He published the definitive adult biography of stonewall jackson, stonewall jackson. Epic gods and generals tilts genteelly to the south. I was wondering because i recall reading somewhere that jackson was apparently uncomfortable giving speeches in front of large audiences. Military academy at west point, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant. In the earlier film the speeches are used to advance the story, explain the. It was at chancellorsville that the victorious confederate general stonewall jackson stephen. Thomas jonathan stonewall jackson was a confederate lieutenant general in the civil war. Stone wall jackson in the war of northern aggression. Stonewall jackson god and general is a tribute to thomas jonathan jackson. His stonewall jackson and the american civil war has been universally recognized as the best biography of the famous confederate general and a classic in military literature. The lost cause interpretation was neatly summarized in an 1893 speech by a.
He won his nickname at the battle of first bull run first manassas, but it was his actions at harpers ferry in 1861, his 1862 shenandoah valley campaign, and the flanking maneuver at the battle of chancellorsville that. The rise and fall of legendary war hero thomas stonewall jackson as he leads the confederacy to great success against the union from 1861 to 1863. These same kind of speeches are not handled well in gods and generals with the extended twoplayer scenes general thomas stonewall jackson stephen lang reciting poetry or the bible to his wife kali rocha, several time, is the principle two shot used far too often that expostulate on the righteousness of the cause. In the film adaptation, she is portrayed by kali rocha mrs. The book examines the live of four men who played a major role in the civil war, stonewall jackson, winfield scott. The more you know about the civil war, the more youll appreciate gods and generals and the painstaking attention to detail that gettysburg writerdirector ronald f. These letters give a beautiful insight into the mind of the military hero. Gods and generals is the prequel to the 1994 film gettysburg. The film stars stephen lang as stonewall jackson, jeff daniels as lieutenant colonel. General jackson s farewell speech to his brigade hd ilya. Stonewall jackson s speech to his troops on secession all right go to owners. Michael shaara the extraordinary lives, passions, and careers of four great military leaders stonewall jackson, winfield scott hancock, joshua chamberlain, and robert e. Gods and generals is a 2003 film based on the novel of the same name by.
It was written by jeff shaara and serves as a prequel to the killer angels, the novelization of gettysburg that was written by his father michael shaara later adapted into the movie gettysburg. Gods and generals is the kind of movie beloved by people who never go to the movies, because they are primarily interested in something elsethe civil war, for exampleand think historical accuracy is a virtue instead of an attribute. I read about the jackson anecdote that dennis frye shared with you. He really did give a speech like this to his troops, and right afterward some staff officers assembled and wrote it down from memory. The magnificent new movie gods and generals raises a related issue. Stonewall jackson american soldier born on january 21, 1824, died on may 10, 1863 thomas jonathan stonewall jackson was a confederate general during the american civil war, and the bestknown confederate commander after general robert e. Stonewall jackson, and lieutenant colonel joshua chamberlain, shaara depicted the emotional drama of soldiers fighting old friends while accurately detailing. Jan 10, 20 jacksons farewell speech to the stonewall brigade. Thomas stonewall jackson essay 1815 words bartleby.
Gods and generals is a 2003 film based on the novel of the same name by jeffrey m. But jackson wasnt just born a general, he earned it. Anna jackson appears in the novel gods and generals by jeff shaara. Gods and generals is the kind of movie beloved by people who never go to the movies, because they are primarily interested in something elsethe civil war, for example and think historical accuracy is a virtue instead of an attribute. The facility, located near weston, serves as a special campus for west virginia university and the wvu extension service. So jackson s treatment of lewis is what one would expect from a man who believed that the souls of black folk were equal in the eyes of god to his own. Once i started reading the biography, i couldnt put it down, mainly because of the authors easytoread style given that battles need to be described in reasonable detail. Gods and generals the life of thomas stonewall jackson. The movie gods and generals is a portrayal of the actions that were illustrated very eloquently and captivatingly in the book gods and generals, written by jeff shaara.
I do not expect to live to see the end of this war. Here is thomas stonewall jackson, a hopelessly bythe book military. Ron maxwell, author and director, gods and generals. Thomas stonewall jackson stephen lang was, like chamberlain, a man of great religious faith who served in the defense of the confederacy. Youve already won the brilliant reputation throughout the army of the whole confederacy. The film focuses on confederate general thomas stonewall jackson, from the outbreak of the american civil war until his death from friendly fire at chancellorsville. We watched in awe as he offered us the exceptional performance as general george pickett in gettysburg. Gods and generals is a novel which serves as a prequel to michael shaaras 1974 pulitzer prizewinning work about the battle of gettysburg, the killer angels. Here is a clip from the film gods and generals which is a fine example of motivation by a general of his troops. Jackson is the subject of the harnett kane 1957 novel, the gallant mrs.
