Researcher: Shaina Christensen

 

          William H. Jackson fought in four important battles. He took part in Antietam, Fredericksburg, Suffolk and Plymouth. He fought with generals George B. McClellan, Robert E. Lee, Ambrose E. Burnside, John Peck, Lt. James Longstreet, Col. Henry W. Wessells and Maj. Gen. R.F. Hoke. William H. Jackson is from Connecticut and he was from the 16th Regiment. William H. Jackson was a true hero for fighting in these battles and risking his own life for others.

​

          Antietam is also known as Sharpsburg in Washington Country. William H. Jackson fought with Major General George B. McClellan and General Robert E. Lee in this battle. This battle took place September 16-18 in 1862. In this battle, armies fought and fought and by the end, there was 23,100 total people dead. On September 17, Hooker’s corps mounted a powerful assault on Lee’s left flank. This resulted in the single bloodiest day in American military history. Fights were swept across Miller’s cornfield. Although they were outnumbered two to one, Lee and Jackson were not going to give up. At the end, Lee ordered Jackson and the rest of the army to withdraw across the Potomac into Shenandoah Valley.

​

          In December of 1862 on the 11th thru the 15th, Andrew Jackson fought in Fredericksburg, otherwise known as Marye’s Heights. This took place in Spotsylvania County and Fredericksburg. The principal commanders Jackson was with were Major General Ambrose R. Burnside and General Robert E. Lee. On December 13th, Burnside mounted a series of futile frontal assaults on Prospect Hill and Marye’s Heights that ended up resulting in many deaths. There were 172,504 forces engaged in this battle and 100,007 of them were from the United States. 13,353 people from the United States ended up losing their lives in this battle. Meade’s division, on the Union left flank, penetrated Jackson’s line for a small amount of time but was driven back after counterattack. The result of this battle was a confederate victory.

​

          The third important battle William H. Jackson was a part of was at Suffolk, also known as Fort Huger, Hill’s Point. From April 11th to May 4th in 1863 is when this battle was being fought. General John Peck of the United States and Lt. General James Longstreet were the principal commanders. Divisions were the forces engaged in this battle and there were 45,000 of them total.  Only 152 died. The force that were fighting were very ambitious. Towards the end of it, however, on April 19, 1863, General Robert E. Lee directed Longstreet to disengage from Suffolk and rejoin the Army of Northern Virginia at Fredericksburg. By May 4, 1863 the last of Longstreet’s command crossed the Blackwater River on their way to Richmond. 

​

          Plymouth was the fourth important battle William H. Jackson fought in. It was on April 17th thru the 20th in 1864 when he fought. The principal commanders were Colonel Henry W. Wessells and Major General R.F. Hoke. There were four infantry and artillery units for Plymouth Garrison. Although 2,834 people were killed, this battle was a confederate victory.  Confederate forces captured Fort Comfort, which resulted in driving defenders into Fort Williams. On the twentieth of April, garrison surrendered.
William H. Jackson from Connecticut was a brave, strong soldier. The battles he took part in were not an everyday thing unless made that way. Because of him being a strong soldier, half of these battles were confederated victories.