Stonewall Jackson Biography

556   HARPER'S WEEKLY.   [AUGUST 30, 1862.

THE LATE GENERAL R. L. M'COOK.—PHOTOGRAPHED BY R. CLARKE &- CO., OF CINCINNATI.—[SEE PAGE 551.]

THE REBEL GENERAL STONEWALL JACKSON.

WE publish on this page, from a photograph by Brady, a portrait of the famous rebel GENERAL. THOMAS JEFFERSON JACKSON, better known as Stonewall Jackson.

Thomas J. Jackson was born in Virginia about the year 1825, and is consequently about thirty-eight years of age. He graduated at West Point in 1846, and in the following year accompanied Magruder's battery to Mexico. At Contreras and Churubusco he distinguished himself so highly on the field that he was brevetted Captain for gallantry. At Chapultepec he again won laurels, and was brevetted Major for gallant and meritorious conduct. On his return from Mexico he was for some time in command at Fort Hamilton; but in 1842 he resigned his rank. At the outbreak of the rebellion Major Jackson was one of those Southerners who were greatly embarrassed to discover the true line of their duty. He had married a Northern wife, was an honorable and conscientious man, and long hesitated what course to pursue. It is stated that his father-in-law, a Northern clergyman, visited him, and urged him to remain faithful to his country and his flag. They spent several hours in prayer together, and Jackson confessed that the struggle was sore. But finally the pernicious doctrine of State Rights, which Jackson, like so many other gallant Southrons,

 had imbibed early in life, won the day: "I must go with Virginia!" he cried, and plunged headlong into the vortex of treason.

As a rebel officer he has been energetic, lucky, and skillful. At Bull Run he won his cognomen Of " Stonewall" by promising Beauregard that his brigade should stand like a stone wall before the enemy; the promise was kept. He fought Shields near Winchester, in March last, with rather indifferent success. But his pursuit of Banks down the Shenandoah Valley was very successful, and infused some heart into the rebel cause. Again, in June, his attack on M'Clellan's right wing at Mechanicsville helped his fame among his people. At Cedar Mountain his design showed skill, but the steady courage of Banks's troops foiled his purpose. He will shortly come to close quarters with a General who is fully his match—John Pope.

Stonewall Jackson is by all odds the ablest officer in the rebel army. Beauregard, who was a year ago considered their crack leader, evinced a sad lack of capacity in the contest in the West. He was completely outgeneraled by Halleck, and had the mortification of seeing his army disperse and leave him without a command after the evacuation of Corinth. He is now said to be living in retirement in Mississippi, overwhelmed by remorse.

Neither Lee nor Johnson have fulfilled their promise.

THE REBEL GENERAL STONEWALL JACKSON.—PHOTOGRAPHED BY BRADY.]