young readers a gripping biography of an extraordinary man.

Customer Reviews:

"Be good, or Stonewall Jackson will get you"........2006-12-04

This, according to a very enjoyable biography by James Robertson, is how Union mothers in the years of the Civil War tried to convince their unruly children to behave. It is one of many fascinating stories in the incredible life and military career of Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson.

I have always heard Jackson described as "Lee's right hand" and "the Confederacy's greatest general". I have never studied exactly how he came to gain this reputation, nor considered how much it was deserved. While I was reading this book, I came across a military history magazine with the cover story (I think this is how they phrased it) "How Strange WAS Stonewall Jackson?" After finishing this biography, I'd have to say "pretty darn strange". He was a man of mediocre intellect but exceptional drive. He had a religious faith of childlike simplicity to which he was entirely devoted, and which left him utterly convinced that he was called to military service. He behaved with reckless courage in many battles, in part because he seems to have found it inconceivable that God would let him be injured. He fought for the South, and believed slavery was part of God's plan, but he was a devoted teacher of religion and literacy to slaves in his home church. He drove his men on such fast forced marches that they took to calling themselves "foot cavalry", yet they loved him like a father. He was a stern disciplinarian with students a Virginia Military Institute, yet a pushover with young children. The contradictions continue for most of the book.

I struggled to decide how to rate this. I think the reader most apt to enjoy this would be one with an interest in history , but enough unfamiliarity with the details of the key Civil War battles that this would not seem redundant. I think a avid fan of such histories would still get enough out of this to find it worthwhile. I think that a reader not in those two categories might be somewhat put off by Jackson's strangeness, but would still be rewarded with a fast-paced look at the details of a great American's life. I give it four stars, and I'd go to 4 and 1/2 if I could.

All Things for Good: The Steadfast Fidelity of Stonewall Jackson (Leaders in Action Series)

Average customer rating:

Great book within a great series.
Stonewall Jackson and his personal relationship with God

All Things for Good: The Steadfast Fidelity of Stonewall Jackson (Leaders in Action Series)
J. Steven Wilkins
Manufacturer: Cumberland House Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1581822251

Book Description

Dubbed "Stonewall" following the battle of First Manassas in July 1861, Thomas Jackson has long been revered as a brilliant military leader and tactician and as one of the most adroit Confederate commanders. The man himself is a study in contrasts: justifiably feared by his enemies and completely beloved by his men.

J. Steven Wilkins examines the life and character of Jackson. His research reveals a man humble and sincere in his Christian faith, which stands in stark contrast with the general's reputation as a ferocious warrior.

Shortly after his graduation from West Point in 1846, Jackson served in the Mexican War in 1848, where he became one of the most decorated heroes of the conflict and received promotion to the brevetted rank of major. He left the army in 1851 to accept a teaching position at the Virginia Military Institute, resigning his commission in the army a year later. In 1859 he led a contingent of cadets to maintain order during the trial and ensuing execution of John Brown. When Jackson departed VMI in 1861 to join the Confederate army, he was immediately commissioned a colonel and within months was promoted to the rank of brigadier general. Mortally wounded by friendly fire in May 1863, he "more than anyone else, personified the compelling and the virtuous in what the subsequent generation would label `The Lost Cause'"—James I. Robertson Jr.

Customer Reviews:

Great book within a great series........2007-03-14

First let me say that the "Leaders in Action" series is tremendous (check the rest of them out--Robert E. Lee, Winston Churchill, Teddy Roosevelt, William Wilberforce and more). They are biographies which deal not only with facts, but also with the character and faith of historical figures. Every school age child should read these books and take these role models to heart.

The great thing about this book is that it gives a solid summary of Stonewall Jackson's life and history as well as a thorough examination of his faith and values. If you can believe it, I was almost brought to tears by the account of his death. Especially for Civil War buffs--this is a must read.

Stonewall Jackson and his personal relationship with God.......2006-01-09

This is an excellent look inside the life of Thomas Johnathan "Stonewall" Jackson.

Reverend Wilkins does an excellent job of researching first-hand accounts of the important events that occurred during Jackson's life and how they refined him into the man that God made him.

Stonewall Jackson and the American Civil War (Da Capo Paperback)

Average customer rating:

This is the book for any person who loves Stonewall!!!

