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Stonewall Jackson
24 quotes
“The time for war has not yet come, but it will come and that soon; and when it does come my advice is to draw the sword and throw away the scabbard.”
Stonewall Jackson (1824–1863) first seen 1861 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech to cadets at the Virginia Military Institute (March 1861); as quoted in The War (1910) by James H. Wood; this has sometimes been paraphrased as "When war does come, my advice is to draw the sword and throw away t…
“If the general government should persist in the measures now threatened, there must be war. It is painful enough to discover with what unconcern they speak of war and threaten it. They do not know its horrors. I have seen enough of it to make me look upon it as the sum of all evils.”
Stonewall Jackson (1824–1863) first seen 1839 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Comments to his pastor (April 1861) as quoted in Memoirs of Stonewall Jackson by His Widow Mary Anna Jackson (1895), Ch. IX : War Clouds — 1860 - 1861, p. 141; This has sometimes been paraphrased as "War is the sum of a…
“Then, Sir, we will give them the bayonet!”
Stonewall Jackson (1824–1863) first seen 1861 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Reply to Colonel Barnard E. Bee when he reported that the enemy were beating them back. At the First Battle of Bull Run (21 July 1861); as quoted in Stonewall Jackson As Military Commander (2000) by John Selby, p. 21
“My dear pastor, in my tent last night, after a fatiguing day's service, I remembered that I failed to send a contribution for our colored Sunday school. Enclosed you will find a check for that object, which please acknowledge at your earliest convenience and oblige yours faithfully.”
Stonewall Jackson (1824–1863) first seen 1861 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Letter to his pastor after the First Battle of Bull Run (22 July 1861); as quoted in The Religious Development of the Negro in Virginia (1914) by Joseph Brummell Earnest, p. 84
“Nothing justifies profanity.”
Stonewall Jackson (1824–1863) said by 1863 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: A wounded Jackson said to Captain John Imboden, after First Manassas (The Oxford Dictionary of Civil War Quotations, 2006)
“Captain, my religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God has fixed the time for my death. I do not concern myself about that, but to be always ready, no matter when it may overtake me. Captain, that is the way all men should live, and then all would be equally brave.”
Stonewall Jackson (1824–1863) first seen 1861 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speaking to Captain John D. Imboden (24 July 1861), as quoted in Stonewall Jackson As Military Commander (2000) by John Selby, p. 25; sometimes quoted as "My religious beliefs teach me...
“In the Army of the Shenandoah, you were the First Brigade! In the Army of the Potomac you were the First Brigade! In the Second Corps of this Army, you are the First Brigade! You are the First Brigade in the affections of your general, and I hope by your future deeds and bearing you will be handed down the posterity as the First Brigade in this our Second War of Independence. Farewell!”
Stonewall Jackson (1824–1863) first seen 1861 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Farewell address to his brigade, as he left to receive his promotion to Major General (4 October 1861)
“Our men fought bravely, but the enemy repulsed me. Many valuable lives were lost. Our God was my shield. His protecting care is an additional cause for gratitude.”
Stonewall Jackson (1824–1863) first seen 1862 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Letter to his wife from Mt. Jackson after the First Battle of Kernstown (24 March 1862), as quoted in Life and Campaigns of Lieut.-Gen. Thomas J. Jackson, (Stonewall Jackson) (1866) by Robert Lewis Dabney, p. 329
“I yield to no man in sympathy for the gallant men under my command; but I am obliged to sweat them tonight, so that I may save their blood tomorrow. The line of hills southwest of Winchester must not be occupied by the enemy's artillery. My own must be there and in position by daylight. … You shall however have two hours rest.”
Stonewall Jackson (1824–1863) first seen 1862 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: To Col. Sam Fulkerson, who reported on the weariness of their troops and suggested that they should be given an hour or so to rest from a forced march in the night. (24 May 1862); as quoted in Mighty Stonewall (1957) by…
“The only true rule for cavalry is to follow the enemy as long as he retreats.”
Stonewall Jackson (1824–1863) first seen 1862 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Statement to Colonel Thomas T. Munford (13 June 1862); as quoted in Stonewall Jackson and the American Civil War (1904) by George Francis Robert Henderson Vol. I, Ch. XI p. 392
“Who could not conquer with such troops as these?”
Stonewall Jackson (1824–1863) first seen 1862 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Remark to his staff (25 August 1862), as quoted in Life of Lieut. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson (Stonewall Jackson) (1866) by Robert Lewis Dabney, p. 266
“My men have sometimes failed to take a position, but to defend one, never!”
Stonewall Jackson (1824–1863) first seen 1862 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Statement to Major Heros von Borcke (13 December 1862), as quoted in Memoirs of the Confederate War for Independence (1867) by Heros von Borcke, p. 301; this has been paraphrased as "My troops may fail to take a positio…
“I see from the number of physicians that you think my condition dangerous, but I thank God, if it is His will, that I am ready to go. … It is the Lord's Day; my wish is fulfilled. … I have always desired to die on Sunday.”
