Stonewall Jackson's Camp Stool

[White Flint Bill]

General Jackson's camp stool is on display in the VMI Museum in Lexington. The stool has an interesting history.

Upon Virginia's secession, the governor ordered the VMI cadets to report to Richmond to serve as drill instructors. On the morning of April 21, 1861, the cadets began to form up in front of the barracks, near the statue of George Washington. Jackson arrived just before noon and found the cadets assembled and ready to march. But his orders said they were to depart at 12:30. Jackson told the cadets they would leave at the ordered time--no sooner and no later. He asked someone to bring him a stool from the mess hall. When it arrived he sat down on it and waited until precisely 12:30 to rise and give his first command of the war: "Attention Battalion! Right Face! By the file left, march!"

The stool was thrown into his baggage train and he kept it with him for the rest of his life. After his death, Sandie Pendleton took the stool. When Sandie was killed, his father General W.N. Pendleton took it. Finally, in 1932 the Pendleton family donated it to the Museum.

 

[lelliott19]

Wow. That's amazing! So glad the Pendleton family kept it all those years and made certain it eventually came back to VMI. The museum there at VMI is really something! So many interesting items. Thanks for sharing this really interesting one.

 

[UCVRelics]

Great Story. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Cranchris31]

Great story!

 

[3rd North Carolina]

nice story,

 

[tokashikibop]

Thanks!