Stonewall Jackson and the American Civil War (Da Capo Paperback)
G. F. R. Henderson
Manufacturer: Da Capo Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0306803186

Customer Reviews:

This is the book for any person who loves Stonewall!!!.......1999-07-04

I have been a fan of the American Civil War for over five years, and I have read many books on the subject and especially on Stonewall Jackson. I have never found a book more thorough about both subjects in my life. The author dives into several contravercies like: Why did the Civil War started, Did Stonewall fall asleep at the Seven day Battle? He also doesn't just stick to Stonewall, he also talks about other important figures in the Civil War. So if you are interested, kinda like, or a fanatic about Civil War and Stonewall Jackson like I am, I would recammend this book to every one!

Stonewall Jackson: The Good Soldier (Southern Classics Series)

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Disappointment
Stonewall Jackson: A Hero of America
Stonewall Jackson: Hero of America
Stonewall Jackson: Hero of America
Good History about a Good Man

Stonewall Jackson: The Good Soldier (Southern Classics Series)
Allen Tate
Manufacturer: J.S. Sanders & Co.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1879941023

Book Description

Rapidly paced biography of the Confederate general by a major literary figure.

Customer Reviews:

Disappointment.......2004-08-28

I agree with Landess in the preface. This book is poorly researched. It doesn't show us the depth or breath of the man. It would not even be poor historial fiction and is horrid as a biography. It's one strong point is Tate's abilitity to show the Southern feeling on their state rights being violated; along with the comparison of Indian rights being viloent by the North.

Stonewall Jackson: A Hero of America.......2004-06-01

By reading the book: Stonewall Jackson, by Allen Tate, I have furthered my belief that this was a man of great piety, heroism, chivallry, and freedom. He fought for all these things in his time, yet in our time freedom and the fight to preserve it and the Homeland seem to be of the most importance. The fight for freedom has always been an American ideal, and Tate did an excellent job in depicting how one man committed his whole life to it during the War of Northern Aggression. I stongly reccomend this book to all who desire to reap the truth, and who hold dear the Homeland.

Stonewall Jackson: Hero of America.......2004-06-01

In reading the book Stonewall Jackson, by Allen Tate, I have furthered my belief that this was a man of piety, heroism, chivallry, and a true champion of American values. That is to say, General Jackson was a fighter for freedom and the homeland: something which is highly regarded in today's day and age. Tate expressed this idea even when he wrote it 76 years ago. Therefore, I strongly reccomend this book to all who value the American ideal: the fight for freedom.

Stonewall Jackson: Hero of America.......2004-06-01

In reeading the book Stonewall Jackson, by Allen Tate, I have furthered my belief that this was a man of piety, heroism, chivallry, and a true champion of American values. That is to say, General Jackson was a fighter for freedom and the homeland a value which is highly regarded in today's day and age. Tate expressed this idea even when he wrote it 76 years ago. Therefore, I strongly reccomend this book to all who value the American ideal: the fight for freedom.

Good History about a Good Man.......1999-02-13

Allen Tate wrote "Stonewall Jackson" in 1927 with the intent of restoring some historical reality to the fading memory of the War for Southern Independence. He accomplished his goal, but the book seems better in retrospect as a whole than it did while reading it page by page. Tate used what to me was an odd, choppy style of writing that slightly complicated the story he was telling. He clearly admired Jackson, and after reading his book my admiration and knowldge of Jackson have improved. Stonewall Jackson is one of America's great heroes for good reason. Even members of the Union Army cheered him when the opportunity presented itself near Fredericksburg. As Tate points out, Jackson was a man of principle on and off the battlefield. From his impoverished childhood to his ever-improving performance at West Point there was no way to foretell the height of fame Jackson would gain in the War for Southern Independence. His performance in the War with Mexico was limited to garrison duty for the most part. When in battle he distinguished himself, but other officers had shown more brightly for a longer period of time in more battles. Tate reveals the eccentricities of Jackson in subtle ways that leave you wondering what was going on in Jackson's head. He clearly baffled the forces sent against him in the Shenandoah Valley Campaign, but many of his own soldiers were equally baffled. It took some time for his subordinates to develop a deep and abiding respect for General Jackson, but after he lead them to numerous victories against superior forces the bond was established that lasted until his untimely death. One of the great contradictions in Jackson's life was his steadfast Christian beliefs contrasted with his unrelenting will to destroy the enemy on the battlefield. For example, Tate mentions an exchange between Jackson and his chief surgeon when the surgeon inquired, "How shall we ever cope with the overwhelming numbers of the enemy?" After a long pause Jackson replied, "Kill them, sir! Kill every man." It was that strength of will that helped make Jackson the hero that he was and is. His loss at Chancellorsville to "friendly fire" was one more nail in the coffin of the Confederacy. It is, perhaps, inevitable that one should speculate about events at Gettysburg had General Lee had his "right arm" leading a Corps. This book gives the most plausible answer to what Jackson meant at the moment of his death when he said, "Let's cross over the river and rest in the shade of the trees." Curiously, the answer is at the start of the book, not the end. Allen Tate wrote a good book about a great man that is well worth reading.

