A portrait of Stonewall Jackson (1864, J. W. King)
located in the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C.
located in the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C.
Before the death of the nefarious terrorist leader, Osama Bin Laden, May 2nd commemorated the mortal wounding of another rebel who fought against the United States: Johnathan "Stonewall" Jackson. While General Johnathan Jackson was certainly no terrorist, and is still considered many to be one of the greatest generals in amercian history, there is no doubt that his death played a pivotal part in the eventual victory of the Union over the Confederacy.
Jackson both distinguished himself and earned the nickname "Stonewall" at the First Battle of Bull Run. General Barnard Bee exclaimed that Jackson's brigade was standing like a stone wall, which, depending on the source, meant that it was either staying strong and not giving up any ground or was just standing there and not coming to help reinforce Bee. In any case, the name stuck, and the brigade, following Jacksons promotion to general, retained the name "Stonewall Brigade."
On May 2nd, 1863, following a successful campaign that routed the Union forces at Chancellorsville, Jackson was returning to his own lines when he was shot by his own men. A week later, on May 10th, he died of pneumonia that was considered a complication caused by the wound.
Source: http://www.civilwarhome.com/jackbio.htm
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