One of the “big names” when it comes to Civil War generals is Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson. Gaining national recognition and the nickname Stonewall at the Battle of First Manassas in 1861, Jackson’s rise to the top of the command structure of the Confederacy was fast, and short, ending with his death in 1863. J.C. Gwynne capture’s Jackson’s life in all of its brilliance, and quirkiness. Gwynne writes the book with great thought and detail, but does so in a very engaging manner. The pages and chapters zip by as you learn more and more about what made Jackson, well, Jackson. All of the phases of Jackson’s life are covered, from youth, to marriages, as well as all of his military experiences— Jackson fought a heroic and skilled campaign in the war with Mexico in 1848 that not too many people are familiar with. Gwynne presents some new thoughts when it comes to Jackson, but he also retells the General’s story with zeal and the skills of an accomplished storyteller. Rebel Yell is a very good read.
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