Battles & Leaders of the Civil War: Stonewall Jackson's Raid Against Pope

William Booth Taliaferro (December 28, 1822 – February 27, 1898), was a United States Army officer, a lawyer, legislator, and Confederate general in the Civil War. Taliaferro's Brigade came under Stonewall Jackson's command at the end of 1861, and  he remained with Jackson for some years, rising to division command in 1862. Taliaferro was seriously injured at the Battle of Second Bull Run (Second Manassas), but returned to the field in the time for the Battle of Fredericksburg, his last battle under Jackson.

Taliaferro was a strict and aloof commander who alienated many of his troops. There is at least one known circumstance when one of his troops actually assaulted him, though Taliaferro was unscathed. Taliaferro chafed under the command of General Jackson, complaining to his political colleagues in Virginia about Jackson's tactics and treatment of the men. Jackson later protested Taliaferro's promotion to brigadier general, while Taliaferro was still under Jackson's command; however, Jackson respected Taliaferro's leadership and military ability and did not continue to stand in his way. Jackson later would select Taliaferro for temporary divisional command in specific engagements.

 After the war, Taliaferro wrote an account of the Battle of Second Manassas or Second Bull Run which became part of the well known Battles & Leaders of the Civil War Series, discussing the preparations for and fighting during the battle, a decisive Confederate victory. As part of Jackson’s force, Taliaferro was part of the important strategic marching and defense set up by Jackson that allowed him to withstand the Union army’s assault while Longstreet’s corps shattered Pope’s left flank, sending the federals scurrying back to Washington D.C. 

This edition is specially formatted with images of Generals Lee, Longstreet, and Stonewall Jackson.