Thomas R. Ranson
Encyclopedia
Thomas D. Ranson of Staunton
in Augusta County, Virginia
, was a member of the Confederate Army and served in the Stonewall Brigade
under General Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson
during the American Civil War
.
Captain Ranson survived the War and is best remembered for an act of devotion and respect paid to his fallen leader, who died near Chancellorsville, Virginia
on May 10, 1863.
Ranson knew of the short and tragic life of Jackson's mother, who had been buried in an unmarked grave in Fayette County
along the James River and Kanawha Turnpike
when Thomas was orphaned at the age of only 7 in 1831.
After the war, Ranson went there and had a marble marker placed over the unmarked grave of Julia Neale Jackson
(1798–1831) in Westlake Cemetery, to make sure that the site was not lost forever. Today, local folks in Ansted
, in an area which became the new State of West Virginia
, tend the gravesite of the young mother and speak of her little orphaned boy who grew up to be the legendary Stonewall Jackson. They also speak of Ranson's gesture, which is considered symbolic of the great affection his troops felt for Stonewall Jackson, who was a deeply religious and somewhat aloof man who put himself in harm's way on numerous occasions to protect his troops.
Staunton, Virginia
Staunton is an independent city within the confines of Augusta County in the commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 23,746 as of 2010. It is the county seat of Augusta County....
in Augusta County, Virginia
Augusta County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 65,615 people, 24,818 households, and 18,911 families residing in the county. The population density was 68 people per square mile . There were 26,738 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile...
, was a member of the Confederate Army and served in the Stonewall Brigade
Stonewall Brigade
The Stonewall Brigade of the Confederate Army during the American Civil War, was a famous combat unit in United States military history. It was trained and first led by General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson, a professor from Virginia Military Institute...
under General Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson
Stonewall Jackson
ຄຽשת״ׇׂׂׂׂ֣|birth_place= Clarksburg, Virginia |death_place=Guinea Station, Virginia|placeofburial=Stonewall Jackson Memorial CemeteryLexington, Virginia|placeofburial_label= Place of burial|image=...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Captain Ranson survived the War and is best remembered for an act of devotion and respect paid to his fallen leader, who died near Chancellorsville, Virginia
Chancellorsville, Virginia
Chancellorsville is a historic site and unincorporated community in Virginia, about ten miles west of Fredericksburg. It is located in Spotsylvania County. The name of the locale derives from the mid-19th century inn operated by the family of George Chancellor at the intersection of the Orange...
on May 10, 1863.
Ranson knew of the short and tragic life of Jackson's mother, who had been buried in an unmarked grave in Fayette County
Fayette County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 47,579 people, 18,945 households, and 13,128 families residing in the county. The population density was 72 people per square mile . There were 21,616 housing units at an average density of 33 per square mile...
along the James River and Kanawha Turnpike
James River and Kanawha Turnpike
The James River and Kanawha Turnpike was built to facilitate portage of shipments of passengers and freight by water between the western reaches of the James River via the James River and Kanawha Canal and the eastern reaches of the Kanawha River....
when Thomas was orphaned at the age of only 7 in 1831.
After the war, Ranson went there and had a marble marker placed over the unmarked grave of Julia Neale Jackson
Julia Neale Jackson
Julia Beckwith Jackson was the mother of Confederate General Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson.- Short and tragic life :...
(1798–1831) in Westlake Cemetery, to make sure that the site was not lost forever. Today, local folks in Ansted
Ansted, West Virginia
Ansted is a town in Fayette County in the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is situated on high bluffs along U.S. Highway 60 on a portion of the Midland Trail a National Scenic Byway near Hawk's Nest overlooking the New River far below....
, in an area which became the new State of West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, tend the gravesite of the young mother and speak of her little orphaned boy who grew up to be the legendary Stonewall Jackson. They also speak of Ranson's gesture, which is considered symbolic of the great affection his troops felt for Stonewall Jackson, who was a deeply religious and somewhat aloof man who put himself in harm's way on numerous occasions to protect his troops.