They Called Him Stonewall: A Life of Lieutenant General T.J. Jackson, C.S.A.

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Pretty good
Historical Background
Mighty Stonewall.
Excellent and Easy To Understand!
A capable, though not outstanding, work on Jackson

They Called Him Stonewall: A Life of Lieutenant General T.J. Jackson, C.S.A.
Burke Davis
Manufacturer: Burford Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1580800297

Book Description

Davis approaches the subjects with the zest of an author who has a richly interesting human being to write about.--Bruce Catton

Customer Reviews:

Pretty good.......2006-12-22

I enjoyed this, but can't say I learned a lot that I didn't already know from other readings. Still, its interesting subject matter about an interesting person. If you're interested in blow-by-blow of the battles, this isn't the book for you.

Historical Background.......2005-05-26

Where can I find a historical Background of this book?

Mighty Stonewall........2004-01-08

This book has come in for some criticism from other reviewers and many of their points are well taken. One has to remember however that this book was first published in 1954, a time when the cult of the lost cause was still very much alive and kicking. This is a prime example of civil war literature of that era. Davis actually shows a good deal of courage in that he did criticize the mighty Stonewall at all. No, this book does not compare favorably with some of the civil war studies that are available today, but it still has a place. In fact this would be an excellent book for someone with no background in civil war studies. For someone who has never heard of A.P. Hill or Richard Ewell this book offers an excellent introduction to the campaigns in Virginia.

Davis has a pleasant writing style, which makes this an easy book to read. He sprinkles his narrative with amusing antidotes which add greatly to the book and he does not get bogged down in battle the battle details that derail so many books of this sort. The map of the valley campaign does allow the reader to get an idea of the relation of the significant points to each other but a few more maps sprinkled here and there would be of a great deal of help. Jackson of course wore his religion on his sleeve and Davis deals with that extensively. Calvin's influence is obvious although I found it interesting that while in Mexico the General flirted with the Roman Catholic Church. Some of Jackson's habits however cannot be explained by his religious beliefs and some of his behavior is frankly quite odd. Davis gets points for pointing out that Jackson absolutely refused to take any responsibility for failure, always looking for a scapegoat. This of course explains the long running feuds he had with some of his generals. In 1954 circles that criticism of the much revered Stonewall must have raised some eyebrows for as every southerner who is over 40 knows, Stonewall was always right and we would have won easily at Gettysburg if he had only been there. Every time we go to Gettysburg my wife points that out to me and thinks I am crazy because I don't necessarily agree with her.

I do have a problem with the fact that Davis does not have the courage to take on the Jackson legend so far as to point out his failures during the Seven Days Battles. I realize that it would have been a hard sell in 1954 but Davis fails to do much more than point out that Jackson was unusually slow during this period and does not really even attempt to answer the questions raised by the General's behavior. In fact, had Jackson not failed so badly during this campaign the Union army might have been almost destroyed. After Jackson's failure below Richmond it is indeed almost a miracle that Lee would later have enough confidence in Jackson to give him command of a corps. A lot more detail would have helped in this area.

Overall though, I found this to be an excellent biography. There is to be found here what was new information in 1954. This book in fact has been the foundation for many of the later and yes, better studies of Stonewall Jackson. This book has remained in print now for fifty years. That in itself should be a clear indicator that this is one of the all time classic studies of the civil war.

Excellent and Easy To Understand!.......2003-07-23

This is a well written and easy to follow book on the life of "Stonewall" Jackson. The book not only covers Jackson's military genius, but probes into the mind of the man himself. You come away from this book with a deeper understanding of Jackson, his strong religious convictions, his military fierceness, his strict discipline and his gentle side as well.
Upon reading this book, one realizes that Jackson was a complex man. Highly recommended reading for all Civil War buffs!

A capable, though not outstanding, work on Jackson.......2002-12-14

Certainly one of the most ingenious commanders of the Civil War, Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson provides an interesting profile for a biographer. He was a brilliant commander, and led his troops on grinding marches for days at a time in order to secure gallant victories in the face of insurmountable odds. When he died Robert E. Lee lamented that he had lost his right arm, and indeed Jackson's loss was deeply felt by the Confederacy.

