January 21, 1824 - Stonewall Jackson
One of the Confederacy's most tactically gifted commanders, Jackson's presence on the battlefield consistently shaped outcomes in the eastern theater during the Civil War — a conflict fought, on the Confederate side, in defense of an economy built on enslaved labor. His military effectiveness made him a crucial asset to Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia, prolonging a war whose resolution would determine the fate of millions held in bondage.
From Wikipedia
Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson (January 21, 1824 – May 10, 1863) was a Confederate general and military officer who served during the American Civil War. He played a prominent role in nearly all military engagements in the eastern theater of the war until his death. Military historians regard him as one of the most gifted tactical commanders in U.S. history.
Born in what was then part of Virginia (now in West Virginia), Jackson received an appointment to the United States Military Academy, graduating in the class of 1846. He served in the United States Army during the Mexican–American War, distinguishing himself at the Battle of Chapultepec. From 1851 to 1861, he taught at the Virginia Military Institute.
When Virginia seceded from the United States in May 1861 after the Battle of Fort Sumter, Jackson joined the Confederate States Army. He distinguished himself commanding a brigade at the First Battle of Bull Run in July, providing crucial reinforcements and beating back a fierce Union assault.
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