Brevet Major United States Army, Paymaster United States Army, Brigadier General Confederate States Army. He was born in Loudoun City, Virginia. He was a 1837 graduate of the United States Military Academy, ranking 48th out of 57. He then joined the dragoons serving in frontier service. In the Mexican War, he saved the life of a Colonel of Mississippi volunteers. Ironically, the Colonel turned out to be Jefferson Davis. For his heroics that day, he was brevetted Major. He then served as paymaster in various military departments until the Ciil War began. On April 29, 1861, he resigned his commission, becoming an adjutant general with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Confederate army. Later that year he served as Chief of Staff for Robert E. Lee. He was serving in a similar capacity in the Army of Northern Virginia when during the Antietam Campaign, he wrote and signed Special Order Number 191, which later became known as "Lee's Lost Order." In October 1862 he was appointed Brigadier General, but due to clashes with field commanders, the nomination was rejected by the Confederate Senate. The Senate did however confirm his reappointment in early 1864. April 1864 saw him relieved from the field at his own request, operating out of Richmond thereafter, as inspector general. In May 1864 he held his first and only combat command, during a Union movement by the Army of the James aganist Richmond. He lead a Virginia infantry regiment and attached cavalry. He rendered valuable service by helping rout the enemy column along the Richmond & Petersburg Railroad. Although he won praise for his abilities, he immediately returned to his inspector's post and held it for the duration of the war. After the war, he returned to civil life as president of a manufacturing plant in Columbus, Georgia, where he lived until his death. He is one of 22 Civil War Generals buried in Hollywood Cemetery.
Brevet Major United States Army, Paymaster United States Army, Brigadier General Confederate States Army. He was born in Loudoun City, Virginia. He was a 1837 graduate of the United States Military Academy, ranking 48th out of 57. He then joined the dragoons serving in frontier service. In the Mexican War, he saved the life of a Colonel of Mississippi volunteers. Ironically, the Colonel turned out to be Jefferson Davis. For his heroics that day, he was brevetted Major. He then served as paymaster in various military departments until the Ciil War began. On April 29, 1861, he resigned his commission, becoming an adjutant general with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Confederate army. Later that year he served as Chief of Staff for Robert E. Lee. He was serving in a similar capacity in the Army of Northern Virginia when during the Antietam Campaign, he wrote and signed Special Order Number 191, which later became known as "Lee's Lost Order." In October 1862 he was appointed Brigadier General, but due to clashes with field commanders, the nomination was rejected by the Confederate Senate. The Senate did however confirm his reappointment in early 1864. April 1864 saw him relieved from the field at his own request, operating out of Richmond thereafter, as inspector general. In May 1864 he held his first and only combat command, during a Union movement by the Army of the James aganist Richmond. He lead a Virginia infantry regiment and attached cavalry. He rendered valuable service by helping rout the enemy column along the Richmond & Petersburg Railroad. Although he won praise for his abilities, he immediately returned to his inspector's post and held it for the duration of the war. After the war, he returned to civil life as president of a manufacturing plant in Columbus, Georgia, where he lived until his death. He is one of 22 Civil War Generals buried in Hollywood Cemetery.
Bio by: Ugaalltheway
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