[carton253]

If we all live long enough, you'll be able to say you knew the Pope's mom when she was just a redneck tax-chick!

LOL funny! Good for your son! One should always aim high.

How long have you been studying the good General.

[Tax-chick]

I got into the Civil War in the mid-80's, and probably started learning about Jackson in particular in the early 90's ... I know I had the name picked out by 1995.

James Robertson's book is extremely well researched. I was disappointed that some of the stories I really liked from other books were probably exaggerations, if not outright fiction! It's a useful reminder that contemporary sources aren't much more likely to be accurate than any others. People who knew a historic figure, or were present at an event, can still make things up for effect, or lie because of a personal agenda, or simply be mistaken.