Confederate General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, born in Clarksburg, is one of the most famous officers in military history. Orphaned young, he grew up tough and independent. He became a hero in the Mexican War and later taught at the Virginia Military Institute. Known for his deep religious faith and strange habits, he earned the nickname "Stonewall" for his bravery at the Battle of First Manassas. He led many major Confederate victories during the first two years of the Civil War, often while outnumbered, and his 1862 Shenandoah Valley campaign is still studied at military academies. He was accidentally shot and killed by his own men at the Battle of Chancellorsville.