Before He Was Stonewall
At noon on July 21st, 1861, Thomas Jackson stood at the crest of Henry House Hill, above the chaos and carnage of the Bull Run battlefield, about to step into fame and acquire the most recognized nickname of the Civil War, “Stonewall.” How did he get there? What, in his 37 years of his life, had prepared him for this moment, and for what was to follow? What positive, and negative, military characteristics were now part of his combat persona? In the three prior months of conflict, what command experiences and achievements had shaped him for his Civil War future? Come to our November meeting, and learn the answers to these questions, and more, as Dave Goracke tells us the highlights of Jackson’s childhood, his life at West Point and Virginia Military Institute; summarizes the lessons Jackson had learned; and, finally, details the road Jackson took, from the day Virginia seceded, to that fateful day near Manassas.

Mr. Dave Goracke
Dave Goracke is a retired aerospace engineer/manager, who grew up in Falls Church, Virginia. Among other places, he worked at a company based on the western edge of the Manassas battlefields. These nearby battlefields, monuments, and history, stoked his interest in the War. Currently, Dave is the Program Coordinator for the Civil Warriors CWRT in West Hills, California. Dave has made numerous presentations to Los Angeles area Civil War Round Tables, as well as other historical societies in the greater LA area.