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.

About the Author
J. STEVEN WILKINS is founder and president of the Southern Heritage Society. He produced the highly acclaimed tape series America: The First 350 Years and, with Otto Scott, the award-winning video A Southern Profile of the Civil War. He lives in Monroe, Louisiana.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Dubbed "Stonewall" after the battle of First Manassas in July 1861, Thomas Jackson has long been revered as a brilliant military leader and tactician and one of the most adroit Confederate commanders. The man himself is a study in contrasts: as feared by his enemies as he was beloved by his men. And in the eyes of some, his humble and sincere Christian faith seemed at odds with his reputation as a ferocious warrior. Jackson was graduated from West Point in 1846, participated in the Mexican War in 1848, and accepted a teaching position at the Virginia Military Institute in 1851, resigning his commission in the army a year later. When he left VMI ten years later to join the Confederate army, immediately he was commissioned a colonel and within months promoted to the rank of brigadier general. His battlefield successes against numerically superior Union armies made him a legend in both the South and the North. Mortally wounded by his own troops 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. All Things for Good is a thoughtful addition to the Leaders in Action Series. In it J. Steven Wilkins challenges some of the myths that surround Jackson and celebrates his devout Christian beliefs.

SYNOPSIS

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.