Beloved Bride: The Letters of Stonewall Jackson to His Wife

For fans of Stonewall Jackson, this is an essential read. It presents Jackson as a warm family man with a deep faith in God--something that doesn't come across in books focused on his military exploits. Jackson was a man of character aside from his accomplishments on the battlefield and this book helps bring that out. For those who are not Civil War buffs or fans of Jackson, you will probably not find this book interesting.

In Beloved Bride: The Letters of Stonewall Jackson to His Wife, Bill Potter presents some of Stonewall's letters to his wife, Anna, written during the war. These letters give a beautiful insight into the mind of the military hero. They show his deep love and respect for his wife, his country and his God. There are glimpses into their everyday life, as he discusses gardening, tithes, and his consent for one of their slaves to marry. He referrs to Anna as his "dove" or "beloved" or "esposa" and makes it clear that he dearly loves her.Very little is ever mentioned of the hardships of camplife or war. My guess is that he wished to shield her from that as much as possible. He continually encouraged her to put her faith in God for his protection and reminded her that his life was in God's hands.His letters show him as a gentle, though strong and steadfast, man, with great respect for others trying hard to live the Christian life. If he treated the troops under his command with the same respect that he seemed to show in all the other aspects of his life, it is no wonder they cheered when they saw him.Over all, this is a warm, uplifting read that gave me an even greater respect and admiration for Stonewall. It is a nice change to see the private life of a hero match his public life.

~Beloved Bride: The Letters of Stonewall Jackson to His Wife~ is a compilation of love letters written by the great Confederate general to his beloved wife. Bill Potter and the Vision Forum have put together a remarkable compilation of letters of the great southern General Thomas Jonathan Jackson better known posthomously after the war as 'Stonewall' Jackson. These letters chronicle Jackson's courtship leading to his marriage with his beloved wife Anna Morrison Jackson as well as the turbulent wartorn years that follow. You really get a feel for the anguish of the soldier on the field-who longs to be at home with wife and child-but realizes he has a duty to country to fulfill. Stonewall stands out not only as a man of brilliant military genius, but as a man of dignity, honor and integrity. He was an accomplished West Point graduate and a renowned professor at VMI. Though he remained a humble and pious man with a deep abiding faith in the Gospel of Christ and a firm steadfast belief in the sovereignty of God. The editor Bill Potter does a remarkable job at offering a cursory background on Jackson and his character. He was an exemplary man of character who loved his wife Anna and his child very deeply. Sadly, he was accidently shot by his own men. But Jackson knew that all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to God's purposes (Romans 8:28). (FYI This was one of Jackson's favorite passages of Scripture.) The cover art features a photo shot from the recent blockbuster Gods and Generals of Stephen Lang who played Jackson. I also recommend _Christ in the Camp_, which is a story of religious revival and proclamation of the Gospel during the war between the states by the same publisher.

This book shows how kind and loving Stonewall Jackson was. It is quick reading and easy to understand. It shows you his devotion and shows you the true Stonewall and not the mean and tough person history books portray.

This is a wonderful little book and shows, believe it or not, the "tender" side of General Jackson. While the mere mention of Jackson's immortal sobriquet, "Stonewall," would strike fear in the hearts of Union Army commanders, his wife would one day write of, "...that tender and exquisite phase of his inner life." This book reveals Jackson as a "humble Christian and loving husband father" and bolsters the contention that Jackson is a worthy hero for men and boys today. Buy the book. (Rick Williams, author of "The Maxims of Robert E. Lee for Young Gentlemen.")