General Stonewall Jackson: The Unpredictable Force - Coursework Example

Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson: The Unpredictable Force Introduction General Thomas J Jackson was the most cunning and terrifying leader in the Civil War and has emerged as one of historys most respected field commanders. His tactics in the critical Shenandoah Valley during the Spring of 1862 were able to route the Union forces, while significantly outgunned, outnumbered, and out manned. This paper will give a brief history of the man that came to be known as "Stonewall" for his ability to form a wall that was impenetrable by enemy forces. It will further explore the six major battles that comprised the Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1862. The Shenandoah Valley was strategically important to both the North and South, as it controlled access to vital supply and transportation lines. Jackson, the embodiment of courage and inspiration, was a master of deception and surprise and was able to forestall a Union victory by his actions during the Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1862. Biography Thomas J Jackson was born in Clarksville Virginia in 1824, and stayed there through his childhood getting to know the territory, terrain, and people. His father died when Jackson was two years old and his mother passed away when he was ten. Jackson spent nearly his entire childhood living with other family members amid financial instability and poverty. He entered the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1842 and graduated in 1846 "standing 17th out of 59 graduates".1 During the period of 1846-1851 Jackson served in the US Army and as a young officer he fought in the Mexican-American War from 1846-1848. Jacksons training and experience would later make him a valuable asset to the Confederate forces. Jackson resigned from the US Army to take a position at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) in Lexington, Virginia in 1851 where he remained until the Civil War broke out. At VMI he taught philosophy and courses relating to "physics, astronomy, acoustics, optics, and other scientific courses".2 In 1856 Jackson spent time in Europe before returning to teach at VMI. He was called to service by the Confederacy on Apr 21, 1861 when the "VMI Corps of Cadets was ordered to Richmond to serve as drillmasters for new army recruits. Jackson was placed in command of the cadets".3 In July 1861, Jackson would see action at the Souths victory in the First Battle of Manassas, where Jackson acquired the nickname "Stonewall". It was during this battle that "Confederate resistance, with Gen. Thomas J. Jackson standing like a “stone wall,” checked the Union advance, and the arrival of Gen. E. Kirby Smiths brigade turned the tide against the Union forces".4 "Jackson was to be known forever after as Stonewall, and the unit he commanded in that battle was identified as the Stonewall Brigade".5 Jackson had the unpredictable ability to employ "rapid marches, maneuvers, hammer blows, and psychological warfare" that terrified the citizens and alarmed the authorities in Washington.6 By October, Jackson had been promoted to the rank of Major General and was placed in command of the Valley of Virginia. He began making plans for the successful Shenandoah Valley campaign that was launched in 1862. His exploits in this campaign catapulted him into history as a legendary military figure. Jackson died May 10, 1863 from the complications from an amputation that came as result of being severely wounded in the Battle of Chancellorsville.7 His last words, "Let us cross over the river and rest under the shade of the trees" were a testimony to his deep religious faith and his acceptance of the role of soldier.8 Stonewall Jackson continues to be debated, analyzed, and admired as one of the most brilliant military minds in the history of warfare. The Shenandoah Valley Campaign 1862 The Appalachia Mountains were of great strategic importance to the warring factions during the American Civil War. The Shenandoah Valley was an important aspect of this strategy as it offered access to both Washington DC and Richmond VA, the confederate capitol. Confederate forces would use the protection offered by the Shenandoah Valley to launch campaigns into Maryland in 1862 and Pennsylvania in 1863.9 Control of the Shenandoah Valley and its inhabitants meant control of vital supply lines necessary for commerce and resupplying the armies. "The Confederate army of Jubal Early was even able to threaten Washington, D.C., directly in a foray from the Shenandoah Valley".10 In addition, the Valley was also am important escape route. Lees decimated forces returned to the Shenandoah Valley after the Confederates bitter defeat at Gettysburg.11 It was in this environment that the newly promoted General Jackson presented a plan to his commanding officer that called for taking control of the area and putting pressure on the North. "In mid-October he suggested a plan to invade the North, put economic pressure on Northern people, and force them to seek an end to the war".12 The plan would exert economic pressure by, "closing the anthracite mines, disrupting commerce, and hindering manufacturing".13 His plan was initially rejected, but he presented it again in May of 1862, when his superiors approved the plan and launched the Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1862. Jacksons strategy during the Shenandoah Valley Campaign was largely based on his philosophy of battle. He stated, "Always mystify, mislead, and surprise your enemy, if possible; and when you strike and overcome him, never give up the pursuit as long as your men have strength to follow; for an army routed, if properly pursued, becomes panic stricken and can then be destroyed by half their number".14 By implementing the element of surprise and the audacity of quick movement, his advances on the battlefield were "achieved by rapid marches, surprise, deception, and