We paid a perfunctory visit to the home of Confederate Civil War General Stonewall Jackson in Lexington, Virginia. From this we gleaned that he was successful in the Mexican-American War, taught at Virginia Military Institute (VMI), owned slaves, and was wounded in the arm, leading to his death.
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- The marker outside the house which is maintained by VMI.
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- After lying in state in the Confederate Capitol his body was sent home for burial. The rope and part of the railing are remnants of the canal boat that brought him to Lexington.
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- Spotted on a nearby building.
Being curious, I later gathered more information. He was born in what is now West Virginia where the war estranged him from his sister. He spent ten years teaching at VMI. He owned slaves, but also taught black children in Sunday School which he created with his wife. At The First Battle of Bull Run (or, as the Confederates called it, Battle of First Manassas), he brought reinforcements and then stood his ground. This lead to him being called Stonewall Jackson. He was later shot in the left arm by friendly fire. His arm had to be amputated and he succumbed to pneumonia ten days later.