Lt. Thomas J. Jackson—later renowned as “Stonewall” Jackson—began the Civil War as a relatively unknown former U.S. Army officer and Virginia Military Institute professor. As a newly commissioned Confederate lieutenant (soon promoted to colonel and then brigadier general), he was disciplined, deeply religious, and intensely focused on duty.

Early in the war, he proved himself a strict but effective leader, emphasizing drill, endurance, and rapid movement. His reputation grew quickly after the First Battle of Manassas, where his resolve under fire earned him his famous nickname. Jackson would go on to become one of the Confederacy’s most celebrated commanders.