Stonewall Jackson's Book of Maxims by James I. Robertson (Editor)

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Synopsis

Few men have ever started from humbler beginnings and risen to greater heights. Thomas J. Jackson never sought fame, but he could not escape its light when opportunity came. At the same time, the louder people cheered, the more embarrassed he became. Fatally wounded by friendly fire on May 2, 1863, Jackson has continued to live in the American memory. His sobriquet "Stonewall" remains the most famous nickname in American military history. The manner in which Jackson lived his life was heavily influenced by the writings of Lord Chesterfield, whose published letters to his son on self-improvement were popular in polite society. No single work-save the Bible-more influenced Jackson in his evolution as a polished gentleman. As a cadet at West Point, he felt compelled to compose his own book of maxims. Jackson’s maxims are reproduced here as he wrote them. Accompanying each are insights into the man by today’s foremost authority on the general, James I. Robertson Jr. This information includes the origin of the adage, one or more quotations paralleling the maxim, how Jackson may have applied the idea in his own life, and how certain maxims offer insights into the mind of the man. Following Jackson’s death in 1863, this book of maxims disappeared. Subsequent generations could only assume that it was a casualty of time. When Robertson began to research his landmark biography of Jackson in the late 1980s, he came across the original notebook of maxims in a collection of papers that had been given to Tulane University at the turn of the twentieth century. The contents are reproduced here in full.

Salt Lake Tribune

Stonewall Jackson's Book of Maxims is the latest offering by noted Jackson biographer James I. Robertson Jr., author of the acclaimed biography Stonewall Jackson: The Man, The Soldier, The Legend.

Apparently, Jackson rarely spoke at length, but took words seriously. Throughout his life, he wrote down rules of behavior or philosophies of life.

This sage group of writings, lost for years, offers an interesting insight into one of America's most influential military minds. Much of it applies today.

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Biography

JAMES I. ROBERTSON JR. is Alumni Distinguished Professor in History at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. He is an award-winning author of the biographies of Stonewall Jackson and A. P. Hill and numerous books on the Civil War. His great-grandfather was a Confederate soldier and a cook for Robert E. Lee. Robertson appears frequently in Civil War programs on the Arts and Entertainment Network (A&E), the History Channel, and public television. He lives in Blacksburg, Virginia.