The life of Thomas J. Jackson

There were a multitude of reasons why I chose to take a mini vacation to West Virginia, not the least of which was to learn a bit more about Thomas J. Jackson, 1824-63.

No, this was not the 7th President of the United States, that would be Andrew Jackson, 1767-1845, who was noted among other accomplishments for his military feats in the War of 1812 and particularly the Battle of New Orleans.

T. Jackson was born in Clarksburg, Va., orphaned by the age of 6 and relocated to his uncle’s place about 15 miles south at what was known as Jackson’s Mill, Va. This Jackson’s history may have remained an obscure one if not for yet another war begun in 1861. He would attend the nation’s war college at West Point, gain battle experience on the Mexican border and land a teaching position at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Va.

The politics, economics and moral issues of a rebellious, disjointed and adolescent nation reached a boiling point in 1861. In the fertile soil that birthed the concepts of independence and freedom from tyranny, lines were drawn. Torn by conflicting loyalties and moral debates, Thomas J. Jackson, opted to fight for his home state of Virginia and joined the newly formed Confederate States of America. You may be more familiar with him as Gen. Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson.

Ironically, when the Virginia legislature finally voted in the spring of 1861to join the confederacy in an act of secession, the western part of the state whose borders reached the Ohio River, declared a thunderous, “absolutely not!”

The area of Virginia where Jackson was born and raised wanted no part of the confederacy and in essence, seceded from its own governing body, the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Money was borrowed from private sources to establish a fledgling government and $30,000 in gold sent by the Virginia legislature to build the Trans Atlantic Lunatic Asylum was confiscated by proponents of the new administration. The men of West Virginia would fight for the Union forces.

Perhaps, here lies the explanation for findings on the recent journey thought to be a little curious. At Jackson’s Mill, the knowledgeable guide was adamant that the story was about Thomas Jackson, not “Stonewall.” He was correct; it would be another 30 years before the moniker was attached during the 1st Battle of Manassas.

And at his birthplace in Clarksburg — now West Virginia — though there is a large statue in front of the courthouse, it appeared there was little else. Three times we approached the guards inside to ask yet another question, and each time we were offered another piece of information.

Persistence paid off; we discovered a plaque denoting the location of Jackson’s birthplace, a graphic panel detailing the familial history and a picture of the family home and an entertaining and knowledgeable individual associated with the local library who regaled us with Jackson family stories for over an hour.

We promised to stay in touch and headed off to the next destination.