Civil War Confederate Brigadier General. He was born in Columbus County, North Carolina. When the Civil War started in the spring of 1861, he was a senior at Wake Forest College, on May 20, he left school and enlisted in a company that became a part of the 20th North Carolina. He returned to Wake Forest to graduate in June before being elected his company's First Lieutenant, then its Captain in July. From 1862 to March 1865, he fought in all major engagements of the Army of Northern Virginia, suffering 7 wounds. He performed conspicuously at Seven Pines, in the Seven Days' Campaign, at South Mountain, and at Fredericksburg, being elected Colonel of the 20th on February 26, 1863, when the senior officers in the regiment waived their rights to the command. He led the regiment at Chancellorsville, at Gettysburg, and at Mine Run in 1863. During the bloody engagements of 1864, the young North Carolinian continued to display solid leadership. When his brigade commander, Brigadier General Robert D. Johnston, fell wounded at Spotsylvania in May, he succeeded to command of the unit. Promoted to Brigadier General, he led the brigade during Lieutenant General Jubal A. Early's July raid on Washington D.C. In August Johnston returned, and he reverted to his former rank of Colonel and command of the 20th North Carolina. He directed his veteran regiments in the battles of the 1864 Shenandoah Valley Campaign and subsequently at Petersburg. On March 25, 1865, he was severely wounded during the Confederate assault on Fort Stedman, incapacitating him for the remainder of the war. After the war, he resided in his native state. In 1901 he was elected superintendent of public instruction for North Carolina. He later would die in Raleigh.
Civil War Confederate Brigadier General. He was born in Columbus County, North Carolina. When the Civil War started in the spring of 1861, he was a senior at Wake Forest College, on May 20, he left school and enlisted in a company that became a part of the 20th North Carolina. He returned to Wake Forest to graduate in June before being elected his company's First Lieutenant, then its Captain in July. From 1862 to March 1865, he fought in all major engagements of the Army of Northern Virginia, suffering 7 wounds. He performed conspicuously at Seven Pines, in the Seven Days' Campaign, at South Mountain, and at Fredericksburg, being elected Colonel of the 20th on February 26, 1863, when the senior officers in the regiment waived their rights to the command. He led the regiment at Chancellorsville, at Gettysburg, and at Mine Run in 1863. During the bloody engagements of 1864, the young North Carolinian continued to display solid leadership. When his brigade commander, Brigadier General Robert D. Johnston, fell wounded at Spotsylvania in May, he succeeded to command of the unit. Promoted to Brigadier General, he led the brigade during Lieutenant General Jubal A. Early's July raid on Washington D.C. In August Johnston returned, and he reverted to his former rank of Colonel and command of the 20th North Carolina. He directed his veteran regiments in the battles of the 1864 Shenandoah Valley Campaign and subsequently at Petersburg. On March 25, 1865, he was severely wounded during the Confederate assault on Fort Stedman, incapacitating him for the remainder of the war. After the war, he resided in his native state. In 1901 he was elected superintendent of public instruction for North Carolina. He later would die in Raleigh.
Bio by: Ugaalltheway
Family Members
Advertisement
