In the Eastern Theater, there were many notable characters that contributed to the South being able to maintain their presence in this war as long as they did. One that we are all familiar with is Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson. When he died from friendly fire, the south truly mourned, however his reputation was much larger than amongst the south. He was tremendously known through out the North as well. My question to you is this: Was his death more than a huge tragedy and loss for the South or could it indeed have been an early on, but major turning point for the demise of the South? How great of an influence on the South’s morale was this tragic event and especially in the Eastern Theater where so many of the major influential battles were fought?
His involvement was very crucial in many of the battles, from the First Battle of Bull Run onward. And I think his loss at the Battle of Chancellorsville was the reason for the Confederate defeat during the succeeding Gettysburg Campaign.
I agree with that Vladimir. One movie I thoroughly recommend to everybody interested in the American Civil War is "Of Gods and Generals" which centres around the battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg a few weeks later. The scene of the Confederate army emerging from the woods to take the unprotected Union flank by surprise at Chancellorsville has to be a movie classic. But while that charge was so successful for the South because it took the Union by surprise, when they tried the same at Gettysburg the Union generals had learned their lesson well and pushed back Picket's charge inflicting heavy casualties on the three Southern waves ,the last of which was Picket.
I think that one could put up a coherent argument that Stonewall Jackson was in fact a better tactician than Robert E Lee was. Jackson could never live up to the legend of Lee, that's for sure, but in practice you could argue he was.
Military historians consider Jackson to be one of the most gifted tactical commanders in U.S. history. His Valley Campaign and his envelopment of the Union Army right wing at Chancellorsville are studied worldwide even today as examples of innovative and bold leadership. He excelled as well in other battles; the First Battle of Bull Run (First Manassas) where he received his famous nickname "Stonewall", Second Bull Run (Second Manassas), Antietam, andFredericksburg. Jackson was not universally successful as a commander, however, as displayed by his weak and confused efforts during the Seven Days Battles around Richmond in 1862.
And the Confederate defeat at Gettysburg was the beginning of their unraveling. Would Picket's charge have been successful, had history come to know it as "Jackson's Charge?" Who is to say?
