I was in Lexington, Virginia today for work so I took the opportunity to fulfill a life long dream to visit the grave site of Lt. General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson. I'd actually hoped to visit both Jackson and then Lee Chapel to visit General Robert E. Lee's memorial/burial site but it was closed due to Covid. So I drove a couple miles across town to the Stonewall Jackson Memorial Cemetery in Lexington. It was Virginia in July weather, hot and humid, but beautiful, blue skies and sunshine. I parked on the street and strolled through the cemetery. Right in the middle you could spot the memorial with General Jackson's back turned to me. I made my way around to it and stood in front and looked up at him.



There he was, staring forward, binoculars in hand. It was quiet and I just stood there thinking about the man and the legend of Stonewall Jackson. It was a humbling experience. People can say what they want about the cause that this man and men like him fought for, he was a god fearing warrior that hesitated to leave his beloved country but once did knew there was no turning back. He was a brilliant tactician. His Shenandoah valley campaign is a masterpiece in the art of war.

Can you spot the lemon down at the base of the monument?



There's a plaque fixed to the monument that reads: Field Marhsal the Right Honorable Viscount Wolseley British Soldier of the Highest Rank says:

"The fame of Stonewall Jackson is no longer the exclusive property of Virginia and the South; it has become the birthright of every man privileged to call himself an American."

I did not know that buried/ honored beside him is his grandson and great-grandson. His grandson Thomas Jonathan Jackson Christian was a career US Army officer who served during both world wars, retiring as a Brigadier General. His great-grandson Thomas Jonathan Jackson Christian Jr. was a colonel in the Army Air Corp during WWII flying in both the pacific and European theaters. He was shot down and killed in action August 1944 over France.





I tried finding the grave site of Brigadier General William Nelson Pendleton but was unsuccessful. He was General Lee's Chief of Artillery for much of the war.

Very nice pictures. I’ve been to pay my respects to General Jackson several times. If you find yourself there and have time you should tour his home. As I understand it the house was the first and only home he ever owned.



Hate you didn’t get to visit Washington & Lee university. I’ve been there once. They have General Lees office as he left it and his memorial in the basement (and his family) is impressive. I believe his horse Traveler is buried just outside.

Before we had a child we often wondered about names.

We settled on Thomas as a first name. Or first date wa to see the Thomas Crown Affair...we went on our honeymoon on St. Thomas, the list goes on....And occasionally we would opine about his middle name....one day we Were on a a trip to the mountains where my parents lived and passed thru “Jackson” county...
I told my wife, that would be a great name,Thomas Jackson, it sounds very strong.

After he was born, probably five or so years I happen to be researching something and trip across, General Thomas Jackson AKA Stonewall Jackson....I learned that day that they both share a birthday....

I don’t believe I would have named my child after someone, it just happened organically.

I grew up next to and lived in Gainesville GA for most of my life and spent quite a bit of time and interest in General Longstreet. His grave is there in Gainesville, his home place is next to a public swimming pool not far from his resting place and grapes from his vines still lived while I was there. I was even part of the Longstreet Society dedicated to preserving his memory and history and remaining hotel building. I wish I’d visited Jackson’s gravesite when I passed through Virginia long ago. Maybe one day.

During the parts of two years I worked in the VA in Salem, my wife and I saw all the Civil War sights we could find. Not only Lexington and VMI, but Newmarket, Winchester, Appomattox Court House, the Wilderness, and many many others. There were days in August when we and the park historians were the only ones there. We visited the cabin where Jackson died, and the grave of his left arm in Locust Grove, 110 miles from where the rest of his body is buried.
Unlike some very ignorant younger people, we cherish all of our American history.

I grew up in Clarksburg WV, the birthplace of General Stonewall Jackson. Once upon a time everyone there was proud the town was associated with the General. And everything bore his name in the state. Now they want to remove his beautiful statue from the courthouse square and the state capitol.

Now the attitude of many makes me sick and we see history erased before our very eyes. God rest his brilliant tactician soul.

My father and his brothers' given names were from famous generals from the Civil War. Sherman Lee (X) and Robert Jackson (X). Our family lore has it that my Great Grandfather had some involvement in the war but has never been verified by any records, his family name was long and often mis-spelled. He did own a stable in my hometown so may have been in support of mounted troops but not necessarily in a direct fighting position. Somewhat adding to this is the almost yearly birth of a child prewar, no children in war years, then regular births again following the war. Midwest German heritage families were often large to supply a labor force in the years after the elder could no longer do the strenuous work required to farm or run a business. Those German folks were also very pro North and many served during the war. To add there is also a GAR staked medallion in the ground where his now unmarked grave lies next to my G. Grandmother. I know, all circumstantial, but a lot of coincidences that seem to fall in place just a bit too well.

I want to visit him before too long.

The sad part is that once a month for at least 10 years or longer I would travel through Lexington on my way from Richmond to Cols, OH to either see my parents or for military drills.

I always planned to stop but work, or some other imaginary crisis at the time prevented me and I always said I would stop later.

I want to see it before too long before something happens it to either by mother nature or man.

Let us cross over the river, and rest under the shade of the trees.

The outcome at Gettysburg may have been different if he had still been alive.

The bed in which Stonewall Jackson died.
Stonewalls's Bed

The Stonewall Shrine where he died.
Stonewall Jackson Shrine

The clock left stopped at the time of his death.
Stonewall's Clock

There is also a separate grave somewhere for his arm.

I am leaving ND in the next day or so to head back to NC for a few weeks so I may stop on the way in before they change the name.

I know I read online that the City of Lexington voted unanimously to change the name.

Also the Stonewall Jackson hotel in Staunton is doing the same.

My MIL is from Buena Vista (5 or 6 miles outside Lexington) and I visited a few times while her parents were still alive and then for their funerals. Gorgeous little town and I loved walking around and seeing VMI, the Lee Chapel, Stonewall's house, etc. They even have Old Sorrel, his horse, taxidermied at the VMI museum.

I am a bit surprised to see the picture of Lee in repose above. The times I've been there no photography was allowed.

They were truly great men.

Amazing man. Great book and worthy read: The Killer Angels.

Just re-read Rebel Yell. Amazing how Jackson kept the Union at bay and away from Richmond during the first year of the war.

quote:

Originally posted by Graniteguy:
Just re-read Rebel Yell. Amazing how Jackson kept the Union at bay and away from Richmond during the first year of the war.

I really like this book also. I'm listening to it on Audible for the third time currently. Just a great book that really exposes who he was.

quote:

Originally posted by lbj:
There is also a separate grave somewhere for his arm.

In Chancellorsville.

The fate of Stonewall Jackson's arm