
The
massive bronze equestrian statue pictured here stands proudly upon the fields of Henry House Hill on
the Manassas National Battlefield in Virginia. Perched on the polished
stone base, Lieutenant General Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson
watches over the rolling fields upon which he twice played an
instrumental role in bringing the southern cause victory. Jackson,
mounted on his horse Little Sorrel,
faces the direction from which the Federals advanced during the
Battle of 1st Manassas, July 21, 1861. The nearly twenty foot tall, robustly powerful persona
portrayed by sculptor Joseph Pollia reveals the enduring strength with which
the Southern populace viewed their legendary and inspirational General.
On these fields during the initial year of the
nascent Civil War, both Confederate Brigadier General Thomas Jonathan Jackson and his 1st Brigade of
Virginians earned the name "Stonewall" for their gallantry, bravery, and success during
the Battle of 1st Manassas. Thirteen months later, Stonewall Jackson and his "foot cavalry"
would sweep around the Army of Union Major
General John Pope, marching over 50 miles in two days, and attack the Federal supply lines at
Manassas Junction. Realizing that Jackson's men had separated from the rest of General Lee's Army,
John Pope determined to hit Jackson before the Southern forces once again merged. However,
despite his initial isolation, when the battle commenced, Jackson's Left Wing engaged the
Federals in two days of bitter fighting. During the fighting on day
2 of the Battle of 2nd Manassas, Major General Longstreet would
march onto the field. The following day, his crushing flank attack would send the Union forces
reeling in retreat towards Washington. Combined with their prior victories during the recent Seven Days
Battles, this would lead to General Robert E. Lee's first invasion of the North.