Rating: 
Summary: What a story! What a man!
Review: Lee has Freeman.
Hitler has Kershaw.
Jackson now has Robertson.This is an absolute masterful account of one of the greatest figures in American military history. Indeed, the title of the book is not merely poetic license! Mr Robertson develops all aspects of Thomas Jackson throughout the course of this Bible-sized epic. Certainly, as with anything of this length, at times the text drags. The pinball-like movements from this town to that village to this city to cross that ford near that creek (see what I mean!) get a bit confusing, as does trying to monitor the movements of the 23rd "this" division and the 5th "that" brigade. Aside from those military minutaie complaints, this text is a complete joy. God Bless Genl Jackson and Mr Robertson!
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Summary: Absolutely the best!
Review: This is absolutely the best biography ,and probably the best civil war related book I have ever read. Don't pass this one up, you will not be dissappointed.
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Summary: GENERAL LEE'S RIGHT ARM
Review: James Robertson has written an extensively researched life of Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, acknowledged as one of the finest military tacticians of the Civil War on either side. He covers Jackson's ancestry, childhood, West Point career, early military service during the Mexican War and afterwards, his tenure at the Virginia Military Institute, his family life, and his Civil War service in the Shenandoah Valley, the Seven Day's Campaign, and in Northern Virginia/Antietam. He includes a short epilogue which discusses the conclusion of the War after Jackson's death at Chancellorsville, his legacy, and the subsequent lives of his family and fellow Confederates after the surrender at Appomattox.
Throughout the book, Robertson devotes much attention to Jackson's strong Christian faith both in his beliefs and in his actions. Some other reviewers have found fault with this emphasis but given the predominance of his faith in his daily life, Jackson's religious beliefs could no more be ignored than could an author ignore anti-semitism in a life of Hitler. Jackson's faith was not an ASPECT of his life, in many ways it WAS his life and everything else he did was incidental to his faith.
Contrary to some others, I don't think Robertson has glorified Jackson at all. Although a pious man and a military genius, all of Jackson's many shortcomings as a man and as a commander are brought out in the book. Jackson was a hypochondriac, a contentious subordinate, an incredibly boring and ineffective teacher and a man who saw everything in stark black and white. As a commander, he was hard on his men, compulsively secretive about his plans and movements even with those subordinates who needed to know and a harsh and unsympathetic taskmaster who constantly quarreled with and berated his staff. On at least one occasion, he had EVERY ONE of his major subordinates under arrest for one or another offense in his command. Although harsh with his underlings, he was popular among his men and in the Confederacy because of his victories, his acceptance of hardship along with his men and his single minded determination to drive the Yankee invaders out of the South.
"Old Jack holds himself as the god of war, giving short, sharp commands distinctly, rapidly and decisively, without consultation or explanation, and disregarding suggestions and remonstrances. Being himself absolutely fearless...he goes ahead on his own hook, asking no advice and resenting interference. He places no value on human life, caring for nothing so much as fighting, unless it be praying. Illness, wounds and all disabilities he defines as inefficiency and indications of a lack of patriotism. Suffering from insomnia, he often uses his men as a sedative, and when he can't sleep calls them up, marches them for a few miles; then marches them back. He never praises his men for gallantry, because it is their duty to be gallant and they do not deserve credit for doing their duty." Genl Alexander Lawton (c20,n120)
"He is the idol of the people and is the object of greater enthusiasm than any other military chieftain of our day... notwithstanding the fact that he marches his troops faster and longer, fights them harder, and takes less care of them than any other officer in the service...This indifference to the comfort of his men is only apparent, however--not real. No man possesses a kinder heart or larger humanity; but when he has something to do, he is so earnest, so ardent and energetic that he loses sight of everything but the work before him." quote in Southern paper. (c22,n64)
Rating:
Summary: When will wonders ever cease?
Review: I think the book is very good though a bit anti-Longstreet and a little forgiving of Jackson in the Seven Days campaign. I do not believe Jackson was a god but I do believe that he was a good man. No disrespect to Grant, who I like, but Pemberton and Bragg were two very underwhelming army commanders also. I also have to disagree with the opinion that Jackson was boring in pre-1861. How funny that remark is! You have a story of a boy who was mistreated by his uncle, struggled and succeeded at West Point, fought bravely in Mexico, got involved in a struggle with his commanding officer in Florida, lost his wife and a child, and his great teaching assignment at VMI.
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Summary: stonewall jackson, who art in heaven...
