Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Thomas Jackson, 'Stonewall".

Thanks JoeBob! It's been years (30?) since I read that! I knew something happened and couldn't remember.

The South has produced a disproportionate number of our country's great men starting with Washington, Jefferson, Madison, and Henry. What a country it could have been had we never joined ourselves with the Northeast Yankees and instead went our own way after the revolution. The old Northwest Territory belonged to Virginia so had that happened the South and the most of the Midwest would be a separate country and a better country it would be, at least for those of us who value liberty. At the time they suspected, but didn't fully realize, what a bunch of rotten, arrogant meddling azzholes the Yankees truly are. Had they know how truly loathsome Yankees are they would never have entered into a government with them.

Where the hell did he get them lemons?

Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life".

I agree. Longstreet wanted no part of that charge.

At Beaver Dam Creek and Malvern Hill....one must remember that Jackson had just made a long march from the Valley with four divisions and he and his men were worn completely out from marching and attempting to restore a bridge to cross the Chickahominy River....under Union fire. To reach his objective the route was very circuitous and after much hard rain all the streams/rivers were swollen and there was much trouble in moving his artillery due to road conditions. After a second attempt at repairing the bridge, at this point, for the first time in his battle career he basically gave up after his men wouldn't work at bridge restoration under Union fire from a hidden battery. He was so depleted in mind and body he laid down under a tree and went to sleep! Totally stupefied! He was a full five hours behind General Lee's time schedule at this point! He was late arriving at Malvern Hill for having to tread through White Oak Swamp which was flooded. I think if we were able to ask him about his late arrival at Malvern Hill that he would say...."Glad of it!' Lee lost 5000 men there after several attempts to storm the hill which was basically an impregnable position held by the Union! As for his 'Generalship Ability'????.....he had BIG BALLS!!

Yes.

Agreed! Lee had 80,000 men at Gettysburg but only used less than 2/3 of his forces in an attempt to take Cemetery Hill! In all of his battles to that date his strategy had been on flanking movements instead of a direct charge and why he deviated here is a mystery? Longstreet wanted to circumvent the Round Tops and hit the Union supply train which were slightly east of Big Round Top and this would have been a flanking movement but Lee's idea persisted! General Lee's idea of 'rolling up' the Union line was to be done by his advancing lines with the southern end gradually curving to the northeast. Sad thing is....most were shot down in this attempt! The Union had sharpshooters and a battery of artillery atop Big Round Top which took a toll on the Confederate forces. Lee didn't have the best intell either as his main source of information concerning Union strength was to come from General JEB Stuart who was making a ride around the Union Army. He didn't arrive in time and Lee was basically operating blind! Personally I think General Lee under-estimated his enemy....and over-estimated the ability of his forces!

Damn. You guys were there, that's awesome!!

The buck stops with Lee at Gettysburg. PERIOD, yes Longstreet might have been slow on the draw to attack on the right but it was Lee's plan and it was FUBAR from the start. Looked great on paper, and properly and TIMELY executed things might have been different, but the second the attack failed on his right, he should have never ordered Pickett to move.

Well just like in the song, I think I have 3 grandsons "with a picture of Stonewall Jackson over their bed"

Jorge, your pretty spot on.

The whole Gettysburg affair was decided on day one.

And I'll add, Lee was a sick man there!

Straighten me out if I'm incorrect, was Lee better at fighting from a defensive position, as opposed to offensive?

Straighten me out if I'm incorrect, was Lee better at fighting from a defensive position, as opposed to offensive?

And who was the Union Cavalry leader that stopped Jeb Stuart's attack from the rear? It very well could be the real "Best" general of the Civil War, G.A. Custer.

Jackson died for his country, Custer killed for his.

"And who was the Union Cavalry leader that stopped Jeb Stuart's attack from the rear? It very well could be the real "Best" general of the Civil War, G.A. Custer."

Because Custer never had a run in with that devil Forrest.

Gettysburg was Lee's first big battle without Jackson. He was still adjusting. The first day would have been completely different with Jackson. The heights would have been taken and from there the battle would have likely played out much the same, except the sides would have been reversed.

I think that Coulda, Shoulda, Woulda speculation like this is a waste of time and energy.

At the time of the American Revolution, the northeast was the center of education, manufacturing, and commerce, so the four southern states needed the nine northern states to be viable.

Even if Stuart would not have turned tail and run thanks to Custer, he would have ridden into an entire Union Corps that was in reserve behind the lines. Like I said, great plan on paper, but that battle was lost on day ONE>

Where was Forrest at Yellow Tavern, Bull Run, Antietam and Appomattox ?

Off somewhere else kicking yankee ass...