There was more to this man, however, than just the brilliant military strategist. He was also a devout man of God, humble and ever-willing to submit to the Divine will and give Him all the glory for his many victories. Behind General Jackson there was Jackson the believer, and the latter is just as much a part of Stonewall's history as the former.

Burke Davis does a decent job of narrating Jackson's life, though not extraordinary. The battle sequences are vague and difficult to follow, and the maps provide no assistance whatsoever. Davis frequently assumes he knows what Jackson was thinking, and often tells us just how Jackson felt about something. Sources are not cited, and we are left to wonder how much of the story is actually based on fact, and how much on speculation.

Davis's biography is satisfactory, but it does not do Stonewall's military actions justice. Some of the maneuvers he made and the victories he had were downright brilliant, and Davis leaves much to be desired in this respect. Still, the biography gives a decent portrait of Jackson's life. There are many biographies on Stonewall Jackson out there, and I would recommend this one only if one better is not available (as in my city's library).

Stonewall Jackson: Spirit of the South (Cobblestone the Civil War)

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Stonewall Jackson: Spirit of the South (Cobblestone the Civil War)

Manufacturer: Cobblestone
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0812679075

Book Description

When young Thomas Jackson was promoted three times in 15 months during the United States-Mexican War, his superior officers saw that he had the potential to be a great leader. Fourteen years later, in the early days of the Civil War, General Jackson quickly became a Confederate hero. Throughout the Shenandoah Valley Campaign, at Manassas, and at Chancellorsville, Jackson repeatedly proved his courage, loyalty, and honor.

Stonewall Jackson: Spirit of the Sout tells the story of the general who rallied the South during the first two years of the Civil War. Explore Jackson’s days at the United States Military Academy at West Point and his later teaching career at Virginia Military Institute. Discover how his actions at the Battle of First Manassas earned him the nickname “Stonewall.” Meet the man whose death General Robert E. Lee mourned as the loss of his “right hand.”

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Stonewall Jackson's Right Hand Man
Another forgotten hero

Stonewall's Man: Sandie Pendleton
W. G. Bean
Manufacturer: The University of North Carolina Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0807848751
Release Date: 2000-05-24

Book Description

First published by UNC Press in 1959, this biography tells the story of Alexander (Sandie) Swift Pendleton, a high-spirited and intelligent Confederate staff officer from Virginia who, at the age of twenty-two, won the confidence, admiration, and affection of Stonewall Jackson. Pendleton began as ordnance officer of the Stonewall Brigade of the Army of the Shenandoah in the spring of 1861. By January of 1863, he had become chief of staff of the famed Second Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia and was recognized as a brilliant staff officer—even as "Stonewall's Man." Wounded in the battle of Fisher's Hill, Pendleton died five days before his twenty-fourth birthday.

Based on diaries, letters, and manuscripts, the poignant and revealing story of Pendleton's life and Civil War experiences is set against a background of the campaigns in which he participated.

Customer Reviews:

Stonewall Jackson's Right Hand Man.......2004-12-28

Stonewall's Man, by W.G. Bean, is the biography of Alexander Swift "Sandie" Pendleton, 1841-64, who is best known as Chief of Staff to General T. J. "Stonewall" Jackson during the American Civil War. Bean, Professor of History at Washington and Lee University, focuses on Sandie's life and family, bringing the major events of the Civil War into the story only to the extent that Sandie played a role in them or they played a role in Sandie's life. This style gives the book two parallel themes: (1) The role of the military staff during the Civil War and (2) The life and everyday events of ordinary individuals in caught up in the midst of the Civil War.

At the time of the Civil War, the military staff had not grown the prominence it achieved only a few years later in the Prussian army, let alone the bloated status it "enjoys" today. Jackson's Second Corps, at its height, was composed of perhaps 30,000 men, and the staff typically numbered about four or five officers, including the Corps surgeon, Dr. Hunter McGuire. Its role was to facilitate Jackson's communication of with his subordinate commanders and with higher Headquarters, i.e., General Lee. In this era, "communications" meant hand written communications when time allowed and oral communications otherwise. During battles, "transmitting" orders typically meant getting on a horse and riding until Sandie found the intended recipient. Along the way, he was expected to render all appropriate support as dictated by the situation: Rallying retreating troops, bringing damaged artillery back into action, and, on his own initiative, improvising and acting for the commander. There was, and still is, a very delicate balancing act between acting on one's initiative and overstepping one's limited authority. Apparently, Sandie, at the ages of 21 to 23, had an extraordinary sense of this balance as he was held in the highest regard by both Jackson and his subordinate commanders. In addition, Sandie enjoyed an unusually close personal relationship with his notoriously tight lipped commander. After Jackson's death at Chancellorsville in May 1863, Sandie enjoyed similar professional relations with Jackson's successors, Generals Ewell and Early, although his personal relations with them were less close than with Jackson. Sandie was killed in late 1864 in the Battle of Fisher's Hill between Early and Union General Sheridan who had embarked on the burning of the Shenandoah Valley to starve the Confederacy into submission.

