General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson |
I may have the only dining room north of the Mason Dixon Line boasting a picture of General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson (aside from actual descendants of the illustrious warrior, of course). Visitors who take time to examine the portraits gracing our walls often come to old Stonewall, wrinkle their brows, and look back at us with puzzled expressions. We’re only too happy to tell the story of why he occupies a place of honor in our home.
My husband, Scott, grew up in Pittsburgh, but his father’s family was originally from Virginia's Shenandoah Valley, where their roots went deep. One of the first things I knew about the Janneys was that Grandma’s grandfather, James Alexander Black, fought in the famous “Stonewall Brigade,” a private in Company C, the Virginia Fourth Infantry. He was one of the “Pulaski Guards,” part of Stonewall’s regiment, which was originally known as Virginia’s First Brigade. Formed in the opening weeks of the Civil War, the unit consisted of five Virginia infantry regiments, as well as an artillery battery. Jackson took basically green recruits and with his famous discipline and charisma, turned them into efficient soldiers. The photo of Private James Alexander Black reveals a resolute spirit, the product of his life as a laborer, the firm faith in which he was raised, and his superior military training.
Private James Alexander Black
Stonewall Brigade
|
Scene From the Battle of Chancellorsville
|
The previous night as Jackson and some of his staff were returning to camp, a North Carolina regiment mistook them for Union soldiers. Someone cried out, “Halt! Who goes there?” Before anyone could answer, however, firing commenced, and Jackson was hit twice in the left arm and once in the right hand.
After Jackson’s arm was amputated (and buried at his chaplain’s brother’s nearby farm), the general was removed to a small house several miles away in Guinea Station. Upon hearing of Stonewall’s wounds, General Lee commented, “He has lost his left arm, but I have lost my right arm.” Unfortunately, Jackson also lost his life when pneumonia set in, and a week later, he died.
The House Where Jackson Died
|
On Sunday, May 10 as he stood at death’s door, Jackson remarked, “It is the Lord’s Day; my wish is fulfilled. I have always desired to die on Sunday.” He slipped in and out of delirium, and thinking he was in battle, he cried out, “Order A.P. Hill to prepare for action! Pass the infantry to the front rapidly! Tell Major Hawks. . . .” Then the flow of words halted. He suddenly became placid, and succumbing to a great peace , he uttered his last words, “'Let us cross over the river, and rest under the shade of the trees.'"
By the time the ranger finished, I was in tears! When I later found the portrait we have in our home of Jackson, I purchased it for Scott as an anniversary present. I presented it to him joking, “Someday we’ll have one of
General Grant!” I figured that somewhere in my family, we might be connected to the Union commander. Several years later, when I began searching the branches of my own family tree, I actually did discover an association with Grant, albeit not the direct one of my husband to Jackson. My six times great grandfather’s grandson, Brevet General George Ihrie, served as Grant’s aide and Assistant Inspector General during the war.
I also found, much to my surprise, that I had a relative who fought at Chancellorsville, my step grandfather Harry Kocher’s grandfather, Israel Kocher. Not only did he not wear gray, he wore Union blue with the Pennsylvania 153rd Regiment. In other words, my family and my husband’s family fought against each other in the same battle! While Israel didn’t die at Chancellorsville like James Alexander Black, he didn’t exactly come out unscathed. Neither did his fellow fighting men.
Flag of the PA 153rd Regiment
During the battle, this unit from Pennsylvania, largely of German descent, were badly outnumbered by the Confederates, although the Union forces overall had more troops. When roughly 800 Pennsylvanians saw 17,000 Rebels, including the Stonewall Brigade, hurtling at them with their signature, blood curdling yell, they didn’t have much of a chance at victory. (Some believe there were more like 22,000 Confederates.) The 153rd sustained heavy casualties, including twelve killed, thirty-nine wounded, and twenty-five captured, along with two missing and two wounded, who later died. Some accounts harshly referred to them as “the flying Dutchmen.” My great great grandfather was injured when a riderless horse knocked him down, but after a brief experience as a Confederate prisoner, Israel was mustered out with the rest of the survivors, who went on to fight at the Battle of Gettysburg that July.