Review: this detailed biography of stonewall jackson gives new depth and meaning to the word "hagiography." to say it is totally devoid of objectivity would be an understatement. robertson is deeply in love with the persona of 'the christian warrior", and he ranks jackson and lee in that category. although the book is rich in detail, much of the information is trivial or irrelevant to an understanding of jackson, who can best be described as a highly eccentric religious zealot who was fortunate in the quality of the enemy generals that fate threw his way. however, i cannot deny that he was a 'good' christian" (which lincoln, grant and sherman were not) since jackson, like lee, understood that the "holy bible" clearly justifies human bondage and mass slaughter. jackson went to war with the knowledge that jehovah was on his side, and, to be frank, if such a being actually existed, based on the atrocities he perpetrated in the bible, he would most likely have blessed jackson and his efforts to break up the united states of america (the finest nation ever to grace this planet) and to perpetuate the institution of slavery. jackson was a man who actually believed that the majority of the human race, including his union foes, were destined for eternal torture at the hands of the monster god that he worshipped. i fail to find that an admirable trait. robertson, himself a christian minister masquerading at present as an objective historian, has set up stonewall jackson as an icon for contemporary fundamentalist christians to worship. as for me, i recognize jackson for what he actually was...a mean-spirited, humorless, blue-light presbyterian who bent every effort over a two year period in a war against his country in defense of the abomination of slavery. his death at the hands of his own men at chancellorsville must be seen as a "blessing" and not as a tragedy. having said all this, there is still much to recommend in this book, which has been copiously researched. most of the book deals with jackson's career as a civil war general, and this is fortunate since prior to thewar, the man had to be one of the most uninteresting personalities in human history. when all is said and done, i would rather have known a man like dan sickles than thomas jackson. for all his faults, sickles did not own slaves, had a sense of humor, and fought for the good old usa. this book should be seen in its proper context...as a blow struck on behalf of fundamentalist christians in their holy war against secularism and liberalism. lee and jackson are two saints in the pantheon of the bob jones university crowd. robertson, like douglas freeman before him, has taken a flawed human being and created a god.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent portrayal of the man
Review: This is an excellent easy to read story of Jackson. I was unsure if I would enjoy it but was so sad when he died I had to put it down for awhile. He is just a great historical figure to learn about. The background is not to long and the author does a great job of letting you get to know him. You will also learn about the Generals campaigns in the Valley. Read it - you'll love it.
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Summary: The premier book on this great, Christian soldier of God
Review: One could use any number of superlatives for a description of this book by James Robertson on Stonewall Jackson, but it is simply one of the best biographies written. It well describes this Christian soldier and his belief that the only thing that mattered was doing God's will. Please rest assured that this is not a sugar coated story about a saint, but it is about a man that did have his faults but strived ever to overcome them and dedicated his life to the service of his God and his country. I highly recommend that it be read and the example of General Jackson will be one that should be taught to the young and will be beneficial to all. Deo Vindice!
Rating:
Summary: An Absolute Must Have
Review: I will make this review short and sweet...You must read this incredible book about this incredible man! You most assuredly will not be sorry.
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Summary: Inspirational!
Review: This book brings home many things about Jackson but what it makes crystal clear is the awesome role Jackson's Presbyterian faith played in his life. The auhor delves ever so lightly into some of the minutia about Jackson but not so much as to become tedious. You learn, for instance, of his love for gardening -- and, sadly, how little time he had to pursue it while living in the only home he was to ever own before his final call to duty. The book also brings home the hardships of the times as you learn about the many personal hardships Jackson endured. For instance, losing a brother after a trip out west from his home town in West Virginia because of the severely deteriorated condition in which they both returned; losing a wife and child during child birth after a bumpy trip across West Virginia's back roads to visit his beloved sister -- his only remaining sibling; and, of course, the whole story starts out with the demise of his mother leaving Jackson an orphan. You realize during the reading of this book how Jackson's life was truly one of overcoming adversity - not just financial but emotional and physical as well. When you read about his awkward gait, his nasally West Virginia twang, even his propensity to fall asleep during Sunday sermons and consider these things in light of what he eventually accomplished by sheer grit and determination - and humble deference to an all-mighty God - it's truly inspirational stuff. Small wonder, as the Civil War ensued pulling Jackson from his post as a rather frumpy professor at VMI into the thick of it, his unflinching faith was to set him far apart from his counterparts on the battlefield. The book does a wonderful job depicting the remarkable effect that that faith -- rolled up in a rather unassuming, awkward and, ultimately endearing, physical frame -- had on his soldiers. The Shenandoah Valley campaign, in which Jackson's troops kept three larger and vastly better-equipped Union Army groups at bay while delivering several decisive blows at strategic junctures, is the stuff of legend. Later campaigns - including Chancellorsville in which he was mortally wounded - built on the legend and make it all the more apparent why Lee said of Jackson's loss "I've lost my right [arm]". But what this book does so well is bring home the sacrifices those troops made - willingly, *cheerfully* - in making that legend. Jackson was *adored* by his troops - and why wouldn't he be? He was a rock under fire - a rock of faith.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent biography of a Christian soldier
Review: Coming from a Yankee's perspective (I'm from New Jersey), this book opened my eyes to the southern cause and reasons for their ongoing pride in hero's like Stonewall. As a Christian reader, this book gave me the best example of a man who truly lived his faith, and not just talked about it. Remarkable man. As a northerner, I wished the author had elaborated on Jackson's reasons for secession. The author gave some reasons, but I was hungry for more. Most definitly the finest biography I have ever read. As one interested in the civil war, this book only increased my interest in the southern perspective!
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