In The Footsteps of Stonewall Jackson by Clint Johnson

I mentioned Clint Johnson here not too long ago....  He wrote a great book about Civil War locations in Virginia and West Virginia.  After checking around, I found that he also wrote an "In the Footsteps of" book on Stonewall Jackson.

AND, just like in his previously mentioned book, "In the Footsteps of Stonewall Jackson" is just a fun read.  Even if you have no plans of visiting any of the places mentioned, you will enjoy hearing about them.

Clint Johnson is great about noting odd facts in his book.  I enjoyed reading about how Jackson missed (by a few days) staying at the same hotel as an A. Lincoln from Springfield Illinois!

Jackson is such a fascinating character all around.  He is a tough character to understand.  Johnson even points out that, after writing a book on the legendary Confederate General,  he still can't figure the man out.  "Will anyone ever figure out Stonewall Jackson?" the author asks.  He answers himself with a no.

Anyway, it is fun reading about the places he visited, lived, and fought.

Some of the sites are now museums and B&Bs.  Some are private homes.  Of course, this book came out in the early 00s, so it is good to google about the places, as their status may have changed since then.

The author ends the book with a story told by Jackson's wife.  The story involves Stonewall's admiration for James Wolfe, a commander who died in a somewhat similar way to Jackson.  Jackson's thoughts, as reported by his wife, offer some insight into how the man worked.

Anyway, this is another great volume from Clint Johnson that is very informative while also being a fun book to read.