College President, Civil War Confederate Militia General. He had distinguished careers in both the academic world and the military. The son of a Methodist bishop, he attended Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia, before graduating from the College of Charleston in 1840 and embarking on a long career as an educator. After teaching math at his alma mater he was one of the founding professors at The South Carolina Military Academy, now known as The Citadel, in 1843. Capers taught there until 1847 then was professor at Transylvania University in Kentucky until 1853 when he returned to South Carolina as Superintendent of The Citadel. In 1859 he was founding Superintendent of the Georgia Military Academy then with the outbreak of war served as instructor of tactics at several Georgia training camps. Appointed brigadier general of Georgia troops on November 11, 1861, he commanded a brigade guarding the coast though his most significant war contribution was as an engineer in charge of building defensive works. Capers built the defenses at Reseca, supervised construction of the Atlanta fortifications during Joe Johnston's 1864 campaign, and fought at the Battle of Reseca, at Ball's Ferry, and throughout Sherman's march to the sea. After the war General Capers ran a private school in Augusta, Georgia, until appointed professor of mathematics and civil engineering at the College of Charleston in 1869. He remained there until retirement in 1889, serving as president of the college from 1880 to 1882. Capers Hall at The Citadel is named jointly for him and for his younger brother Confederate Brigadier General and later Right Reverend Ellison Capers.
College President, Civil War Confederate Militia General. He had distinguished careers in both the academic world and the military. The son of a Methodist bishop, he attended Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia, before graduating from the College of Charleston in 1840 and embarking on a long career as an educator. After teaching math at his alma mater he was one of the founding professors at The South Carolina Military Academy, now known as The Citadel, in 1843. Capers taught there until 1847 then was professor at Transylvania University in Kentucky until 1853 when he returned to South Carolina as Superintendent of The Citadel. In 1859 he was founding Superintendent of the Georgia Military Academy then with the outbreak of war served as instructor of tactics at several Georgia training camps. Appointed brigadier general of Georgia troops on November 11, 1861, he commanded a brigade guarding the coast though his most significant war contribution was as an engineer in charge of building defensive works. Capers built the defenses at Reseca, supervised construction of the Atlanta fortifications during Joe Johnston's 1864 campaign, and fought at the Battle of Reseca, at Ball's Ferry, and throughout Sherman's march to the sea. After the war General Capers ran a private school in Augusta, Georgia, until appointed professor of mathematics and civil engineering at the College of Charleston in 1869. He remained there until retirement in 1889, serving as president of the college from 1880 to 1882. Capers Hall at The Citadel is named jointly for him and for his younger brother Confederate Brigadier General and later Right Reverend Ellison Capers.
Bio by: Bob Hufford
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