Stonewall Jackson (1824–1863) first seen 1863 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Words on his deathbed (9 - 10 May 1863); as quoted in "Stonewall Jackson's Last Days" by Joe D. Haines, Jr. in America's Civil War
“Let us cross over the river, and rest under the shade of the trees.”
Stonewall Jackson (1824–1863) first seen 1863 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Last words (May 10, 1863); as quoted in "Stonewall Jackson's Last Days" by Joe D. Haines, Jr. in America's Civil War
“I like liquor — its taste and its effects — and that is just the reason why I never drink it.”
Stonewall Jackson (1824–1863) said by 1863 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted in Personal Reminiscences, Anecdotes, and Letters of Gen. Robert E. Lee (1874) by John William Jones, p. 171
“I am more afraid of King Alcohol than of all the bullets of the enemy.”
Stonewall Jackson (1824–1863) said by 1863 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted in Personal Reminiscences, Anecdotes, and Letters of Gen. Robert E. Lee (1874) by John William Jones, p. 171
“Always mystify, mislead, and surprise the enemy, if possible; and when you strike and overcome him, never let up in the pursuit so long as your men have strength to follow; for an army routed, if hotly pursued, becomes panic-stricken, and can then be destroyed by half their number. The other rule is, never fight against heavy odds, if by any possible maneuvering you can hurl your own force on only a part, and that the weakest part, of your enemy and crush it. Such tactics will win every time, and a small army may thus destroy a large one in detail, and repeated victory will make it invincible.”
Stonewall Jackson (1824–1863) said by 1863 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted in Battles and Leaders of the Civil War (1884 - 1888) edited by Robert Underwood Clarence C. Buel, Vol. II, p. 297
“War means fighting. The business of the soldier is to fight. Armies are not called out to dig trenches, to throw up breastworks, to live in camps, but to find the enemy and strike him; to invade his country, and do him all possible damage in the shortest possible time. This will involve great destruction of life and property while it lasts; but such a war will of necessity be of brief continuance, and so would be an economy of life and property in the end. To move swiftly, strike vigorously, and secure all the fruits of victory is the secret of successful war.”
Stonewall Jackson (1824–1863) said by 1863 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted in Stonewall Jackson and the American Civil War (1904) by George Francis Robert Henderson, Ch. 25 : The Soldier and the Man, p. 481
“Through the broad extent of country over which you have marched by your respect for the rights and property of citizens, you have shown that you were soldiers not only to defend but able and willing to defend and protect.”
Stonewall Jackson (1824–1863) first seen 1738 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted in Shenandoah Valley Pioneers and Their Descendants : A History of Frederick County, Virginia (illustrated) from its formation in 1738 to 1908 (1989) by T. K. Cartmell, p. 322
“Once you get them running, you stay right on top of them, and that way a small force can defeat a large one every time.”
Stonewall Jackson (1824–1863) said by 1863 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted in The Civil War : An Illustrated History (1990) by Geoffrey C. Ward, Ken Burns, and Ric Burns, p. 272
“The Institute will be heard from today.”
Stonewall Jackson (1824–1863) first seen 1863 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Referring to the number of Virginia Military Institute alumni and former students among his officers; to Colonel Thomas T. Munford at the Battle of Chancellorsville (2 May 1863), as quoted in Chancellorsville (1996) by …
“My duty is to obey orders.”
Stonewall Jackson (1824–1863) first seen 1846 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Ch. 4 : The War with Mexico — 1846 - 1848, p. 45
“We must make this campaign an exceedingly active one. Only thus can a weaker country cope with a stronger; it must make up in activity what it lacks in strength. A defensive campaign can only be made successful by taking the aggressive at the proper time. Napoleon never waited for his adversary to become fully prepared, but struck him the first blow.”
Stonewall Jackson (1824–1863) first seen 1863 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Ch. 22 : The Last Happy Days — Chancellorsville — 1863, p. 429
“Yesterday we fought a great battle and gained a great victory, for which all the glory is due to God alone. Although under a heavy fire for several continuous hours I received only one wound, the breaking of the longest finger of my left hand; but the doctor says the finger may be saved. It was broken about midway between the hand and knuckle, the ball passing on the side next to the forefinger. Had it struck the centre, I should have lost the finger. My horse was wounded, but not killed. Your coat got an ugly wound near the hip, but my servant, who is very handy, has so far repaired it that it doesn't show very much. My preservation was entirely due, as was the glorious victory, to our God, to whom be all the honor, praise, and glory. The battle was the hardest that I have ever been in, but not near so hot in its fire.”
Stonewall Jackson (1824–1863) first seen 1861 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Letter to his wife after the First Battle of Bull Run (22 July 1861); as quoted in Memoirs of Stonewall Jackson by His Widow Mary Anna Jackson (1895), Ch. XI : The First Battle of Manassas, p. 178