Mighty Stonewall

Williams-Ford Texas A&M University Military History Series #9

by Frank E. Vandiver

Confederate General Thomas Jonathan Jackson was undoubtedly one of the most influential military commanders of the Civil War. Had he not met his death early in May, 1863, his influence could well have changed the course of the war.

Frank E. Vandiver's detailed research and zestful writing style provide a vivid description of Stonewall's boyhood, West Point training, early career, years of teaching at the Virginia Military Institute, and Civil War campaigns. Here, too, are insights into Jackson's personal life and his deep religious feelings, which were so influential on his military thought and actions.

Frank E. Vandiver, president of Texas A&M University until September, 1988, directs the Mosher Institute of Defense Studies at Texas A&M University. He is also author of Black Jack: The Life and Times of John J. Pershing and Their Tattered Flags: The Epic of the Confederacy.

Genres: Biography, History, American Civil War, Nonfiction, Civil War, Historical

558 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1957

About the author

Frank Everson Vandiver was an American Civil War historian and former president of Texas A&M University and the University of North Texas, as well as acting president of Rice University. Vandiver wrote, co-wrote, or edited 24 books, and wrote an additional 100 scholarly articles or reviews.

Reviews

[Jasmine Shadows · Rating 5 out of 5]

This really is a wonderful work. I appreciate that the author does not hesitate to list the wonderful character of Stonewall and also his flaws. The book contains quite a bit of detail about the battles. It also brings out so many wonderful things about his private life. Stonewall Jackson endured many sorrows in his life, and he also had some wonderful joys. Stonewall Jackson loved God, family and country. He was stalwart in his duties to each of them. He had a strong character that I wish we saw more of today. He was a man of great integrity and determination to do what needed to be done. His love for both of his wives was deep, devoted and unwavering. When his first wife died he was deeply affected, but it is so wonderful that he did finally find love again. I guess that I am devoting more time to the person and less time to the review of the book. I highly recommend this book. I took my time through it, and I had to put it down a couple of times because I had to read a couple of other books that had been on my tbr list for some time, and I had limited access to them. I will say that this author is a great biographer and if I ever run across any of his other works I will be sure to read them.

[Mark Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book at the visitors' center at the Chancellorsville Battlefield. One of the workers in the shop recommended it along with a short list of other titles. It took me a long time to get through because I was principally reading during my metro commutes each day (and not always then.) Considering it was written in the late 50s, the style was fairly easy going for a volume of history. Raised a Virginian, and a retired naval officer still working at the Pentagon, I brought my own sensibilities and proclivities to the piece.

With that out of the way, this was a great read and I can't argue with others who say this is likely the best bio of Jackson as I haven't read others. I did find it quite enjoyable as it gives one a true picture of the man at a very human level, focusing not only on military aspects, but their interplay with what was going on in his personal life at the time, his interactions with friends and family, his religious fervor, and how he evolved as he aged.

Although it was challenging to keep track of the battle scenes as the maps were not comprehensive enough, I chose to eschew geolocating the various forces in the field detailed in Vandiver's prose, and focus instead on Jackson's decision making and battlefield judgment as the war progressed. It was interesting to see how he delegated, communicated, and interacted with his staff, peers, and superiors. As a study of leadership, it validates the idea that tactical and strategic expertise alone do not create the type of esprit de corps which resonated throughout the Confederate troops around Chancellorsville in the time preceding Jackson's demise. Passion and vision, decisiveness and energy, even a theatrical flair mark the Mighty Stonewall's character. The book provided the background to understand why Jackson behaved the way he did in various situations up to his final days...to include the hubris that put him in a dangerous part of the battlefield which lead to his mortal wounding by edgy Confederate troops.

I found myself on the edge of my seat for the battles as Vandiver delivered them in a way evocative of current action movies, building up to the point the first shots were fired, and then providing enough description to help one imagine the scene, the choas, the brutality, and the bravado that hung in the air.

Whatever your approach to the study of the Civil War, understanding Stonewall Jackson seems a key piece of the puzzle of a vexing time in our nation's history when we turned upon one another in bloody, total war. Vandiver gets it done.

[Bruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

I planned to write a review but how do you review a classic? I mean really.

The book is the biography of Thomas [Stonewall] Jackson. I wanted to read something about the man where his campaigns and battles were not the main focus. I wanted to know what made the man tic so-to-speak and even though I've read plenty on the Civil War I had not read a biography of one of major characters in the conflict.

So, having visited Lexington, VA and Jackson's home just prior to the Civil War I decided to buy Vandiver's classic. I was not disappointed.

So what stood out? What stood out was that Jackson was a Christian gentleman. He loved his wife and and he loved his country. He loved Jesus. He loved being an officer in the United States Army and the Confederate Army. He loved being a professor at VMI. He loved a challenge and had an extraordinary ability to exercise a discipline to accomplish whatever he set his mind to accomplish.

But Jackson was also a warrior, a stern disciplinarian that lived by the rules. He was as tough on his soldiers as he was on himself.The troops he commanded grew to love him, because he was a winner but also because he did his best to feed and clothe the ragged scarecrows that were his Confederate soldiers.

Jackson could also be petty as shown with his conflict A.P. Hill. (Hill could also be petty.) It seemed that pettiness was a characteristic of many a Civil War General.

Jackson's unwavering Calvinistic faith permeates his life just as it permeated his correspondence. And for whatever faults he had (the pettiness and pride associated with it to name one) his faith was real. He could talk theology with the lowliest private or most learned clergyman. Jackson knew his Bible.

By the time I reached the end I felt I kind of knew the man and frankly his death and the way he handled it touched me. Vandiver accomplished what a biographer should want to accomplish and that's coming away with the feeling that you've been an insider to the person you've just read about.

It's a hefty volume with more than 400 pages but every one of those pages is interesting.

[Dad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to my son James, and Rob who is a good friend of his, I had the good fortune to read this really great book. For those who are a student of the Civil War it is a must read.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best Jackson bio I have read. Vandiver truly grasps the character and genius of Jackson.