Whatever You Resolve to be

Book excerpt: When A. Wilson Greene released his respected Whatever You Resolve to Be: Essays on Stonewall Jackson in 1992, he little realized the interest in the popular Southern general that would explode in its wake. In recent years, Jackson has been the subject of biographies, military studies, and a major motion picture, Gods and Generals. Interpretations and perceptions of Jackson have changed as a result.In response to this interest, Greene’s outstanding look at Stonewall Jackson is once again available. Whatever You Resolve to Be contains five essays exploring both the personal and the military sides of the legendary military leader. A new introductory essay by Greene is also included.In that introduction, Greene surveys the research on Jackson that followed the initial release of his book. He includes his frank observations about how this recent scholarship has both vindicated and sometimes called into question his original assertions about the general. He also discusses the depiction of Jackson in Gods and Generals. The essays cover three primary topics: Jackson’s life, his gifts and flaws as a military commander, and his performance in three battles—the Seven Days, Second Manassas, and Fredericksburg. Greene’s portrayal is a balanced, extensively researched study of this most praised of Civil War heroes.Whatever You Resolve to Be remains as relevant today as when it was first published. Greene stays primarily true to his original observations on the general, despite new revisionist interpretations. For scholars and non-scholars alike, this book should be the starting point for any understanding of Stonewall Jackson.