Searching for Stonewall Jackson

I have been interested in General Jackson for many years, and more so after moving into a home that is close to the battlefield, which was his last.

General Jackson was someone who found himself on the field of battle, who thrived and flourished under the hardships of war. He was not a great teacher but had taught at the Virginia Military Institute for several years. Students made fun of him, but many failed to know the man.

This portrayal of Jackson made me sit back and wonder how often we, as historians, fail to see the human behind the story, and how often we go only know what we are told, rather than searching deeper to understand the person behind the legends and portrayals we see on movies and fond stories that are shared. This book was a refreshing take on Jackson as a person, the soldier, and the many conflicting sentiments that he struggled with throughout his short life.