Appointed a Brigadier General when the Civil War broke out, Jackson organized a brigade of Virginians that fought at the First Battle of Bull Run. It was there that the unit was described as standing its ground like a “stone wall,” and though it was the entire brigade that earned this memorable appellation, “Stonewall” became forever attached to Jackson himself. His Shenandoah Campaign of 1862, a diversion that prevented the Federals from reinforcing McClellan on the Virginia Peninsula, is widely regarded as a “masterpiece” of military strategy. By the Second Battle of Bull Run, Jackson and Lee had perfected their partnership and triumphed at Fredricksburg and Chancellorsville. Hours after that victory, Jackson was accidentally shot by one of his own men, and he died eight days later. Elusive war-dated ALS, signed “T. J. Jackson,” one lightly lined page, 5 x 8, December 22, 1862. Jackson writes to the Reverend R. J. Stewart, Chaplain 6 N.C., thanking him for a gift from three ladies. In full: “Your letter of the 21st inst and the accompanying presents from Miss Makall, Mrs. J. D. Stewart & Mrs. Makall’s sister from Baltimore have been received. Please thank the ladies very kindly. I hope some time to have the honor of making their acquaintance.” This letter was written soon after Jackson, commanding Lee's right wing, had helped defeat the Unionists at the first Battle of Fredericksburg, December 11-13, 1862. After the battle, Jackson established his winter headquarters in an outhouse at Moss Neck, Caroline County, from where he could guard the line of Rappahannock. He was to die at Guinea Station, in the same county, the following May. In a memorable incident that had taken place in February 1862, the recipient of this letter, the Reverend Stewart of St. Paul’s Church in Alexandria, had been dragged from his pulpit by Federal soldiers for neglecting to mention the President’s name in his prayers. Two horizontal mailing folds and a touch of mild toning near left edge, otherwise fine condition. COA John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and R&R COA.
