The Cliffs of Loudoun Heights by John Paul Strain ~ Wearing His old Blue VMI uniform, Colonel Thomas J. Jackson reconnoitered the mountainous heights surrounding the town of Harpers Ferry in an effort to discover whether it was practicable to defend the location. In a letter to General Lee dated May 7, 1861 stressing the strategic importance of Harpers Ferry, Jackson used the information gathered in his reconnaissance to request a number of field pieces of artillery and as many troops as could be spared for the defense of the area.
Jackson's reconnaissance also helped him come to the conclusion that it was logistically impossible to defend the town as artillery could be placed on the heights above the city and easily rain down deadly fire on the helpless occupants. Being an artillery veteran of the Mexican War and professor at VMI teaching artillery tactics, Jackson now knew where to place his artillery if the time came that he would have to recapture the town.