Famous Confederate General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson The legacy of Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson is not easy to define. He is best remembered for his cunning speed and brutality in combat and many consider him second to none. The same strategies used by Jackson in the Shenandoah Valley Campaign were examined by both Rommel and Patton for inspiration during World War II. Jackson's personal discipline carried over into his command. Even though his men were often barefoot and close to starvation, he pushed them into battle, not wanting to sacrifice the element of surprise. Many of his fights were actually fought on Sundays, contradicting Jackson's unwavering devotion to Christianity that many attribute to fanaticism. As a Virginian, however, he felt more loyal to his state than to the preservation of the Union and never hesitated to choose sides. He demanded and received unconditional discipline from his men; However, he did not hesitate to ignore any direct orders and was never reprimanded for this failure - perhaps because Robert E. Lee's unwavering confidence in Jackson's genius outweighed any violation of the military discipline. Jackson may have loved the South and honored the Confederate cause, but he ultimately felt indebted to no one but himself and God. His military career began when Jackson was just 18 years old. In June 1842, he obtained an appointment to enroll at the prestigious West Point Academy. . Jackson was fortunate to have this opportunity since he was not the first choice of the candidate selected to enroll. The first man chosen chose another route allowing Jackson to quickly register in his place. Unfortunately, Jackson's lack of formal education was a serious disadvantage compared to the rest of the cadets. He was shy and awkward and a lot of his c...... middle of paper ......Friend. " Civil War Interactive - The Daily Journal of the Civil War. Civil War Interactive. Web. February 12, 2012. Baldwin, Chuck. "Campaign for Freedom - Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson Were Anti-Slavery by Chuck Baldwin." Campaign for Web Freedom February 12, 2012. .Sears, Stephen W. “Forward. , Christian Soldier." NY Times. NY Times, March 16, 1997. Web. February 12, 2012. .Foote, Shelby. "Stonewall Jackson: Biography of a Confederate General." Assortment Articles: Free Online Health Articles , science, education and more... Web assortment articles.. 2012. .