hard fighting".15 Jackson was able to overcome a Union Army that numbered 60,000 troops with a force less than one third that size. His units ability to act quickly and with bravery made Jacksons force a looming threat to the retreating Union armies. Kernstown was the first of a series of six battles in the Shenandoah Valley Campaign that also included McDowell, Front Royal, Winchester, Cross Keys, and Port Republic. In Jacksons mind, the campaign would "force the people of the North to understand what it will cost them to hold the South in the Union at the bayonets point".16 The initial battle would take place in Kernstown, and was the only one considered a loss for the Confederates during the month long campaign. Union General Banks had moved into the valley in March of 1862 with 38,000 troops to prepare for an assault on Richmond in concert with McClellan. The campaign was to keep Banks forces engaged and prevent him from uniting forces with McClellan. The Confederates, significantly outnumbered, had underestimated the size of the Union force and took a position along a brick wall where they opened fire on the Union troops. The Federal forces kept coming under the command of US Colonel Nathan Kimball causing Jackson to comment, "We are in for it".17 Indeed, the assault lasted for hours, as the Confederate soldiers became easy targets for the Union army. Confederate General Richard Garnett, running low on ammunition, was the first to retreat, which threw the remaining Confederate army into disarray and confusion. Jackson was on his way to the front lines with the 5th Virginia when he encountered the retreating Confederate men. He encountered Garnett retreating from the front and enraged by the sight Jackson yelled, "Halt and rally".18 However, the arrival of Jackson had come too late to be of any inspiration in turning the battle around. The General would later bring charges against Garnett for his battlefield behavior and release him from his command.19 Jackson had only enough time to remove the dead and wounded from the battlefield before retreating to Newtown, nearly 5 miles south of the site of the battle.20 While this was seen as a tactical failure and a setback for Jackson, it resulted in a psychological and strategic victory. According to Kennedy (1998), The Union, surprised by the tenacity of Jackson were forced to send large numbers of reinforcements into the valley to safeguard western Virginia and the capitol, which lowered McClellans troop numbers by 60,000 making an assault on Richmond unlikely.21 His legend would prove invaluable in future battles as Jacksons unpredictable prowess would keep the enemy off guard and over compensating out of fear for the Generals next move. Following the Battle of Kernstown, Jackson took refuge in the Allegheny Mountains, reassembled his forces, allowed them a little rest, and set his sights on McDowell. Jackson was still angered by the hasty retreat and defeat at Kernstown two months earlier and "the Rebel general headed south and turned west to fight off the advance guard of Maj. General John C. Fremonts army at McDowell".22 His foot cavalry, one of the toughest and fastest on either side, marched hurriedly to meet 6,000 Federals surrounding the city. This time, the Confederates would have an advantage over the outnumbered Union army. Jackson had used his unpredictable nature to launch a surprise attack on the forces occupying McDowell on the morning of May 8, 1862. The march to the battlefield had been made through difficult mountainous terrain that extended into the city of McDowell. Here, the battle would be shaped and defined by the terrain. According to Kennedy (1998), "The jagged high ground surrounding McDowell was so rough that it was almost impossible to bring cannons to the summit. Canons situated on the lower ground were unable to reach the heights. McDowell was destined to be an infantrymans fight".23 McDowell would prove to be a heavily intense battle with a large number of casualties inflicted by a courageous and aggressive Union army. As the battle wore on through the day, the fighting continued with increasing intensity. The Union soldiers, with the sun at their back, were difficult for the Confederate soldiers to see as they advanced on the Souths position along the crest. However, by days end the Federal troops were unable to take the crest and retreated across Bull Pasture River and into Monterey. As Jackson assessed the heavy casualties and surveyed his men, he made a decision not to pursue the retreating troops and instead gave his troops a chance to rest and regroup. On May 9, Jackson sent a simple telegram to his superiors reflecting his staunch pragmatism that read, "God blessed our arms with victory at McDowell yesterday".24 On May 10, 1862 Jackson took up pursuit of the retreating armies and prepared for the next battle for the Shenandoah Valley. By May 21, 1862 Jacksons Calvary had been bolstered to 17,000 fierce fighters that were deployed in the Shenandoah Valley. It was Jacksons objective to tie up the Union forces and prevent them from amassing an army large enough to make an assault on Richmond. "Their objectives were to threaten Washington so that President Abraham Lincoln would send Shields back to the Valley, decreasing the number of Federals advancing against Richmond from the North, and to keep Banks in the Valley".25 On May 23, 1861 Jackson launched one his legendary surprise attacks catching the Federals off guard and leading to their quick retreat from Front Royal. The strategy further called for Colonel Ashby to block the Federals retreat from Front Royal and eliminate any possibility of getting reinforcements.26 Outflanked and in chaos, the Union army continued their retreat to Cedarville. As the Confederate army claimed victory, they took 900 Union prisoners.27 More importantly, "Jackson had spared Richmond from an attack from the North and had prevented McDowell from reinforcing McClellan".28 