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[395] of the commissioners to negotiate a peace with Mexico. General Churchill's earliest American ancestor was William Churchill of Middlesex county, Va., who married Elizabeth, sister of Judith Armistead, ancestress of Robert E. Lee. His son, Armistead Churchill, married Lucy Harrison, aunt of Gen. William Henry Harrison. Their son, Armistead Churchill, was the grandfather of General Churchill. His son Samuel married Abby, daughter of Colonel Oldham of Kentucky, and their children were Armistead, Samuel B., William H., Thomas J. (the general), Charles T., Mary Abigail, and Julia. The last named is widow of Dr. Luke P. Blackburn, former governor of Kentucky. General Churchill was a planter at the beginning of hostilities, and, offering his services in the opening conflict, was elected colonel of the First Arkansas mounted rifles. His career from this beginning has been sketched already in these pages. He won for himself, by his dauntless courage and unflinching devotion, the laurels of an honorable name. His martial renown early reflected credit upon his State and its citizens who served under him and rightly share his honors. His gallant services at Wilson's Creek and Pea Ridge have been noted. On March 4, 1862, he was commissioned brigadier-general. Ordered with his brigade to Kirby Smith, on that officer's advance into Kentucky in August, he and Cleburne were in the van, and at the brilliant victory of Richmond they were the first to strike the foe and overwhelm him by the impetuosity of their onset. Toward the close of 1862 Churchill was sent back across the Mississippi to take a new command in Arkansas. Being placed in charge of Arkansas Post, he was attacked in January, 1863, by an overwhelming force of Federals under General McClernand, assisted by Admiral Porter's fleet. After a desperate fight of five hours McClernand took possession of the fort, the guns and the captives. Horace Greeley, the Northern historian, in his ‘American Conflict’ says: ‘Churchill's men had fought ’
Atlanta, Ga. 1899.
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