John Cheves Haskell (1841-1909) - Find a Grave Memorial

Civil War Confederate Army Officer. Attended South Carolina College (now the University of South Carolina). During the Civil War served as a staff officer to Generals Joseph E. Johnston and G. W. Smith, lost an arm at the battle of Gaines Mill, Va. June 27, 1862. Upon his recovery he entered the artillery branch where he eventually commanded a battalion of artillery in General James Longstreet's 1st Corps, Army of Northern Virginia with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. At Appomattox he was sent on a furious ride by Longstreet to catch General Lee before he could meet General Ulysses Grant to surrender. General Fitzhugh Lee had reported to Longstreet that he had found a way out, John Haskell delivered the message to Lee before he met Grant but Lee discounted the report and proceeded on to the surrender. At the formal surrender ceremony on April 12th, he led the Confederate artillery to the surrender site. Following the war he practiced law and served in the South Carolina Legislature from 1877 to 1890. He married a daughter of Confederate General Wade Hampton after the war. Colonel Haskell left a memoir of his military service for his family which was published in 1960 under the title "The Haskell Memoirs".

Bio by: Steve Dunn