Civil War Confederate Lieutenant General. Theophilus Hunter Holmes was the son of Gabriel Holmes, congressman and former governor of North Carolina. He graduated from the West Point military academy in 1829 and was commissioned a brevet second lieutenant in the 7th United States Infantry. Holmes served in the Indian territories for over 30 years, taking part in the Florida Indian Wars as well as the Mexican-American War. He obtained the rank of Major in 1855. In 1861, he resigned his commission in the United States Army and accepted a commission as a Colonel in the Confederate States Army. Later that same year he was appointed Brigadier General, in charge of the Department of Fredricksburg. He received subsequent promotions to Major-General and Lieutenant General and during the war led troops at many key locations including Manassas, Richmond, and Helena. He commanded the confederate activities in the state of Arkansas, but resigned that position after numerous set-backs in battles with Union troops, including a failed and widely criticized attack on Union forces at Helena. He returned to his home state of North Carolina in 1864, where he was placed in command of the North Carolina Reserves. After the war, he retired and returned to his farm in Fayetteville where he lived the remainder of his life.
Civil War Confederate Lieutenant General. Theophilus Hunter Holmes was the son of Gabriel Holmes, congressman and former governor of North Carolina. He graduated from the West Point military academy in 1829 and was commissioned a brevet second lieutenant in the 7th United States Infantry. Holmes served in the Indian territories for over 30 years, taking part in the Florida Indian Wars as well as the Mexican-American War. He obtained the rank of Major in 1855. In 1861, he resigned his commission in the United States Army and accepted a commission as a Colonel in the Confederate States Army. Later that same year he was appointed Brigadier General, in charge of the Department of Fredricksburg. He received subsequent promotions to Major-General and Lieutenant General and during the war led troops at many key locations including Manassas, Richmond, and Helena. He commanded the confederate activities in the state of Arkansas, but resigned that position after numerous set-backs in battles with Union troops, including a failed and widely criticized attack on Union forces at Helena. He returned to his home state of North Carolina in 1864, where he was placed in command of the North Carolina Reserves. After the war, he retired and returned to his farm in Fayetteville where he lived the remainder of his life.
Bio by: Anne Cady
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