Originally aired on February 20, 1998 - In part 182 of our Civil War series, Virginia Tech history professor James Robertson examines the career of “Mudwall” Jackson.
#182 – “Mudwall” Jackson
Occasionally in history, a man stands out more because of his name than because of his accomplishments. Sometimes just a nickname is all that comes to mind. Such was the case with Confederate General “Mudwall” Jackson.
He was born in February 1825 in Clarksburg, West Virginia. The birth of William L. Jackson occurred in the same mountain town and almost a year to the day later than his second cousin Thomas Jackson. Like his more famous kinsman William Jackson was orphaned at an early age.
He educated himself, gained admittance to the bar in 1847 and became Commonwealth Attorney for Wood County. Jackson’s talents and congeniality won him election twice to the Virginia House of Delegates. In the late 1850’s he served as Lieutenant Governor under Stormy Henley Wise. Then came appointment as judge of eight counties comprising the 19th Judicial District. By 1861, according to one newspaper, Judge Jackson was the most widely known as well as the most popular man in northwestern Virginia.
The 36-year old jurist resigned from the bench to go to war. He enlisted as a private in the 31st Virginia. In quick fashion William Jackson became colonel of the regiment. In April, 1862, he declined re-election. For three months thereafter he served as a volunteer aide on the staff of cousin, Stonewall Jackson.
The colonel then shifted to command of the Virginia State Line. A regimental size force entrusted with salt-works and lead-mines in areas of western Virginia. Jackson became restless at the continual inactivity.
In the spring of 1863, he organized and took field command of 19th Virginia Cavalry Regiment. He was an easily recognizable figure; six feet tall, weighing 200 pounds. Jackson was always immaculately dressed. One of his teenage soldiers declared, “He was the most animated man that I ever seen in conversation. His hair and whiskers were the deepest red that I had ever seen on the head and face of any man.”
The climax of William Jackson’s Civil War came on a July, 1863, raid deep into the new state of West Virginia. Jackson and 1,200 horsemen swept toward the town of Beverly. Confederate strategy called for an attack on the Union garrison from three directions. Unfortunately one of Jackson’s columns first encountered a distillery along the way. The men stopped to sample the wares and never made it to the battle.
Still, Jackson’s force did considerable damage, sent fear through the countryside, but managed to escape from a large pursuing Union force. That feat gave Jackson the name “Mudwall”. As one Confederate explained, “while Stonewall Jackson had been so hard on the Yankees, Mudwall Jackson had slid easily through their net”.
Colonel Jackson took part in the 2nd Valley campaign until August 25, 1864, when a bullet struck him in the leg. Early in 1865, he was back on duty as a brigadier general and commander of a veteran cavalry brigade.
Jackson fled to Texas at war’s end. After receiving a parole, he returned home, only to discover that West Virginia law forbade any ex-Confederate from practicing law in the state. The determined Jackson moved to Kentucky and established a thriving law firm in Louisville. He spent the last seventeen years of his life as judge of the 9th Kentucky Circuit. He died in 1890 and was buried in Louisville.
The soldiers who rode with Jackson resented the name “Mudwall” placed on their leader. One asserted, “there was not a more polished gentleman nor a more gallant and competent officer”. That may well have been the case, but today whenever the noble soldier and distinguished judge appears on a page of Civil War history he is always identified as “Mudwall” Jackson.
