Thomas Jonathan Jackson, an American soldier, born at Clarksburg, Va., Jan. 21,1824, died at Guinea's station, near Fredericksburg, May 10,1863. He graduated at West Point in 1846, and served in the war with Mexico, in which he was successively brevetted as captain and major for gallant and meritorious conduct at Contreras, Churubusco, and Chapultepec. He subsequently served on garrison duty in the fortifications in New York harbor, and in Florida during the Seminole war. In February, 1852, he resigned his commission in the army, and was chosen professor of natural and experimental philosophy and instructor in artillery tactics in the Virginia military academy at Lexington. He also became a deacon in the Presbyterian church, and was somewhat noted for his extreme shyness and eccentricities of habit; he was indeed rather a laughing-stock for the students of the academy. On the opening of the civil war he entered the confederate service with the rank of major, and was placed in command at Harper's Ferry. From this moment his demeanor underwent a sudden change. He had before hesitated to lead in prayer at the meetings of his church, and was wont to take his food only in measured quantities.

He now seemed inspired with the genius of command, and bore without a thought the extremest hardships of a soldier's life. He was soon made a brigadier general, and took a prominent part in the first battle of Bull Run (July 21, 1861). Here, at a moment when the day was apparently lost, his brigade made so firm a stand that some one cried out, " Here is Jackson, standing like a stone wall;" and thenceforth "Stonewall Jackson" became his sobriquet. In the spring of 1862 Jackson was in command in the Shenandoah valley, where by his celerity and skill he foiled greatly superior Union forces under Banks, Fremont, Shields, and McDowell. (See Cross Keys.) At the commencement of the seven days' battles on the peninsula he joined the army of Lee, and his command took a leading part in the battle of Cold Harbor (June 27), and a less important one in that of Malvern Hill (July 1). In the ensuing operations against Gen. Pope, Jackson's corps was first sent northward, and fought the indecisive action at Cedar Mountain (Aug. 9). Not long after, having been made a major general, he was placed in immediate command of nearly half of Lee's army, with which he made a rapid march and gained Pope's rear, whence resulted the second battle of Bull Run (Aug. 29, 30), fought almost on the same ground as the former one.

In the Antietam campaign, which immediately followed, Jackson, by a rapid movement, captured a Union force of about 11,000 men at Harper's Ferry (Sept. 15), and then by a forced march rejoined Lee, and took a leading part in the battle of Antietam (Sept. 17). His corps was actively engaged at the battle of Fredericksburg (Dec. 13), and he was made lieutenant general. At Chancellorsville (May 2, 1863), at the head of nearly two thirds of the confederate force, he made a march of 15 miles, mostly by forest roads, and turned Hooker's right, upon which he fell by surprise, driving it in rout upon the main body. The engagement being apparently over, he rode into the woods to reconnoitre, having with him only a small escort. Returning, his companions were mistaken for Union scouts and fired upon by his own men. Several of the escort were killed, and Jackson received three balls, one through each hand, and another which shattered his left shoulder. He was placed upon a litter; but one of the bearers stumbled, and he fell to the ground, striking upon his broken shoulder. He was at length carried to the rear, where his arm was amputated. But pneumonia soon set in, which was the immediate cause of his death.

Stonewall Jackson is considered by the confederates to have been their most brilliant commander, at least of forces actually engaged in the field. His life has been written by M. Adday (New York, 1863) and John Esten Cooke (New York, 1866).