Virginia Military Institute - Bomb Yearbook (Lexington, VA)

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The Citizen Soldier homas Jonathan Jackson first came to the Virginia Military institute on 1 3 August, 1851. He was to remain at the Institute for just a few months shy often years. At the . suggestion of Colonel Francis Smith, the Board of Visitors appointed Jackson Professor of Natural and Experimental Philosophy and instructor in Artillery tactics. Colonel Francis Smith had served with Jackson during the Mexican-American war and knew of his brilliant record of heroism. This prompted him to suggest Jackson ' s appoint- ment to the staff of the Institute. Upon arriving in Lexington Jackson found the community to be very pleasant. It was quite a change from the isolation of Fort Meade, Florida. He soon became involved in the community as well as the church. As a community service he would teach sunday school to negro slave children. He also became involved with the Democratic Party of Virginia. At the institute, Jackson soon earned the reputation of being a mediocre Professor yet he was admired and respected by the cadets. His lectures were well rehearsed but he never deviated from the structure of his books. His classes were monotonous a nd he would never explain the material after going over it once. Major Jackson had his first chance to com- mand the cadets as a military unit at the trial of John Brown in Charles Town, Virgini, (now West Virginia). Sixty-four cadets were selected to as- sist in ensuring that no abolitionist rescue operation would take place during the trial and execution. Jack- son commanded twenty-one cadets with two artillery pieces. The trial went without incident. In 1861, as the secessionist debate raged in Lex- ington Courthouse. The incident provoked a response from the union- ists in Lexington, emotions fiared, and the cadets responded by march- ing on the town. Major Jackson ar- rived and managed to calm the out- raged cadets. The time may be near when your state will need your ser- vices, Jackson thundered, but it has not come yet. If that time comes, then draw your swords and throw away your scabbards. The cadets cheered wildly. This left a mark on the cadets that would remain with them for the rest of their lives. By April of 1861 it became obvious that war was inevitable. Colonel Smith offered Governor Letcher the ser- vices of the officers and cadets of this institution for any duty to which the necessities of the State may call us. We have a company of 250 well armed and well disciplined men. Within days the Corps, under the command of Major Jackson, was on its way to Richmond to train troops. Jackson soon made it clear that he desired a command of his own. Jackson received the command he desired and he was very successful in all his campaigns. He died of pneumonia on May 10, 1863 after being shot in the arm by his own troops. Regardless of his untimely death at the age of thirty-seven, General Stonewall Jackson proved himself to represent the ideal citizen-soldier. He first proved himself during the charge of Chapultepec and later as a professor at the Virginia Military Institute. He was killed during the peak of his life as a General in the Confederate Army. He was a peace-loving man yet when duty called he emerged as a gallant warrior. He will always be remembered by the corps for his statement that each cadet reads when entering through the arch named after him: You may be whatever you resolve to be. y )

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Military men . . . should say but few words and speak them to the point. The time may be near when your State will need your services, but it has not come yet. If that time comes, then draw your swords and throw away the scab- bards. Stonewall Jackson