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Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson (1824)close

Although Thomas J. Jackson was born before West Virginia became a state, the site was Clarksburg, which is now located in West Virginia. He attended West Point (the US Military Academy) and graduated in 1846, going on to serve in the artillery during the Mexican War. He resigned from the Army to teach at Virginia Military Institute. When Virginia seceded from the Union, Jackson was appointed a colonel in the Virginia state forces. He earned his nickname through his service during the Battle of Bull Run. His greatest effort came at Chancellorsville where he was eventually wounded and had to have his arm amputated. He seemed to be recovering from the amputation, but contracted pneumonia, and died eight days after the injury.

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