Gods and generals 2003 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Gods and generals, based on the best selling book by jeff shaara, is such a movie. Demonstrating the discipline that jackson had instilled, the virginians held the line, leading brigadier general barnard bee to exclaim, there is jackson standing like a stone wall. Movie speech from gods and generals stonewall jackson addresses the 33rd regiment of virginia. In a prequel of sorts to his father michael shaaras. Too much religion prayer in stonewall jacksons camp, 1866. The film plays like a special issue of american heritage. The man, the soldier, the legend, and also wrote standing like a stone wall for young adults. Subscribe the rise and fall of legendary war hero thomas stonewall jackson as he leads the confederacy to great success against the union from 1861 to 1863.
Thus, i can almost fathom why maxwell would want to shift the focus of gods and generals from him to another fascinating character, stonewall jackson. At the beginning of book four of the history, herodotus tells of the return of the. Shaara, depicting the first two years of the american civil war up to the death of stonewall jackson in may 1863. Speeches that cry out for abbreviation are dragged out to their final. Making of gods and generals from a civil war reenactors pov. Stonewall jackson and anna jackson gods and generals love the movie. Thomas stonewall jackson facts, bio, and information on. This special edition book features a foreword by stephen lang, the actor who portrays stonewall jackson in the film, gods and generals. The best movie quotes, movie lines and film phrases by movie quotes. Rarely does a big budget hollywood movie come along that reflects history and the christian faith of the protagonists in an historical event accurately and faithfully. Gods and generals stephen lang as stonewall jackson, superb performance. Movie speech gods and generals 2003 thomas jonathan stonewall jackson addresses virginias 1st brigade at the battle of manassas. With so much already said about lee, jackson must have seemed a wonderful, undiscovered country ripe for film.
Gods and generals, a lumpy threeandahalfhour glob of civil war. American civil war american history gods and generals christian soldiers civil war books confederate monuments stonewall jackson southern heritage civil war photos stonewall jackson, 18241863. Stonewall jackson quotes author of little darlin sound. The film stars stephen lang as stonewall jackson, jeff daniels as lieutenant. Nearby, at stonewall jackson s historical childhood home, his uncles grist mill is the centerpiece of a historical site at the jackson s mill center for lifelong learning and state 4h camp. They show his deep love and respect for his wife, his country and his god. My religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. Stonewall jackson and anna jackson from gods and generals. Feb 21, 2003 but stonewall jackson is definitely the focus of attention here, though that wasnt the case in jeff shaaras book and may not be in the eventual sixhour tv version of gods and generals. When done, don had made the comment and stonewall jackson died. The film centers mostly around the personal and professional life of thomas stonewall jackson, a brilliant if eccentric confederate general, from the outbreak of the american civil war until its halfway point when jackson is killed accidentally.
I really enjoyed jeff shaaras concentration on principal characters as a means of telling the history. The man, the soldier, the legend, and also wrote standing like a stone. Gods and generals is a 1996 novel of the american civil war. Gods and generals by daniel mccarthy if youre already planning to see gods and generals, see it soon. The patriot volunteer, fighting for country and his rights, makes the most reliable soldier on earth. Does anybody know if the stonewall jackson you are the first brigade speech depicted in gods and generals based on a real speech or fiction. His fierce exterior hides a compassionate soul that few students and soldiers alike will. The letters of stonewall jackson to his wife, bill potter presents some of stonewall s letters to his wife, anna, written during the war. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read gods and generals. Shaara talked about his book gods and generals, published by ballatine books. Maxwell has invested in this academically respectable 220minute historical pageant.
Thomas stonewall jackson was born in clarksburg, virginia, on january 21, 1824. Gods and general covers much more ground and jeff shaaras book. George francis robert henderson 18541903 was one of britains most outstanding military historians. The movie even though was less than mediocre in its appeal was full of accurate historic facts. Lang appeared as general pickett in the second movie. Why gods and generals is neoconfederate propaganda and objectively sucks duration.
