William Lowther Jackson
William Lowther Jackson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 3rd Lieutenant Governor of Virginia | |
| In office December 7, 1857 – January 1, 1860 | |
| Governor | Henry A. Wise |
| Preceded by | Elisha W. McComas |
| Succeeded by | Robert Latane Montague |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 3, 1825 Clarksburg, Virginia, U.S. (now West Virginia) |
| Died | March 26, 1890 (aged 65) Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Sarah Elizabeth Jackson (nee Creel) |
| Profession | Attorney, judge, soldier |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Confederate States |
| Branch/service | Confederate States Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1865 |
| Rank | File:Confederate States of America General.png Brigadier General |
| Commands | 31st Virginia Infantry 19th Virginia Cavalry W.L. Jackson's Cavalry Brigade |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
William Lowther Jackson Jr. (February 3, 1825 – March 26, 1890) was an American politician and jurist who served as Lieutenant Governor of Virginia prior to the American Civil War, and later served as a general in the Confederate States Army.
Early life
Paternal ancestry
William L. Jackson was a cousin of Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson through their great-grandparents, John Jackson (1715 or 1719 – 1801) and Elizabeth Cummins (also known as Elizabeth Comings and Elizabeth Needles) (1723–1828). John Jackson was a Protestant (Ulster-Scottish) from Coleraine, County Londonderry, Ireland. While living in London, England, he was convicted of the capital crime of larceny for stealing £170; the judge at the Old Bailey sentenced him to seven years of indentured servitude in America. Elizabeth, a strong, blonde woman over 6 feet (180 cm) tall, born in London, England was also convicted of larceny in an unrelated case for stealing 19 pieces of silver, jewelry, and fine lace, and received a similar sentence. They both were transported on the prison ship Litchfield, which departed London in May 1749 with 150 convicts. John and Elizabeth met on board and were in love by the time the ship arrived at Annapolis, Maryland. Although they were sent to different locations in Maryland for their indentures, the couple married in July 1755.[1]
The family migrated west across the Blue Ridge Mountains to settle near Moorefield, Virginia (now West Virginia) in 1758. In 1770, they moved farther west to the Tygart Valley. They began to acquire large parcels of virgin farming land near the present-day town of Buckhannon, including 3,000 acres (12 km²) in Elizabeth's name. John and his two teenage sons, were early recruits for the American Revolutionary War, fighting in the Battle of Kings Mountain on October 7, 1780; John finished the war as captain and served as a lieutenant of the Virginia militia after 1787. While the men were in the Army, Elizabeth converted their home to a haven, "Jackson's Fort," for refugees from Indian attacks.[2]
John and Elizabeth had eight children. Their eldest son, George Jackson (1757–1831), was a colonel in the Virginia militia during the Revolutionary War and Congressman from Virginia. George and his wife, Elizabeth Brake (1757–1812), daughter of Jacob and Mary E. (née Cooper) Brake, had three children; their youngest was William's father, William Lowther Jackson Sr. (1798–1836), who also served in the Virginia militia.
Childhood and prewar career
Jackson was born on February 3, 1825 in Clarksburg, Virginia (now West Virginia). Studying law he was admitted to the Bar of Virginia in 1847.[3] He married Sarah Elizabeth Creel on December 19, 1849, and together they had two or three children. Jackson was a big man, standing about six feet tall and weighing about 200 pounds. He had a shock of dark red hair and piercing blue eyes like those of his famous cousin, Thomas Jackson. William Jackson was not known as an eloquent speaker, but he was known as a forceful one.[4] He later became the Commonwealth's Attorney for Harrison County. Entering politics he was elected into the Virginia House of Delegates two times, also serving as Second Auditor of the State and as superintendent of the state library fund. Jackson was the third Lieutenant Governor of Virginia from 1857 until 1860 and afterwards was made a circuit judge in the 19th district.[5]
Civil War
When the civil war erupted Jackson, a proponent of slavery, resigned from his position as judge and enlisted in the Confederate States Army as a Private. Recommended to General Robert E. Lee he quickly was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel of the 31st Virginia Infantry Regiment. Assigned to the command of Gen. Robert S. Garnett he participated in the Western Virginia Campaign and the battles of Rich Mountain and Cheat Mountain. In July 1861 he was promoted to rank of Colonel. In early 1862 he became a Volunteer Aide-de-camp to his cousin, Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson; and participated in his campaigns during the year.[6][7]
William's younger brother George, who was a graduate of West Point (Class of 1856) and served in the U.S. Army, became a colonel in the Confederate Army, too.