This victory paved the way for the subsequent battles and "signaled an explosion into the headlines and put Jacksons name on every American tongue".29 This larger-than-life image of Jackson would gain him a psychological advantage in the coming days of the Civil War. During the next two days, Jacksons men, tired from battle, launched another major offensive at Winchester. His brazen assault of 16,000 Confederate troops coming from three directions resulted in a quick retreat across the Potomac by US General Williams division serving under General Banks command, as the Federals were threatened by Jacksons advance towards Washington.30 On June 8, Jackson commanded his troops in the Battle of Cross Keys. Though it was historically a minor battle, its importance was in setting the stage for the climax of the campaign at Port Republic the following day, which is considered by many to be a work of military genius.31 Throughout the campaign Jackson had managed to outmaneuver forces that outnumbered him, while he "skillfully used the Valleys terrain to keep his opponents apart and struck the scattered components of the Union army before they could unite against him".32 The Battle of Cross Keys would end with the Confederates losing less than half the number of Union soldiers, while again being significantly outnumbered. Jacksons men were exhausted from battle and had been reduced in size to approximately 12,000 men, but marched on to the final battle of the campaign at Port Republic. The battle began on June 8 when Confederate General Ewell repelled an attack by Union soldiers at Cross Keys, four miles northeast of Port Republic.33 Jackson would attack on June 9 as he sent General Winders Brigade to attack Union positions taken up between the South Fork River and the Blue Ridge Mountains. However, the Union soldiers held a strong defensible position with seven guns. As Winder approached, their exposed position caused the advance to slow and come to a complete halt, as the confused men sought shelter from the barrage.34 The Confederates pressed on and with the help of artillery were able to advance within 200 yards of the enemy line. Just as the men were running low on ammunition and panic was setting in, Confederate reinforcements arrived. Jacksons forces used surprise and outmaneuvering to split the Union forces causing them to retreat to the rear. Though it was an important victory for the South, the fierce battle had cost Jackson 800 men, while the Union lost 500.35 According to Kennedy, "Jacksons victory at Port Republic capped a campaign in which he had defeated portions of three Union armies and tied up as many as 60,000 Union soldiers who might have been employed more profitably elsewhere".36 The Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1862 placed the area under Confederate control, gave the South some additional time, and established Stonewall Jackson as a great military leader. Observations and Conclusion The result of the Shenandoah Valley Campaign had farther-reaching implications that making Jackson a revered military hero. The campaign had forestalled an attack on the Confederate capitol at Richmond. Jacksons "presence alone in the Shenandoah immobilized McDowells corps by keeping these reinforcements from joining McClellan before Richmond".37 In addition, this campaign opened the routes into Maryland and Pennsylvania that were to be used in future advances. In fact, the Shenandoah Valley Campaign was part of a larger strategy that would launch the second Manassas Campaign, the Maryland Campaign, and the Gettysburg Campaign during the following year.38 In addition, the persona created by Jackson caused the Union army to second guess their strategies and devote manpower far in excess of what other commanders could draw. More importantly, it kept the pressure on the North to respond with more troops and equipment, all of which drained the Union of their economic resources. This would ultimately be felt by the public and bring some level of disapproval for the war against the South. In conclusion, Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson is as much of a legend as he is a military hero. Jackson was able to conquer superior forces by his use of speed and maneuverability. He additionally had the courage to advance in the face of danger, and could fight to the last bullet or final soldier. While Jackson deserves the honors that have been bestowed him, the brave men that fought for him should not be overlooked. The Shenandoah Valley Campaign had driven his soldiers from battle to battle with little rest and often fought on the verge of total exhaustion. Still, it was Jackson that acted as their inspiration and spurred them on in the face of long odds and insurmountable obstacles. As Cozzens reports, "Jackson seemed the very personification of the genius of battle as he galloped from point to point and gave sharp, crisp orders".39 The Shenandoah Valley Campaign highlights the unpredictable nature of General Jackson, and is an example of the importance of effective leadership that is engaged, courageous, and inspiring. Bibliography Cozzens, Peter. “Stonewalls Back in Town.” Americas Civil War, November 2008. Delcour, Melissa. “Lightning Strike in the Valley.” Military History, June 2005. Drake, Richard B. 2001. A History of Appalachia. Lexington KY: University Press of Kentucky. Kegel, James A. 1996. North With Lee and Jackson: The Lost Story of Gettysburg . Mechanicsburg PA: Stackpole Books. Kennedy, Frances. The Civil War Battlefield Guide. Boston MA: Houghton-Mifflin Trade and Reference, 1998. Matloff, Maurice. 1996. American Military History. Vol. 1. Conshohocken PA: Combined Publishing. Stackpole, Edward J. 1991. The Fredericksburg Campaign: Drama On the Rappahannock . Harrisburg PA: Stackpole Books. “Stonewall Jackson Biographical Information.” Civil War History. http://www.civilwarhistory.com/stonewalljackson/jackson.htm (accessed November 10, 2008). Read More