U.S. Senator, Civil War Confederate Brigadier General. After graduating from the law department of the College of New Jersey, in 1837, he was admitted to the bar and commenced to practice law in Camden, South Carolina. He was a member of the South Carolina State House of Representatives, (1842-54) and served in the South Carolina State Senate, (1854-58). In 1858, he was elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Josiah J. Evans, serving until 1860, when he resigned in support of the Southern States Secession from the Union. He then was a delegate to the Confederate Provisional Congress, in 1861 and served as a member of the South Carolina's Executive Council and the Chief of the Department of the Military of South Carolina, in 1862. During the Civil war, he served as a Colonel in the Confederate Army, took part in several battles and was an aide to Confederate President Jefferson Davis. In 1864, he was promoted Brigadier General and was in command of the South Carolina reserve forces until the end of the war. After the war, he mainly practiced law until his death at age 70.
U.S. Senator, Civil War Confederate Brigadier General. After graduating from the law department of the College of New Jersey, in 1837, he was admitted to the bar and commenced to practice law in Camden, South Carolina. He was a member of the South Carolina State House of Representatives, (1842-54) and served in the South Carolina State Senate, (1854-58). In 1858, he was elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Josiah J. Evans, serving until 1860, when he resigned in support of the Southern States Secession from the Union. He then was a delegate to the Confederate Provisional Congress, in 1861 and served as a member of the South Carolina's Executive Council and the Chief of the Department of the Military of South Carolina, in 1862. During the Civil war, he served as a Colonel in the Confederate Army, took part in several battles and was an aide to Confederate President Jefferson Davis. In 1864, he was promoted Brigadier General and was in command of the South Carolina reserve forces until the end of the war. After the war, he mainly practiced law until his death at age 70.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
Family Members
Advertisement
See more Chesnut memorials in:
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
