Chris Mackowski - The Last Days of Stonewall Jackson: The Mortal Wounding of the Confederacys Greatest Icon

We appreciate the support of our colleagues past and present at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park, especially John Hennessy, Greg Mertz, Eric Mink, Don Pfanz, Janice Frye, and Noel Harrison, who all made contributions to this volume. We especially thank Frank OReilly for his editorial work, inspiration, and moreas our friend and mentor, he remains our indispensable man. We also thank Ray Castner, Joe Haydon, and Jim Good.

At St. Bonaventure Universitys Russell J. Jandoli School of Journalism and Mass Communication, we thank Denny Wilkins and John Hanchette. Thanks, too, to the former dean, Lee Coppola, whose behind-the-scenes support and encouragement made much of the first edition possible. Thanks to the current dean, Pauline Hoffmann, for continuing that support. A special wave of the arm to Patrick Vecchio for his editing and encouragement.

We offer our appreciation to Colonel Keith Gibson of the Virginia Military Institute, whose stewardship of Jackson remains stalwart and keen. Likewise, we thank Michael Anne Lynn of the Stonewall Jackson House. Both have offered years of support and assistance.

Thanks to John Cummings and the Friends of Fredericksburg Area Battlefields for supporting the publication of the first edition of this book and to Jackson Foster of The ID Entity for the handsome design work he did for same. Thanks to Theodore P. Savas and Sarah Keeney for their support of this second edition.

Finallyand most importantlywe offer our thanks to our families: to Sarah White and to Heidi Hartley and Stephanie and Jackson Mackowski.

Photo Credits:

Historical photos courtesy of

Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park except: the postcard of the recumbent Lee statue on pg. 118, which comes from the collection of John Cummings; the photo of Little Sorrel on pg. 152, which appears courtesy of VMI; the photo of the Reverend Lacy on pg. 52, which appears courtesy of the Presbyterian Church of Fredericksburg; the portrait of Beverly Tucker Lacy (undated) by James Reeve Stuart on pg. 152, which appears courtesy of Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Virginia.

Modern photography by Chris Mackowski except: the photo of Moss Neck on pg. 57, which appears courtesy of Kathleen Logothetis; the photo of the Marshall on pg. 72, which appears courtesy of Kipp Teague; the photo of the boot monument on pg. 81, which appears courtesy of Americasroof at en.wikipedia, from Wikimedia Commons; the photo of the Jackson Monument on pg. 130, which appears courtesy of Caity Stuart.

May 11th, 1863.
General Order 61
Hdqrs. Army of Northern Virginia.

With deep grief, the commanding general announces

to the army the death of Lt. Gen. T. J. Jackson,

who expired on the 10th inst, at 3:15 PM. The daring,

skill, and energy of this great and good soldier,

by the decree of an all-wise Providence, are now lost

to us. But while we mourn his death, we feel that his

spirit still lives, and will inspire the whole army with

his indomitable courage and unshaken confidence in

God as our hope and strength. Let his name be

a watchword to his corps, who have followed him to

victory on so many fields. Let officers and soldiers

emulate his invincible determination to do everything

in the defense of our beloved country.

R. E. Lee General.

A statue of Stonewall Jackson stands over his gravesite in Lexington, Virginia.