Civil War Confederate Brigadier General. He was born in Woodville, Wilkinson County, Mississippi, and was the nephew of Confederate President Jefferson Davis. He was educated at Miami University in Ohio, practiced law, and served in the Mississippi senate during the pre-Civil War years. He entered the Confederate army as Captain of a company from Madison County, Mississippi. In April 1861 he was commissioned Lieutenant Colonel of the 10th Mississippi, and on August 31 of that year, President Davis appointed him to his staff in Richmond, Virginia, with the rank of Colonel. He served for one year in the Confederate capital. On September 15, 1862, after his nomination had been rejected on charges of nepotism, President Davis received his commission as Brigadier General. With neither formal military training nor combat experience, he assumed command of a Mississippi brigade. Subsequently assigned to Major General Henry Heth's division, he led his brigade when the division marched to Gettysburg. In the ensuing Confederate attacck he lost nearly 2 entire regiments, captured in a railroad cut; 2 days later his depleted command supported Pickett's Charge. He then contracted a fever and temporarily was relieved of his duties. He returned to the army to participate in the Battles of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, and Appomattox. He stood in the ranks when the army surrendered. He went back to Mississippi and resumed his legal career, spending most of his remaining years in Biloxi, where he died.
Civil War Confederate Brigadier General. He was born in Woodville, Wilkinson County, Mississippi, and was the nephew of Confederate President Jefferson Davis. He was educated at Miami University in Ohio, practiced law, and served in the Mississippi senate during the pre-Civil War years. He entered the Confederate army as Captain of a company from Madison County, Mississippi. In April 1861 he was commissioned Lieutenant Colonel of the 10th Mississippi, and on August 31 of that year, President Davis appointed him to his staff in Richmond, Virginia, with the rank of Colonel. He served for one year in the Confederate capital. On September 15, 1862, after his nomination had been rejected on charges of nepotism, President Davis received his commission as Brigadier General. With neither formal military training nor combat experience, he assumed command of a Mississippi brigade. Subsequently assigned to Major General Henry Heth's division, he led his brigade when the division marched to Gettysburg. In the ensuing Confederate attacck he lost nearly 2 entire regiments, captured in a railroad cut; 2 days later his depleted command supported Pickett's Charge. He then contracted a fever and temporarily was relieved of his duties. He returned to the army to participate in the Battles of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, and Appomattox. He stood in the ranks when the army surrendered. He went back to Mississippi and resumed his legal career, spending most of his remaining years in Biloxi, where he died.
Bio by: Ugaalltheway
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