d was very well known. In November of 1859, Jackson was one of the Virginia Military Institute officers to accompany the contingent of cadets to Harpers Ferry, Virginia. At the execution of John Brown, who was an abolitionist, they stood guard. In 1861 Jackson was in charge of the cadets who were ordered to Richmond. There they were going to serve as drillmasters for new army recruits. 6 days later, Colonel Jackson was ordered to take command at Harpers Ferry, where he soon comprised the famous “stonewall Brigade.” That July, he was promoted to Brigadier General.At the first battle of Bull Run, Jackson's small group of troops were facing overwhelming odds but they formed a strong line and held their ground. At the sight of this, General Barnard Bee said,” There is Jackson's line over there standing like a stonewall." After this statement Thomas Jackson was given the nickname "Stonewall".In October 1861 Colonel Jackson was promoted to Major General. He served in the seven-day battles, and displayed ineffective leadership, which stood in stark contrast to the brilliance of the Shenandoah Valley campaign. The reasons for this uncharacteristic military failure are still debated among Jackson scholars today. In 1862 General Robert E. Lee reorganized his troops into two corps. Jackson was at that time promoted to Lieutenant General and placed in charge of the second corps. of Lee’s army in the northern part of Virginia. In the winter of 1863 they had headquarters on an estate just 10 miles south of Fredericksburg, Virginia. On May 2, 1863, while leading his forces at Chancellorsville, Jackson was accidentally shot and fatally wounded by his own men. The 18th North Carolina Infantry Regiment was responsible for the so-called “ friendly fire” incident. He was hit with 3 bullets. They were .57 caliber bullets. Jackson was taken to the field hospital near the battlefield. There they had to amputate his arm. Ma...