In February 1863 William Jackson was authorized to organize a mounted regiment for service behind the enemy lines and he raised the 19th Virginia Cavalry. His regiment immediately joined the Jones-Imboden Raid, first under command of Albert G. Jenkins, then under John D. Imboden. Jackson stayed in western Virginia, being assigned to command a cavalry brigade. He fought at the Bulltown and confronted George Crook's Union Army on its return into West Virginia following Crook's victory at the Battle of Cloyd's Mountain. In 1864 he joined Lt. Gen. Jubal Early in the Valley Campaigns from May to October. He received his promotion to brigadier general on December 19, 1864.[7]
On April 15, 1865, six days after Gen. Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox Court House, he disbanded his brigade. Refusing to surrender, he headed westwards, finally getting a parole in Brownsville, Texas, on July 26, 1865.[4]
Later life
Temporarily emigrating to Mexico, he returned to what was now Western Virginia just to learn that former Confederate officers were barred from practicing law in the state. He then moved to Louisville, Kentucky, where he was allowed to resume his practice of law. Jackson became a circuit judge again and kept this position for his remaining life. He died on March 26, 1890 of Bright's disease in Louisville; and was interred there on Cave Hill Cemetery.[4]
Nickname controversy
William L. Jackson is one of three Confederate generals associated with the nickname "Mudwall", a reference to the "Stonewall" nickname given to his cousin Thomas. While William Jackson has been known as such for a long time, it was found by noted historian Garry W. Gallagher that the nickname was originally given to fellow Confederate General Alfred E. Jackson from Tennessee (no family relation). It seems the two were mixed up in the Southern Historical Society Papers in 1906 and the error was involuntarily repeated afterwards. Sometimes the name is even attributed to another (likewise not related) Confederate Brigadier, John K. Jackson. It is also possible that at times the name was attributed to several of the Jacksons simultaneously.[8][9]
See also
- Alfred E. Jackson
- List of American Civil War generals (Confederate)
- Stonewall Jackson
- Virginia in the American Civil War
- West Virginia in the American Civil War
Notes
- ^ Robertson, 1997, pp. 1–2
- ^ Robertson, 1997, pp. 2–3.
- ^ Wickline, John. "The Other Gen. Jackson: William Lowther 'Mudwall' Jackson". Connect-Clarksburg. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
- ^ a b c Wittenberg, Eric J. "Brig. Gen. William L. "Mudwall" Jackson". Rantings of a Civil War Historian. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
- ^ Evans, 2004, p. 131
- ^ Webb, Kerry. "Jackson, William Lowther "Mudwall"". Confederate Generals - J. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
- ^ a b Eicher, 2001, p. 317
- ^ "You Know of " Old Stonewall " Meet " Old Mudwall " Jackson". Civil War Talk. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
- ^ Walden, 1990
References
- Eicher, John H., and David J. Eicher, Civil War High Commands. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2001. ISBN 978-0-8047-3641-1.
- Evans, Clement A., ed. Confederate Military History: A Library of Confederate States History. 12 vols. Atlanta: Confederate Publishing Company, 1899. OCLC 833588. Retrieved January 20, 2011. Volume 2. Johnson, B. T.; Maryland. White, Robert; West Virginia. Online version: Evans, Clement A. (Clement Anselm), 1833–1911. Confederate military history. Atlanta, Ga., Confederate Pub. Co., 1899. (OCoLC)560915765.
- Robertson, James I. Jr. Stonewall Jackson: The Man, The Soldier, The Legend. New York: Simon & Schuster Macmillan, 1997. ISBN 978-0-02-864685-5.
- Sifakis, Stewart. Who Was Who in the Civil War. New York: Facts On File, 1988. ISBN 978-0-8160-1055-4.
- Walden, Geoffrey R. (1990). "Will the Real "Mudwall" Jackson Please Stand Up?". Blue & Gray VIII (#1).
- Warner, Ezra J. Generals in Gray: Lives of the Confederate Commanders. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1959. ISBN 978-0-8071-0823-9.
Bibliography
- Hardway, Ronald V.; On Our Own Soil: William Lowther Jackson and the Civil War in West Virginia's Mountains; Quarrier Press, Charleston WV; October 3, 2003; ISBN 978-1-891852-27-5
External links
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