10 May 1863 AD: GEN Thomas "Old Jack Stonewall" Jackson Slips to Next World

10 May 1863 A.D.  GEN Thomas “Old Jack Stonewall” Jackson slips into the next world.  Dr. Rusten tells some of the backstory.

Rusten, E. Michael and Rusten, Sharon. The One Year Christian History. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2003.  Available at: http://www.amazon.com/The-Year-Christian-History-Books/dp/0842355073/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1393302630&sr=8-1&keywords=rusten+church+history

Members of Lexington Presbyterian, Lexington, VA called him “Deacon.”  Most others called him “Stonewall” Jackson.  One might call him “Catechetist Jackson.”

Before the backstory, a note.  “Old Jack” taught at Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, VA.  He also was concerned about the young black children in Lexington.  He catechetized and visited the children and the parents.  BTW, that spells Westminster Shorter Catechism and the Westminster Larger Catechism. Even during the Civil War, he directed tithe monies through Lexington Presbyterian to the black children for books, Bibles and catechisms. 

C. 1988ish, aboard an aircraft carrier, I met a black Navy Chaplain. A Captain to be more precise or, for Marines, the equivalent of a COL, full bird.  He claimed to be a descendant, a lineal descendant, of the catechetical line back to “Old Jack” Stonewall.  Forget his name.  It was either a Grandfather or Great-grandfather and cannot recall exactly.  This much: reading, learning, memorizing, digesting, thinking and the ignition to more learning.  That’s the lineage General Stonewall Jackson left in one black family. The Navy Chaplain studied under the Rev. Dr. “Old Jack” John Gerstner at Pittsburgh Seminary.  This is a digression to the main menu.  

Backstory on “Old Jack.”

Thomas Jackson was born in 1824 in Clarksburg, VA. He had a limited education, but was able to enter West Pointe.  He struggled there, initially, but ultimately prevailed and distinguished himself. He was interested in spiritual matters since youth and especially during the Mexican War of 1848.

On 29 April 1848, he publicly affirmed his faith and was baptized by an Episcopalian minister on one condition: that he was not committed to a single denomination until he could review which he favored.

In 1851, he was teaching at the Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, VA.  He was also seriously influenced by the Pastor there.  The parish still has a pew, a specific spot, where “Old Jack” sat. He joined the parish. He became a “Deacon” in 1853 and fulfilled his duties with military efficiency and decorum.

He married in 1853, but his wife and child died in childbirth.

“Old Jack” did not support secession of Virginia from the Union, but he was a loyal Virginian.  He accepted a commission with the Army of Northern Virginia.

GEN “Old Jack” Jackson earned his sobriquet at the first battle of Bull Run.  His brigade held the line.  His troops rallied, one yelling, “Rally around the Virginian, Stonewall!”

Of note, “Old Jack” was a catechetized Calvinist. His courage in battle was noteworthy.  He was asked how he could be so calm in conflict.  He answered, “Captain, my religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God has fixed the time for my death.  I do not concern myself about that, but to always be ready, not matter when it betake me.  Captain, this is the way all men should live, and then all would be equally brave.”  That’s a Calvinist talking, not a Tractarian, Arminian, modern evangelical, Romanist or Wesleyan. It’s a man who has tasted of the deeper wells.

Old Jack Stonewall was also well-known as a man of prayer.  Many a time a guard would see old Jack in his tent, silhouetted against the tent, on his knees praying.  We have a print of a picture of Old Jack here at the house. He was also seen pacing through fields, periodically gesticulating.  He was well-known as a man of prayer, living Coram Deo.

From 1861-1863, “Old Jack” Stonewall demonstrated tactical genius in many campaigns: Penisular Campaign, Shenandoah Valley, Seven Days’ battle around Richmond, Cross Keys, Port Republic, the 2^nd battle of Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg and others.

Finally, at Chancellorsville, VA, he took friendly fire from NC troops.  He was hit in the arm.  His arm had to be amputated.  He was transported south some 27ish miles to recover, but pneumonia, perhaps septicemia, set it.  Upon receipt of the bad news, GEN Robert E. Lee wrote him, saying, “Could I have directed events, I should have chosen for the good of the country to be disabled in your stead.  I congratue you on the victory.”  General Hooker, USA, and his troops had retreated. When the letter was read to “Old Jack Stonewall,” he replied, “General Lee is very kind, but he should give the praise to God.”  That was Old Jack, not a hypocritical inch inside the man.

Old Jack continued to worsen.  On 10 May 1863, in and out of consciousness, he uttered his final words, “Let us cross over the river and rest under the shade of the trees.” He passed from this life to the next.

His body was transported south for further transfer to Lexington, VA.  He is buried there.

Of note, we call attention to Mr. (Rev. Dr. Prof.) Robert Dabney, Chief of Staff to Old Jack in the Civil War.  His Life and Campaigns is a meritorious read.  Prof. Robert Dabney would serve as a Professor of Systematic Theology at Union Seminary, Richmond, VA, for years afterwards. We include those two references here. 

Dabney, Robert. Life and Campaigns of Stonewall Jackson.  No location: Acheron Press, 2012. Available at:  http://www.amazon.com/Campaigns-Stonewall-Jackson-Robert-Dabney-ebook/dp/B009QA3FCA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1394597276&sr=8-1&keywords=robert+dabney+life+and+campaigns

----------Systematic Theology. Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 1985. http://www.amazon.com/Systematic-Theology-R-L-Dabney/dp/0851514537/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1394597403&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=robert+dabney+systematic+theology

Again, in closing, I met a patrilineal and catechetical descendant, a black US Navy Captain and Chaplain, of “Old Jack Stonewall.”  Little did the General realize it, but lads and lasses were influenced by his military and Christian duty to catechetized the little ones. It was an honor to know and serve with this Navy Chaplain. He also wanted to know my connections to another “Old Jack,” Dr. Gerstner.  Funny, involved with that old master two decades earlier, Dr. John Gerstner, c. 1974, at First Presbyterian, Pittsburg, PA, but that’s another story for another time.

Lest we forget.

Available at:

Sources used by Dr. Rusten.

Chesebrough, David B. “The General Who Looked to God: Stonewall Jackson.” More Than Conquerors. Edited by Woodbridge. 22-4.

--------. “Jackson, Thomas Jonathan (Stonewall).” DCA. 586-7.

Hendersen, G.F.R. Stonewall Jackson and the American Civil War. 2 vols. London: Longmans Green, 1898.