“Mudwall” Jackson

Paragraph from Scott Patchan’s feature greatest confusion.” The 34th Ohio rallied of the confusion over the identity of the one article, “The Shenandoah Valley, July and rejoined the advance, moving to within true Mudwall. 1864,” Vol. XXIII, Issue 3, Pg. 19: 75 yards of Johnston’s battle line. Stymied The nickname was hardly complimen- by the intense Southern musketry, the tary. McDonough noted the criticism of Satisfied that Lewis’ Brigade was Ohioans hit the dirt, Confederate bullets John K. Jackson’s performance during the holding on the left, Ramseur rode to the sailing over their heads. November 1863 Battle of Lookout Moun- right to oversee the deployment of tain and related events, and that he was Johnston’s Brigade, which arrived just as dubbed Mudwall “in contradistinction to the Northerners advanced. The Tarheels Letter to the editor, Vol. XXIII, Issue 4: the late ‘Stonewall’ Jackson.” quickly formed their battle lines and dealt Geoff Walden concluded that Mudwall was deadly volleys at the Ohioans in their front. In the Summer 2006 issue on the neither John King Jackson nor William The Amherst Battery fired canister, Shenandoah Valley, Pg. 19, Confederate Lowther Jackson, but instead it was General bouncing it off the macadamized pike and General William Lowther Jackson is re- Alfred Eugene Jackson. This East Tennessee wreaking havoc in the blue ranks. On the ferred to as “Mudwall” Jackson. I have al- general was described by a subordinate as pos- far right, a detachment of Mudwall ways thought that Confederate General sessing a “slow, inferior, vacillating mind” Jackson’s cavalry counterattacked the 1st John King Jackson was the Jackson known when confronting a Yankee force that Jackson West Virginia, which retreated “pell-mell, as “Mudwall.” See Pg. 140 of Chatta- outnumbered four to one. The matter is probably best summed up hurry-scurry, for dear life.” In the process, nooga: A Death Grip on the Confederacy by former Kennesaw Mountain National the cavalry became entangled with the 34th (1984) by James Lee McDonough.— Battlefield historian Dennis Kelly, whose let- Ohio on Duval’s left, throwing that Johnny Jones, Macon, Georgia ter to the editor appeared in a subsequent is- regiment into confusion as well. All the sue in response to Walden’s article, in which while, Duval’s center maintained its Editor’s response: That’s an interesting ob- Kelly concluded, “The nickname is a natu- position under the intense Confederate rifle servation. In fact, in Blue & Gray Vol. VIII, ral, and I’d bet there were others — colonels, fire. Lt. Col. Benjamin F. Coates of the 91st Issue 1, published in 1990, there was an captains and lieutenants named Jackson who, Ohio responded quickly to the confusion article entitled “Will the Real ‘Mudwall’ out of earshot, did not measure up to the en- by wheeling his two left flank companies, Jackson Please Stand Up?” by Geoffrey R. listed men’s expectations. To claim there is which poured an enfilading fire into Walden. Geoff even cited that very refer- but one true ‘Mudwall’ is like saying in foot- Jackson’s Virginians, who fled “in the ence in McDonough’s book as an example ball there exists but one true ‘Bubba.’” Article originally published in Blue & Gray, Vol. VIII, #1 That Jackson himself was not much of a leader is Will the Real “Mudwall” Jackson demonstrated by the reports of those who served under Please Stand Up? him. He put his officers on trial for imaginary infrac- by Geoffrey R. Walden tions and constantly repri- manded them in front of pri- “Who?” you ask. “Sure, I know ‘Stonewall,’ but who in hell is vates. The officers of Tho- ‘Mudwall’ Jackson?” mas’ Legion became so irate Don’t feel bad if you can’t place him, for his identity has been that they petitioned President confused for over 125 years. Even Jeff Davis wasn’t sure which Davis to have Jackson re- of the several Jacksons he was, and “Mudwall” has been moved, citing his “irritable misidentified in some prominent modern works. So read on as we temper intensified by dis- solve this little mystery of the real “Mudwall”. For the record, eased nerves and aggra- the one and only “Mudwall” was Confederate Brig. Gen. Alfred vated by being in a position Eugene Jackson of Jonesborough in East Tennessee. A prominent for which the man is mor- Alfred Eugene Jackson businessman, farmer, and slave holder, Jackson had amassed a ally and physically unfit.” large fortune by 1861. He cast his lot with the South and joined Jackson’s command spent most of its time in the ridges and Brig. Gen. Felix K. Zollicoffer’s staff as brigade quartermaster, valleys northeast of Knoxville, guarding the vital East Tennessee later serving as paymaster at Knoxville. Probably as a result of and Virginia rail link. Here Jackson won his only victory of note, political motivation to advance the ever-shaky