A novel of the civil war ebook written by jeff shaara. Imboden july 24, 1861 as quoted in john selby stonewall jackson as military commander p. It is an adaptation of the 1996 novel of the same name by jeffrey shaara and prequel to maxwells 1993 film gettysburg. He did not favour slavery and ran a sunday school for black children when he was younger. Movie speech from gods and generals stonewall jackson. So jacksons treatment of lewis is what one would expect from a man who believed that the souls of black folk were equal in the eyes of god to his own. Throughout the broad extent of the country through which you have marched, by your respect for the rights and property of others, you have always shown you are soldiers not only to defend, but able and willin both to defend and protect. A human life, i think, should be well rooted in some spot of a native land, where it may get the love of tender kinship for the face of the earth, for the labors men go forth to, for the sounds and accents that haunt it, for whatever will give that early home a familiar unmistakable difference amidst the future widening of knowledge. David rogers the film gods and generals 1996 is based on the book of the same name by jeff shaara, which is a historical novel about the opening days of the american civil war, leading up to the. But gods and generals goes too far when it has jackson telling lewis in december of 1862 that some, including general lee, advocate making soldiers of the slaves as a condition of freedom. Gods and generals 2003 stephen lang as stonewall jackson, superb performance. Why gods and generals is neoconfederate propaganda and objectively sucks.
Jeff shaara is the new york times bestselling author of a chain of thunder, a blaze of glory, the final storm, no less than victory, the steel wave, the rising tide, to the last man, the glorious cause, rise to rebellion, and gone for soldiers, as well as gods and generals and the last full measuretwo novels that complete the civil war trilogy that began with his fathers pulitzer prize. Since his parents died when he was very young, life was very rough for him. Sets out to give an honest and thorough account of this extraordinary man and does so. Michael shaara here is thomas stonewall jackson, a hopelessly bythe book military instructor and devout christian. Washington post book world the charismatic confederate general stonewall jackson, who began his military career in the mexican war, earned his great fame in the civil war in a series of brilliantly fought battles. Arguably, the only general to have more words written about him is napolean. Gods and generals quotes, movie quotes movie quotes. I do not concern myself about that, but to be always ready, no matter when it may overtake me. This book too was adapted into the film of the same name in 2003, although the more extensive narrative resulted in greater cuts. Learn about the faith and dying moments of stonewall jackson in this excerpt from faith in gods and generals, a companion book to the civil war epic opening today in most cities.
Gods and generals is a prequel to that book, covering the leadup to the civil war, plus the first two years of the war. Run, fredericksburg, and chancellorsville, the scene of his untimely. As the battle raged on july 21, jacksons command was brought forward to support the crumbling confederate line on henry house hill. The book adopts the same approach as the killer angels, recounting events from the perspective of several key figures, in this case primarily lee, hancock, jackson, and chamberlain. With stephen lang, robert duvall, jeff daniels, donzaleigh abernathy. That is the way all men should live, and then all would be equally brave. Byron farwells biography of stonewall jackson is a comprehensive account of the life and military career of the famous confederate general. May 20, 2009 lieutenantgeneral thomas stonewall jackson was one of the greatest of confederate generals. His death was a body blow to the confederate cause. Stonewall, based on the jacksons early years together. Joshua chamberlains antislavery speech an army is power duration. Gods and generals this is a really good overview of the first two years of the civil war. May 18, 2011 stonewall jackson s speech to his troops on secession all right go to owners. An amazing christian man who served in the civil war as a confederate general.
Now, stephen lang takes the lead in ron maxwells prequel entitled gods and generals. Despite his brilliance, jackson was a deeply flawed commander, whose failings prevented him from achieving even more. Stonewall jackson, born january 21, 1824 was one of the most famous confederate generals and one of the best officers to serve for general robert e. Stephen lang and kali rocha in gods and generals three great historical movies you should see. Written by jeffrey shaara after his father michaels death in 1988, the novel relates events from 1858 through 1863 during the american civil war, ending just as the two armies march toward gettysburg. Gods and generals is the second installment of the michaeljeff shaara civil war trilogy and the second to be filmed. The film stars stephen lang as stonewall jackson, jeff daniels as lieutenant colonel joshua chamberlain and robert duvall as general robert e. All of the battles, manassas junction, antietam, and chancellorsville, all occurred. Gods and generals is a 2003 american period war drama film written and directed by ronald f. Top 25 quotes by stonewall jackson of 51 az quotes. Jackson was a fanatical presbyterian and a deacon of the church, who had an unquestioned faith in god, a belief in the literal truth of the scriptures. It is the systematic coercion of one group of men over another. Thomas stonewall jackson from gods and generals charactour.