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Stonewall Jackson Facts & Worksheets

Thomas Jonathan “Stonewall” Jackson was a commander for the Confederacy during the American Civil War.

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Thomas Jonathan “Stonewall” Jackson was a commander for the Confederacy during the American Civil War. He is remembered for being one of the most skillful tacticians, gaining the name “Stonewall” as a result of his stand at the First Battle of Bull Run in 1861. He is known to many as a military legend.

See the fact file below for more information on the Stonewall Jackson or alternatively, you can download our 22-page Stonewall Jackson worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

EARLY LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON

  • Jackson was born on January 21, 1824 in Clarksburg, Virginia.
  • His family roots go back to Londonderry, Ireland; after his family migrated across the Blue Mountains to Virginia, they acquired farming land and set up home in the area.
  • Jackson had a rough childhood with the death of close family members including his father and sister, his mother’s debt, and her eventual death, leaving Jackson orphaned.
  • After his mother’s death, Jackson lived with his half-uncle, Cummins Jackson. He helped around the farm and attended school when he could.
  • He was largely self-taught, even going so far as to teach one of his uncle’s slaves how to read and write; once literate, the slave fled to Canada via the Underground Railroad.

JACKSON’S MILITARY & TEACHING CAREER

  • In 1842, at the age of 18, Jackson became the constable of Lewis County for a brief time, which served as a test for an appointment to West Point Military Academy.
  • Jackson initially struggled at West Point but coped and graduated 17th in rank of 59 cadets in 1846. He was soon after sent to the Mexican War as second lieutenant, where he first met General Robert E. Lee, who would later become the commanding general of the Confederate armies.
  • After serving in the Mexican War, Jackson was assigned to forts in New York, Florida.
  • As a result of tensions and disagreements within the military, Jackson resigned to accept a position as an instructor at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington; he taught artillery tactics as well as natural philosophy.
  • Between 1953 and 1862, Jackson met and married Elinor Junkin (who later died during childbirth, along with their stillborn son), then Mary Anna Morrison, with whom he had a daughter named Julia in 1862.

THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR

  • When Jackson’s state of Virginia declared its independence and seceded from the Union in the spring of 1861, Jackson showed his support for the Confederacy.
  • Jackson was promoted to Major General in November 1861.
  • He worked as a drill master for the new recruits in the Confederate Army; he believed discipline was vital to success on the battlefield.
  • Jackson was promoted to brigadier general on June 17, 1861, following the raids on the B&O Railroad in May.
  • He accepted orders as a Colonel of Virginia Militia, commanding a garrison at Harper’s Ferry; he then led a brigade at the Battle of First Manassas, which is where he earned the nickname “Stonewall”.
  • In spring 1862, Jackson led a campaign in the Shenandoah Valley that defeated three different Union forces and made his name famous.
  • He then fought in the Seven Days’ Battles, which helped to secure the Confederate capital from the Unionists.
  • Jackson also fought in the Second Manassas Campaign as well as in the Maryland Campaign; in the fall of 1862 he was promoted to Lieutenant General.

JACKSON’S DEATH & LEGACY

  • At the Battle of Chancellorsville, Jackson led his forces (which were half the size of Major General Joseph Hooker’s Army of the Potomac) on an aggressive flanking maneuver, sent by Robert E. Lee as part of his strategy to divide the army in the face of superior numbers.
  • While Jackson was performing a reconnaissance in advance of his line, he was wounded in the dark from his own men – it was an accidental shooting, as he and his staff were mistaken for a Union cavalry force.
  • Jackson was hit by three bullets – two in his left arm, and one in his right hand – and several other men who were with him were killed, as well as many horses.
  • He was prevented from receiving immediate medical care due to being in the dark and the confusion surrounding the incident.
  • Eventually, Jackson’s left arm was amputated, and he died of pneumonia eight days later.
  • Jackson is regarded by military historians as one of the most gifted tactical commanders in US history, with his tactics still studied even today.
  • His death was a huge setback for the Confederacy.
  • As of 2020, Jackson’s legacy and importance to US history has come under scrutiny.

Stonewall Jackson Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about Stonewall Jackson across 22 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Stonewall Jackson worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about Thomas Jonathan “Stonewall” Jackson who was a commander for the Confederacy during the American Civil War. He is remembered for being one of the most skillful tacticians, gaining the name “Stonewall” as a result of his stand at the First Battle of Bull Run in 1861. He is known to many as a military legend.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Stonewall Jackson Facts
  • Jackson and Calvinism
  • Stonewall Jackson Wordsearch
  • Quote Analysis
  • Military Strategy in Plain Words
  • Stonewall Jackson Crossword
  • Jackson’s Views on Slavery
  • In the News
  • See, Think, Wonder
  • Jackson in Battle
  • Civil War Poem

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Link will appear as Stonewall Jackson Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, November 2, 2020

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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