History Alive is a program of first-person portrayals of historical figures by presenters who have conducted scholarly research on their character. Born in Clarksburg, Jackson was an orphan who became one of the most revered names in military history. He is regarded by experts as a tactical genius and a relentless battlefield commander. The men of the “Stonewall Brigade” were fiercely loyal to their leader. Jackson's death by friendly fire was a crushing blow to Confederate hopes for ultimate victory.