A recent gathering of descendants of the PA 153rd and
their reenactors; the author and her son are on the
far left in the front row.
The National Park Service hosted a 150th anniversary of the costly Battle of Chancellorsville in the spring of 2013, and my husband and I took our eight-year-old son for the commemoration. The rangers we spoke to were surprised, and delighted when we told them David had great great great grandfathers who fought there on opposite sides; he quickly became a center of attention.
Scott and David Janney at Chancellorsville, near
the site where James Alexander Black fell
He was a little confused, however, as to what colors he was supposed to wear, blue or gray. We assured him that he was there to honor the sacrifices that both his ancestors made, but since we were in Virginia and James Alexander Black lost his life at Chancellsorville, David would wear gray in his memory. After that somber moment, I piped up, “When you’re up North, you can wear blue!” At a picnic this summer for descendants of the Pennsylvania 153rd, that’s exactly what happened—David got to wear his blue Union cap. That did not stop him, however, from “fraternizing with the enemy,” the grays who also made an appearance at the reenactment. Nor should it have. We are, after all, a family that honors the courage of both ancestors at the Battle of Chancellorsville.
David Janney, whose descendants fought against each other
at the Battle of Chancellorsville
I’d love to know if you have a “divided” family where the Civil War is concerned, or if you have any known ancestors who fought during 1861-1865.
Yankee Girl Rebecca Price Janney is a theologically trained historian and the author of 18 books, including Harriet Tubman, Great Women in American History and Then Comes Marriage? A Cultural History of the American Family. She began writing professionally at the age of 14 and the following year, she started covering the Philadelphia Phillies for her local paper. Rebecca is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, a wife, and the mother of one son. She’s written a new historical series taking place in the U.S. that is awaiting publication. When she’s not writing or speaking, she loves being with her family. www.rebeccapricejanney.com
Hi Rebecca, what a fascinating family history. No "divided" family here except in sports and politics. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your kind words.
DeleteI love family history and yours is fascinating. Thanks for sharing. We didn't have a divided family, and the first book in my latest series is based on information in a letter my great-grandfather Manfred Whiteman wrote to my great-grandmother Sallie Dyer in 1864 just before the Battle of Nashville in November/December of that year. My great-grandfather and his younger brother were captured and spent the next months until the Armistice in a Yankee prison at Pt. Lookout, Maryland. Manfred's older brother Charles was captured at the battle of Port Hudson in Louisiana and spent several months in a New York Yankee prison. I love finding family connections to historical events. Thanks for sharing yours.
ReplyDeleteThat certainly is a fascinating account of your own family's Civil War journey. It was such a tragic time in America, and it's so important to keep these stories alive. There was so much courage and honor to celebrate. Best wishes with your book!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rebecca. The first one has done well and the third book in the series is due to be released in November. I had fun doing the research, but some to the things I discovered were heartbreaking.
DeleteI'm sure it was quite a journey for you.
DeleteThank you for a fascinating post!
ReplyDeletemauback55 at gmail dot com
I'm glad you found it fascinating, Melanie. I think when we connect historical events with people in our families, the events become much more real.
ReplyDeleteWhen we were at Chancellorsville, and stated that Rebecca is a descendant of the PA 153rd and I'm a descendant of the Stonewall Brigade, someone asked us how we manage to get along. I responded that it's been 150 years and we've gotten over it.
ReplyDeleteApparently not everyone has.
Good comment, Johnny Reb!
ReplyDeleteInteresting to read about your family roots in the civil war. Thanks for your post! sharon, CA wileygreen1(at)yahoo(dot)com
ReplyDeleteIt's like finding hidden treasure, Sharon, when I make a new discovery. I hope you have similar experiences.
ReplyDeleteThere was only one skirmish here in Arizona during the Civil War. It occurred near Pichaco Peak near Tucson.
ReplyDeletejwisley(at)me(dot)com