"SLACKER"--Stonewall Jackson..

[5fish]

I took this off another post by Samgrant: The quote is form Edward Porter Alexander..


"I may have to refer to this subject once more in telling of the "Seven Days" fighting beginning on June 26th, 1862, in which our great & glorious Gen. Jackson for once seemed to put all of his reliance on providence & very decidedly slackened his own exertions, with the result that Gen. Lee's victory was shorn of the capture of McClellan's entire army."

The "Seven Days" should have been a total victory and capture of the McClellan army, except for Jackson was a "Slacker!". The historians ignore this simple fact and future victories by Lee overshadows Jackson's failing at "Seven days".

Historians dog Longstreet, Stuart, and Ewell for their failings at Gettysburg but its Jackson's slacking at "Seven Days" that truly cost the confederacy victory in the war and for their cause. Jackson failings are ignored by the historians for his poor performance is only noted in passing, while the southern cause falls.

Stonewall Jackson's may have given the Southern cause many victories and his was a god general but his one time he had to perform he failed and the Southern cause failed with him. History gives him a pass but he should be known as Longstreet "And the Slows", or Stuarts "Vanity Ride", or Ewell's "Not understanding if practical". Jackson should be known as the "Slacker"..


History has done us an injustice and now it is time to make it right for now on Jackson "The Slacker"...


Giving a man his dues.....

[Elennsar]

Laying aside a defense of Stonewall, since I'm not interested (at the moment) in making one.

If Jackson had been as active as say, Longstreet...exactly how would that change things?

Mechanicsville seems to be a fair place to start. If Jackson was as active as Longstreet, would he be in a position to make that battle not happen, or go better?

I'm not as familar with the Seven Days as I'd like, so I'd like to see how that would shift events before judging that his failure to be so active cost the Confederacy big time.

Worth bringing up, not sure what answers we'll find.

[5fish]

If we go to Beaver Dam creek. Jackson shows up late and then can not find A.P. or D.H. Hill even thou the sounds of battle was heard all about. He then orders his men into camp.

Lee had ordered him to hit Porter's right and Jackson seemed to be lost so he didi nothing.

Where's that aggressive person we all know in Jackson?

FIRST THOUGHTS....

[M E Wolf]

Dear 5Fish;

I have to agree with your post. General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, was known for his ears for battle and bee-line it to the direction of the sound of battle and form and being the best disciplined and best drilled of all the earlier Confederate Armies, Jackson was iron fist in a kid-leather gauntlet, per se.

So, these behaviors really are contrary to the Jackson that was known. And, the Battle of Beaver Dam creek was rather big as to 'miss.'

That said, in some instances; sound reports if you will differently and perhaps misleading yet; I would think couriers or 'staff' would have found Jackson and vice versa.

Sounds very odd for Jackson.

Just some thoughts.

Respectfully submitted for consideration,
M. E. Wolf

[gary]

Where's Jackson's aggressiveness? Well, it's kind of hard to be aggressive when you're utterly exhausted from a lot of fighting just a short time back, a long march and then a meeting that ends very late at night. It doesn't help that Jackson had to ride back on Little Sorrel rather than the comfort of a warm staff car traveling at 50 mph. It's hard when after all that, you just didn't get enough sleep. It's hard to be on time when you're not really given good maps and good guides to lead your column to the right place on time. Sure Jackson was late, but look at why and what could have been done but wasn't, that could have made him more timely.

[gary]

that tired and exhausted men don't march very fast. Of course, I blame it on Lee's failure to provide Jackson with a working GPS system. "Turn right and march south after crossing the creek."

[5fish]

What of Gaines Mill?

Jackson arrives late then avoids battle until he gets and order from Lee. He starts his assault with D.H. Hill late in the day.

Porter Alexander points out that if Jackson even being late if he would have started his assault once in position. The union right could have been smashed and the union army rolled up. Their assault was late giving the union time to bring up reserves.

This is Jackson's second time late to the fight, the second time he's reluctant to fight, and his the first chance to smash the union army missed. Jackson does even get a blemish on his historical image, why?

My question what was going on with Jackson for he was acting out of character one might say but Jackson was not the sanest man either.

[5fish]

Lets move to the Battle of Savage Station, where Magruder hit a much large force and was excepting Jackson to arrive a assit him but Jackon never showed up...he keep his army in camp and rested them that day.

The Battle of Savage Station, the Confederates tried out a new weapon platform called "Land Merrimack"?

It was the first time this item was used in battle...

If Jackon does not excite you maybe the question will...

[M E Wolf]

Dear 5Fish;

Many good questions as to why General Jackson isn't held to the same standard as other generals.

And--why did other generals suffer under Jackson, if they had done the same thing or less.

Verrrrrrrrrrry interesting.

Had the Confederacy put Jackson on a hero's pedestal that surpassed General Lee and when Jackson died, then Lee took that position of 'hero worship' regardless of the mistakes; they could do no wrong?

Just some thoughts.

Respectfully submitted for consideration,
M. E. Wolf

[5fish]

Lets move to White Oak Swamp and Glendale battles the last chance for Jackson to push home the victory the South needed.

Jackson moves slowly again trying to build s bridge but there were other fords he could have used but ignored. He ended up in a artillery duel with the union force across from him. At the end of the day that union force leaves and reinforces the union line at Glendale.

Jackson through out the whole Seven Day Battles never perform at any level to help Lee and the cause. Fatigued is the excuse but as we have seen he rested a day here and there so that goes out the window. Ed Porter Alexander "When one thinks of the great chances in General Lee's grasp that one summer afternoon, it is enough to make one cry ... to think that our Stonewall Jackson lost them."

The South had only one true chance to win the war and it was during the Seven Day Battles. There was no other time the south had and opportunity to win the war in the east after "Seven Day Battles". If you believe in the "Lost cause" them you should admonish Jackson for he bares the Cross of why...

Think about it, Jackson had seven days and the cause needed only one to win the war. And he never did....


Has anyone figure out what the new weapon platform was at Savage Station called "Land Merrimack"??