Or were they traitors? Each had taken an oath to the U.S. when they joined the U.S. Army. Thomas Jackson (he didn’t get his nickname “Stonewall” until the First Battle of Bull Run) voted for the Southern Democratic candidate John Breckinridge in 1860. Although Breckinridge supported secession, Jackson said he did not. His sister was the staunch unionist in the family and did not shed any tears over his death. As soon as Virginia seceded, he left his position as professor at VMI to go to Richmond to offer his services. Jackson was commissioned a colonel. Jackson inherited several slaves and treated them well. He taught black children Sunday School, but never expressed doubts about the institution.
Robert E. Lee also voted for Breckinridge, but he believed secession was illegal. When the lower South states seceded he turned down the offer by Winfield Scott to command the U.S. Army. Instead, he resigned his commission as colonel in the 1st Cavalry Regiment and planned on sitting the war out. When Virginia seceded, Lee felt it was his duty to serve his state. Lee was apolitical and did not take a stand on slavery. He owned a few slaves on his plantation. He considered blacks to be inferior, but thought some day they would be free in God’s good time.
J.E.B. Stuart was a captain in the 1st U.S. Cavalry when the war broke out. He resigned his commission when Virginia seceded. He was commissioned a Lt. Col. in the infantry in the Confederate Army. He owned two slaves. He supposedly freed them, but there is little evidence that he opposed slavery.
In the sketch, Jackson is riding “Little Sorrel” and Lee is on “Traveller”. Stuart rode numerous horses during the war, but his favorite was called “Highfly”.
Jackson, Lee, and Stuart – Library of Congress
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