Sandie had been offered promotion from his staff position as a Lieutenant Colonel to command of a bigade as a Brigadier General. He declined the promotion as he thought the staff position carried greater responsibility. It did. Sandie greatly ehnanced the effectiveness of the Jackson's command. He was the war's most effective staff officer, highly adept at implementing the orders of its most brilliant general.

The personal life of Sandie Pendleton centers about his parents, his sisters, and his wife, Kate Corbin, to whom he was married less than a year prior to his death. All were prolific letter writers which provided Professor Bean with his primary source material. Sandie's relationship with his father, William Nelson Pendleton, is particularly interesting. W. N. Pendleton was, successively, a West Point graduate, Episcopal minister, headmaster of the Episcopal High School in Alexandria, VA, rector of Grace Episcopal Church in Lexington, VA, master of a boy's prep school in Lexington, and Brigadier General and commander of Jackson's artillery. He evidently had a profound influence on his son who taught in his father's prep school and hoped to follow his steps into the ministry. Serving on Jackson's staff while his father was an important subordinate commander must have further complicated Sandie's balancing act as chief of Jackson' staff. The personal events and letters of the family paint a clear and sad picture of lives caught up in the tragedy of the Civil War in Virginia. For example, in approximately one year, Kate Corbin lost three small nieces and nephews, her brother, her new husband, and their son who was born shortly after his father's death.

Professor Bean's narrative also indirectly highlights the prominent role of religion in every aspect of these people's lives. Many of us today tend to forget, if we ever knew, that the Civil War and American Revolution both had aspects of religious crusades, the Civil War on both sides, the Revolution primarily on the American side. For more on this theme, see Kevin Phillips, The Cousins Wars.

Another forgotten hero.......2002-08-13

It's not often that staff officers receive the kind of attention combat commanders do, but even in the War Between the States, when staff officers frequently had as much front-lines time as private soldiers, Sandie Pendleton was something exceptional. W.G. Bean does an excellent job showing us why.

I first encountered Alexander Swift 'Sandie' Pendleton in Douglas Southall Freeman's essential 'Lee's Lieutenants,' in which he cites the need for a comprehensive biography of this important officer. A few years later (Freeman wrote in the 1940s, and 'Stonewall's Man' was first published in 1959), W.G. Bean -- appropriately, the Douglas Southall Freeman Professor of History at Pendleton's alma mater, Washington and Lee University -- took up the challenge. This is a sympathetic, but still thorough, look at the man 'Stonewall' Jackson 'loved like a son,' and Dick Ewell called 'the most promising young man' in the Army of Northern Virginia.

Pendleton was something of an intellectual, having graduated from Washington College (later W&L University) and entered the M.A. program at the University of Virginia when the War began. His quick and organized mind was ideally suited to the needs of a military staff, and he quickly made himself invaluable to Generals Jackson and Ewell. By the time of his death in 1864, shortly before his 24th birthday, he had risen to the rank of lieutenant colonel, and was assistant adjutant general (essentially, chief of staff) of the Second Corps.

Bean does a fine job of relating all this. He also doesn't skip on the equally important details of Sandie's personal life, particularly his romance with, and marriage to, Kate Corbin. This book is filled with excerpts from Sandie and Kate's personal letters, as well as those of their families and friends. By the time the book is complete, I felt I knew Sandie well, and, with his wife and family, genuinely mourned his untimely death.

Freeman said that part of his motivation in writing 'Lee's Lieutenants' was to rescue from obscurity some of the lesser-known commanders and officers of the Confederate armies. Today, when any acknowledgement (let alone defense) of the CSA is considered in some quarters a 'hate crime,' Freeman's mission is more important than ever. I'm very pleased, therefore, that 'Stonewall's Man' has been re-released, and urge its study by anyone interested in the Army of Northern Virginia. The staff corps, too, has its heroes, and Sandy Pendleton's is a life worthy of remembering and respecting.

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