Confederate cause capturing a 300-man detachment of the 100th Ohio Infantry at in East Tennessee, an area of ardent Union sympathies, Jackson Limestone on September 8, 1863. Following the loss of Knox- was promoted to command a brigade in February 1863. ville in December 1863, and the Confederate withdrawal from Jackson’s military service was, to put it mildly, mediocre. His East Tennessee the following spring, Jackson took command of “brigade” (rarely numbering over 800) was a hodge-podge of home the forces guarding the important salt works at Saltville in South- guards, irregulars, and Thomas’ Cherokee Legion, occasionally west Virginia. reinforced with veteran units such as the 4th Kentucky Cavalry. At Saltville Jackson’s command consisted of only a few hun- Jackson’s own troops were reported to be poorly disciplined, in- dred ineffective irregulars, and he was relieved and ordered to the efficient, and “utterly unreliable.” Army of Tennessee, then fighting for Atlanta; however, there is no evidence that Jackson Southern Historical Society Papers in 1906, in which the nick- ever assumed command of name “Mudwall” is mistakenly applied to Brig. Gen. William the brigade that awaited Lowther Jackson, a cousin of “Stonewall” Jackson. This case of him, and September 1864 mistaken identity was continued in a series of letters appearing in found him again in com- Confederate Veteran in late 1909, with the record being set straight mand at Saltville. This post- in this instance by one of N. B. Forrest’s cavalrymen. ing was short-lived, as Jack- The modern mix-up apparently started with a revision of Ezra son was found unfit for ac- Warner’s Generals in Gray. The first printing of the first edition tive field duty in November (1959) correctly lists Alfred Eugene Jackson as “Mudwall.” The and was ordered to light second printing of this same edition, however, switches the sobri- duty on Maj. Gen. John C. quet to William Lowther Jackson. The entry in this edition for Breckinridge’s staff. Here Alfred makes no mention of “Mudwall.” “Mudwall’s” war record This confusion has continued in other modern studies. Even ends. After the war he re- well-known author and historian James Lee McDonough has fallen turned to Jonesborough and prey, hanging the nickname “Mudwall” on yet another Jackson— largely rebuilt his fortunes, Brig. Gen. John K. Jackson—in McDonough’s Chattanooga—A dying at his home in 1889 John King Jackson Death Grip on the Confederacy. Two recent massive compila- at age 83. tions have continued the mix-up, apparently based on the mistake The origin of Alfred E. Jackson’s nickname is not entirely clear. in Warner’s work. Both the Historical Times Illustrated Encyclo- Some have stated it was to contrast him with the more famous pedia of the Civil War (1986) and Stewart Sifakis’ Who Was Who Thomas J. Jackson (no relation), and it seems clear that “Stone- in the Civil War (1988) identify William L. Jackson as “Mudwall”; wall” inspired the form of the Tennessean’s cognomen. While it is the Historical Times Encyclopedia even goes so far as to say that probable that his personality had already earned him the derisive Alfred Jackson “is sometimes confused with William ‘Mudwall’ sobriquet, the action at Limestone in September 1863 brought the Jackson.” In editing E. Por- nickname into widespread use. Although outnumbering the Ohio ter Alexander’s Fighting troops by some four to one, Jackson was extremely cautious in ap- for the Confederacy, able proaching them. While he hesitated, his veteran troops chomped at historian Gary Gallagher the bit to attack. Finally, unable to stand the delay any longer, Capt. discovered the confusion Bart Jenkins rushed up to “Mudwall” and suggested that while the and in a footnote correctly artillery pinned the enemy down in front, the 4th Kentucky Cav- surmised that “Mudwall” alry should ride around their flank and attack them from the rear. must be Alfred E. Jackson, In the words of one of Capt. Jenkins’ comrades, Jackson’s “slow, although he seems reluctant inferior, vacillating mind” finally saw the wisdom of this course. to state this conclusively. The Kentuckians beat the handful of Buckeyes in a sharp fight, If for no other reason, and finding themselves surrounded, the 300 men of the 100th Ohio respect for the memory of surrendered. Jackson, however, decided better of holding onto his the other Jacksons should gains, and he timidly ordered his command to fall back some 20 demand the record be set miles and await support from Confederates in Southwest Virginia. straight. As for Alfred E. The story of Jackson’s role in the battle at Limestone spread Jackson, his nickname throughout the district and the nickname “Mudwall” was his for “Mudwall” was apparently posterity—if only the history books would get the facts straight.

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