Stonewall Brigade Facts

June 1861–May 1864

Key facts about the American Civil War Stonewall Brigade.

Black and white photograph of Stonewall Jackson.

Populated by recruits from Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, and originally commanded by Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson, the Stonewall Brigade participated in nearly every major campaign in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. [National Archives]

Formation Date:

  • June 1861

Dissolution Date:

  • May 1864

Commanders:

  • Brigadier General Thomas ‘Stonewall’ Jackson (June–October 1861), Brigadier-General Richard Garnett (November 1861–April 1862), Brigadier General Charles Winder (April–August 1862), Colonel William Baylor (August 1862), Colonel Andrew Grigsby (August–November 1862), Brigadier General Elisha Paxton (November 1862–May 1863), Brigadier General James Walker (May 1863–May 1864)

Significance:

  • The core of the Stonewall Brigade consisted of five Virginia infantry regiments from the Shenandoah Valley.
  • The 5th Virginia Infantry Regiment consisted of men from the middle of the Shenandoah Valley.
  • The 4th and 27th Virginia Infantry Regiments consisted of men from the southern end of the Shenandoah Valley.
  • The 2nd and 33rd Virginia Infantry Regiments consisted of men from the northern end of the Shenandoah Valley.
  • The Rockbridge Artillery Battery provided ordnance support for the Stonewall Brigade through October 1862.
  • The Stonewall Brigade earned its nickname at the First Battle of Bull Run (July 21, 1861).
  • During the First Battle of Bull Run, the Stonewall Brigade’s official designation was 1st Brigade, Army of the Shenandoah.
  • During the Second Battle of Bull Run, the Stonewall Brigade’s official designation was 1st Brigade, 1st (Jackson’s) Division, Left (Jackson’s) Wing, Army of Northern Virginia.
  • During the Battle of Antietam, the Stonewall Brigade’s official designation was 1st Brigade, 3rd (Jackson’s) Division, Left (Jackson’s) Wing, Army of Northern Virginia.
  • During the Battle of Fredericksburg, the Stonewall Brigade’s official designation was 1st Brigade, 4th (Jackson’s) Division, 2nd (Jackson’s) Corps, Army of Northern Virginia.
  • During the Battle of Chancellorsville, the Stonewall Brigade’s official designation was 1st Brigade, 4th (Trimble’s) Division, 2nd (Jackson’s) Corps, Army of Northern Virginia.
  • During the Battle of Gettysburg, the Stonewall Brigade’s official designation was 2nd Brigade, 2nd (Johnson’s) Division, 2nd (Ewell’s) Corps, Army of Northern Virginia.
  • During the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, the Stonewall Brigade’s official designation was 1st Brigade, 2nd (Johnson’s) Division, 2nd (Ewell’s) Corps, Army of Northern Virginia.
  • Three of the Stonewall Brigade’s commanding officers were killed while leading the unit in combat (Winder, Baylor, and Paxton), and one was seriously wounded (Walker).
  • The Stonewall Brigade participated in the First Bull Run Campaign, Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1862, Peninsula Campaign, Northern Virginia Campaign, Maryland Campaign,
  • Fredericksburg Campaign, Chancellorsville Campaign, Gettysburg Campaign, Mine Run Campaign, and Overland Campaign.
  • The Battle of Spotsylvania Court House left the Stonewall Brigade with fewer than 250 effectives.
  • The Stonewall Brigade was disbanded in May 1864 when Confederate officials folded the remaining soldiers into Brigadier General William Terry’s Brigade (Pickett’s Division, Andersons’ Corps, ANV) after the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House.
  • After the Stonewall Brigade was disbanded, its remaining soldiers participated in the remainder of the Overland Campaign, the Petersburg Campaign (June 1864–March 1865), Early’s Valley Campaign (July–August 1864), and the Appomattox Campaign (March 29–April 12, 1865).
  • When Robert E. Lee surrendered his forces to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865, only 212 of the roughly 6,000 officers and soldiers who had served with the Stonewall Brigade’s five infantry regiments were present to stack their arms.

Citation Information

The following information is provided for citations.

  • Article Title Stonewall Brigade Facts
  • Date June 1861–May 1864
  • Author
  • Website Name American History Central
  • Access Date October 2, 2023
  • Publisher R.Squared Communications, LLC
  • Original Published Date
  • Date of Last Update April 14, 2022

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