---
title: 'Stonewall Jackson on How All Men Might Be Equally Brave'
type: post
author: 'R. Andrew Myers'
date: 2023-01-22
url: https://confessional.org/blog/2023-stonewall-jackson-on-how-all-men-might-be-equally-brave
---

# Stonewall Jackson on How All Men Might Be Equally Brave

[**Stonewall Jackson**](/authors/thomas-jonathan-stonewall-jackson) was born **199 years ago today** on **January 21, 1824**. There are many stories told about this legendary military officer and Presbyterian deacon. One such story was reported by Brigadier-General John D. Imboden (CSA) and appears in *Battles and Leaders of the Civil War*, Vol. 1 (1887), p. 238 \[not currently available at LCP\]:

“I remarked, in Mrs. Jackson’s hearing, ‘General, how is it that you can keep so cool, and appear so utterly insensible to danger in such a storm of shell and bullets as rained about you when your hand was hit \[at the First Battle of Bull Run/Manassas\]?’ He instantly became grave and reverential in his manner, and answered, in a low tone of great earnestness: ‘Captain, my religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God has fixed the time for my death. I do not concern myself about *that*, but to be always ready, no matter when it may overtake me.’ He added, after a pause, looking me full in the face: ‘Captain, that is the way all men should live, and then all would be equally brave.’”