Civil War Confederate Major General. Born in South Carolina, during his childhood his family moved to Georgia, from where he was appointed a cadet in the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York on July 1, 1842. He graduated in 1846, placing 42nd out of a class of 59 (among his classmates were future Confederate General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson ans future Union General George B. McClellan). He served in the Mexican War as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 2nd United Stats Infantry, participating in the siege of Vera Cruz, the Battles of Cerro Gordo, Contreras, Churubusco, Molino del Rey, and the capture of Mexico City. After promotions from Regimental Adjutant to acting assistant Adjutant General, in 1851 he acted as instructor in infantry tactics at West Point. He received several promotions until his resignation on February 15, 1861, to join the Confederacy. He was then commissioned as Major and assigned to duty as chief-of-staff of General P.G.T. Beauregard. In that capacity he visited Fort Sumter on April 13,1861 and offered the terms of surrender, which were accepted. On June 17, 1861, he was promoted to Brigadier General, commanding the 5th South Carolina, 17th and 18th Mississippi regiments, Army of Northern Virginia. He rose from brigade to division command, and after the September 17, 1862 Battle of Antietam he was promoted to Major General. Shortly after, the battle and war stresses greatly aggravated a long-standing heart condition. With his heart deteriorating, he died at Richmond, January 15, 1863.
Civil War Confederate Major General. Born in South Carolina, during his childhood his family moved to Georgia, from where he was appointed a cadet in the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York on July 1, 1842. He graduated in 1846, placing 42nd out of a class of 59 (among his classmates were future Confederate General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson ans future Union General George B. McClellan). He served in the Mexican War as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 2nd United Stats Infantry, participating in the siege of Vera Cruz, the Battles of Cerro Gordo, Contreras, Churubusco, Molino del Rey, and the capture of Mexico City. After promotions from Regimental Adjutant to acting assistant Adjutant General, in 1851 he acted as instructor in infantry tactics at West Point. He received several promotions until his resignation on February 15, 1861, to join the Confederacy. He was then commissioned as Major and assigned to duty as chief-of-staff of General P.G.T. Beauregard. In that capacity he visited Fort Sumter on April 13,1861 and offered the terms of surrender, which were accepted. On June 17, 1861, he was promoted to Brigadier General, commanding the 5th South Carolina, 17th and 18th Mississippi regiments, Army of Northern Virginia. He rose from brigade to division command, and after the September 17, 1862 Battle of Antietam he was promoted to Major General. Shortly after, the battle and war stresses greatly aggravated a long-standing heart condition. With his heart deteriorating, he died at Richmond, January 15, 1863.
Bio by: BigFrench
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