BOOKS: Stonewall in the Valley

The Shenandoah Valley is a unique American experience__the Virginia wilderness, a place where the geography has formed the character of its inhabitants, a peculiar American character. This is geography as a distilled essence of the American spirit__strong, independent. This spirit is in the land, the trees, the valley, the mountains. For 150 miles from the Potomac to the James River lies the Shenandoah flanked by the Blue Ridge on the east and the Alleghenies on the west. No one knows the origin of the name; there are some guesses: Maybe Native American for: "River Through the Spruces' or "Beautiful Daughter of the Stars". No one knows for sure. Young George Washington roamed here and formed his character that would form a nation. In 1862 Major General Thomas "Stonewall Jackson" used the Valley to thwart the wild plans of General George McClellan to invade Richmond by sea thus bringing a quick end to the civil war. It never happened, Jackson using the Shenandoah stopped his plans. Stonewall in the Valley: Thomas J. Stonewall Jackson's Shenandoah Valley Campaign Spring 1862." tells that story. This campaign has long fascinated civil war buffs as to how Jackson with a significantly out numbered force outwitted and defeated Union Army generals. Jackson through deception and a series of brilliant victories convinced Lincoln and the Union generals that he had a much larger force sitting in the Shenandoah that could threaten Washington D.C. Fifty-five thousand troops were held back to protect Washington. Troops much needed for the success of McClellan's invasion of Richmond. McClellan's plan collapsed. The union of course would eventually prevail of course, but Jackson's campaign remains a fascinating study in ingenuity and inventiveness. Robert Tanner gives a detailed account here taken from never before published sources. He covers both the battles and the character of the man who tried using the geography of the Valley to save the confederacy.