Civil War Lecture Series Features Stonewall Jackson

The public is invited to attend the Civil War lecture series which will be continuing at C.H. Booth Library on April 18 at 7:00 pm in the meeting room. Bill Barrante, the popular Civil War expert, will share his knowledge on Stonewall Jackson, a Confederate General, known for his strange combination of fearlessness in battle and religious fanaticism. Please join us for what promises to be a very worthwhile talk.

Thomas Jonathan Jackson was born on January 21, 1824, in Clarksburg, Virginia, and was educated at the US Military Academy. He participated in the Mexican War until 1848 and then became an instructor at the Virginia Military Institute, where he taught until 1861 when he left to join the Confederate Army. When the First Battle of Bull Run started Jackson was an unknown, but he quickly gained a strong reputation as a skilled tactician and one of the ablest Confederate commanders.

Brig. General Barnard E. Bee of South Carolina is credited with giving him the nickname “Stonewall.” When Bee was trying to encourage his own frightened men to hold the line he told his troops “Look, there is Jackson with his Virginians, standing like a stone wall.” A little later Bee was killed, but the rebels held the line and the nickname stuck.

Jackson met a tragic end at the battle of Chancellorsville. After being mistakenly shot by one of his own men while out on a scouting mission he had to have his left arm amputated below the shoulder. He seemed to be recovering from the surgery but then died eight days later from pneumonia. A day of national mourning was declared by Jefferson Davis, and it was reported in the Sandersville Central Georgian that “From the Rio Grande to the Potomac will go up one wild wail of lamentation over the great departed.” Groups of Southern men and women visited Jackson’s grave at the Virginia Military Institute, where they would have themselves photographed in mourning clothes.

Bill Barrante is a Watertown attorney who has a special interest in constitutional law and military history. In addition to giving lectures he is a Civil War re-enactor, serving as adjutant of the 2nd Connecticut Volunteer Heavy Artillery. Mr Barrante will be giving a talk on “The Battle of Cold Harbor” on April 25 and a philosophical overview of the American Civil War on Wednesday, May 3 entitled “The Right of Secession and the ‘Lost Cause.’”

All talks will take place in the meeting room of the library at 7 pm. The program is free and refreshments will be served. Time will be set aside for questions. Please call the C.H. Booth Library at 426-4533 if you have any questions regarding this program.