Civil War Major General, a third generation South Carolinian. Kershaw County in South Carolina was named for his family. His maternal grandfather served on Francis Marion's staff. His father was mayor of Camden, a judge, legislator, and a member of Congress. He joined the Palmetto Regiment in the Mexican War and was elected First Lieutenant in the DeKalb Rifle Guards. He contracted a fever and returned home to Camden a very sick man. He resigned his commission and his wife, Lucretia Douglas Kershaw, nursed him back to health. He was elected to the State Legislature in 1852 and 1854. He became active in the Militia in 1859 and participated in the Charleston Convention which led to South Carolina seceding from the Union. He was in Charleston on Morris Island during the siege of Fort Sumter. He organized the 2nd South Carolina Regiment and was named its colonel in 1861. His regiment was sent to Virginia and assigned to General Milledge L. Bonham. They fought on Henry House Hill at First Manassas and played a major role in breaking the Union lines and chasing the Yankees back to Washington. After General Bonham resigned, he was appointed Brigadier General. His unit fought at Williamsburg, Savage Station, Malvern Hill, and Antietam. He was at Fredericksburg and took over command after the death of General Thomas Cobb. His regiment was at Chancellorsville and Gettysburg where he was at the Rose Farm and Peach Orchard under General Lafayette McLaws. After General McLaws was transferred, he took command of the division. He was at the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Shenandoah Valley at Hupp's Hill and Cedar Creek, and Petersburg. He was one of six generals captured at Saylor's Creek three days before General Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox. He was taken to General Custer and shared blankets with Custer before being sent to a prison camp at Fort Warren in Boston Harbor. He never forgot Custer's kindness to him. He was released in August 1865. He returned to Camden where he resumed his legal career, was a judge, elected to the State Senate in 1865, and chosen President of the Senate. After his health began to fail, he was appointed Postmaster of Camden, South Carolina, a position he held until his death.