Mexican-American war After graduating the United States Military Academy in 1846. Lieutenant Jackson was ordered and sent to Mexico. He served under General Winfield Scott with the 1st U.S. artillery. Jackson participated in the actions around Mexico City. These included the siege of Veracruz, battles of Contreras, Chapultepec, and Mexico City. He served with distinction in the battle of Chapultepec. Chapultepec is a fortress upon a huge hill. The Mexicans had it well guarded, with lots of artillery and soldiers. Jackson led his troops through heavy fighting, in an area with many casualties. Another soldier noted that Jackson was "as calm in the midst of a hurricane of bullets as though he was on dress parade at West Point." A similar thing was noticed by others including officers. Soon Jackson was promoted, by the end of the Mexican-American war Jackson would become a brevet major. Also important to note is the people Jackson met during the war, he met Robert E. Lee, his future commanding officer.
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Jackson in 1853, after resigning from the army in 1851. Teacher at VMI.
Battle of Chapultepec, infantry charge on the fortress
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Virginia Military Institute Thomas Jackson resigned from military service in 1851. He found a teaching position at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia. In his teaching position he taught natural and experimental philosophy. (This class goes over physics type subjects) Thomas Jackson was also the professor of artillery tactics. His students did not think of him as a good teacher. For example if his lesson was not understood, instead of reexplaining it a different way. He would just repeat exactly the same lecture the next day. Although he was not liked for his teaching method and strange eccentrics. He was widely respected for his knowledge, ability, and experience. His students were aware of his superb service as a part of the 1st United States artillery regiment during the Mexican-American war. In this time he also married Elinor Junkin, the daughter of a Presbyterian minister. She passed away during the birth of their first child.
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John Brown Execution
John Brown in the gallows, and VMI cadets in foreground
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Professor Jackson's first reintroduction into the military was in November of 1859. He had to keep control at the execution hanging of the abolitionist John Brown. John Brown was captured by Colonel Robert E. Lee in Harper's Ferry, Virginia. During his attempted slave revolt. There was a very high chance that something could have gone wrong given the publicity and delicacy of the crime, trial, and situation. But Thomas Jackson and the Virginia Military Institute's corps of cadets kept the peace during the execution. Jackson displayed impressive and orderly leadership over the cadets during the incident.
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John Brown on his way to the gallows, pauses to give a black boy a kiss on the head
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