Many of us try to model our lives after heroes, and it is helpful if those heroes left guiding words behind. Those who favor the heroic Southern general Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson as a guiding light have been without benefit of his reflections; a shot from one of his own sentries deprived him of the chance to leave memoirs. Of course, there are numerous biographies of the gentlemanly military genius, but the words of others are not the same as his own. In a small way, this vacuum has been filled by a new book, Stonewall Jackson's Book of Maxims, edited by James I. Robertson Jr. (Cumberland House, $16.95, 160 pp).

It seems that many a growing boy in early America had one quest in mind: to make the most of the opportunities this country presented. Not only were newspapers, periodicals and books loaded with maxims and essays dedicated toward self-improvement, but the boys often composed their own.

This was true of George Washington, whose Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation was composed at age 12. Benjamin Franklin made a cottage industry of producing practical wisdom in short, quotable bursts. Novelty wasn't the goal; the thoughts expressed often trace back to biblical proverbs and, no doubt, to the dawn of contemplative thought. The idea was more that in putting those ancient thoughts into one's own words, they became one's own, and that is just what Jackson did.

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Jackson appeared destined to the life of a mountaineer farmer, but he determined to master that fate. Educating himself as he went, he secured and made the best of an appointment to West Point, rising from dead last among plebes in 1842 to 17th in the ranks of 59 cadets in the class of 1846. He was a model of singleness of purpose and dedication, devoted to the cause of becoming an educated gentleman. Those who recalled his early military career remarked on his social aloofness; he was a polite loner. He was organized, methodical and sought precision in all things a born military man, it would seem.

One factor distinguishing him from the stereotypical good soldier was that, in matters of the mind, he sought his own answers rather than accepting the conclusions or opinions of others. Spiritually he was devout without being imposing, though he could lecture on religious topics if called upon to do so. In 1848, writing in a blue academic notebook, he commenced his book of maxims, which he maintained for five years.

As Robertson points out, "That he paid heed to the maxims he recorded and developed is obvious." Of a spate of self-improvement texts, from simplistic to sophisticated, available to him for inspiration and aspiration, the two most influential were the Bible and the immensely popular (and to this day worthy of attention) Lord Chesterfield's Letters to His Son. Upon Jackson's untimely death, the result of "friendly fire," his little collection of maxims disappeared. They were lost for more than 100 years. Robertson, executive director of the Virginia Center for Civil War Studies at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute in Blacksburg came across the notebook in a file at Tulane University while doing biographical research in the late 1980s. Intrigued, he decided the little book should be shared with Jackson aficionados. Each maxim in the published version is fleshed out by notes from Robertson on its influences and how Jackson lived it out.

* "Ascertain in your conversation as well as you can wherein the skill and excellence of the individual lies and put him upon his favorite subject. Every person will of his own accord fall to talking on his favorite subject or topic if you will follow and not attempt to lead him."

* "Disregard public opinion when it interferes with your duty."

* "You may be whatever you resolve to be."

There is a bit of a mystery attached to Jackson's little book. Why did he leave it behind when he went to war? The only two books he carried with him in the field were the Bible and Napoleon's Maxims of War.

Chances are the explanation is simply that a guide to the social graces was not nearly so important on the battlefield as were Napoleon's maxims. The works of the legendary French general apparently served Jackson well; he often is compared favorably to Napoleon by military historians, and some say that in certain strategies he bettered his mentor.

Napoleon's influence is easily seen. "A well-established maxim of war is not to do anything which your enemy wishes and for the single reason that he does so wish," wrote the French general. We find that Jackson, in the manner of schoolboys who wished to become educated gentlemen, put that thought into his own eloquent words. "Always mystify, mislead and surprise the enemy if possible," said Stonewall Jackson.