Lecture: Jackson's rise to prominence

As part of the Pentagon’s regular program of historical lectures, Robert Krick, retired chief historian for the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park, gave a June 15, 2012 presentation focusing on Confederate Maj. Gen. Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson’s initial operations in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley in 1862 and explain how his success there catapulted him to national and international prominence.

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Krick said Jackson’s highly drilled infantrymen covered ground so fast in moving from one battle to the next that they soon were dubbed “foot cavalry.”

Despite being outnumbered 3 to 1, he maneuvered his forces skillfully and made them appear to be numerically much stronger, he said. Jackson proved to be one of the most effective commanders for the South until he died in action at the Battle of Chancellorsville in May 1863.

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