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Chapter 7: Confederate armies and generals
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Confederates of 1861.
At the birth of the Southern Army, when ‘Guards,’ ‘Grays,’ and ‘Rifles’ abounded—these are the ‘Pelican Rifles’ of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, later merged into the Seventh Louisiana Volunteers which suffered the heaviest loss of any Confederate regiment engaged in the fight at Port Republic, June 9, 1862. |
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The permanent Constitution of the
Confederate States of America provided that the
President should be commander-in-chief of the army and navy, and of the militia of the several States when called into actual service.
Accordingly, in any consideration of the Confederate army, the part played by
President Davis must be borne in mind; also the fact that he previously had seen service in the United States army and that he had been
Secretary of War of the
United States.
As
Secretaries of War in the
Confederate States Government there were associated with
President Davis, the following:
LeRoy Pope Walker, of
Alabama, February 21, 1861, to September 17, 1861;
Judah P. Benjamin, of
Louisiana, September 17, 1861, to March 17, 1862;
George W. Randolph, of
Virginia, March 17, 1862, to November 17, 1862:
Major-General Gustavus W. Smith, of
Kentucky, November 17, 1862, to November 21, 1862;
James A. Seddon, of
Virginia, from November 21, 1862, to February 6, 1865; and
Major-General John C. Breckinridge, of
Kentucky, February 6, 1865, to the close of the war.
Unlike the
Union army there were generals, both regular and of the provisional army, as well as lieutenant-generals; it being the intention that every commander of an army should rank as general, and every commander of a corps should rank as lieutenant-general.
Such was the case with the generals mentioned in the biographical matter following in connection with the various armies and other organizations.
An exception to this statement was
General Samuel Cooper, who served at
Richmond as adjutant and inspector-general.
was born in
Hackensack, New Jersey, June 12, 1798, and served in the army, receiving the brevet of colonel for his services in the
Mexican War. He resigned in March, 1861, to enter the service of the
Confederacy.
He was appointed general on May 16th, but, owing to his age, took no active part in the field.
He was adjutant and inspector-general of the
Confederate States army throughout the entire war, performing his duties with great thoroughness and ability.
He died at
Cameron, Virginia, December 3, 1876.
Army of the Shenandoah
of the
Virginia State forces, had collected about two thousand Virginia volunteers at
Harper's Ferry as early as April 21, 1861.
He was relieved on the 28th by
Colonel Thomas J. Jackson, and the mustering in of volunteers went rapidly on. On May 24th,
Brigadier-General Joseph E. Johnston assumed command of the troops, and on June 30th, there were 10,654 present for duty, in four brigades and cavalry.
This was the force that opposed
Major-General Patterson in the
Valley, and it was known as the Army of the Shenandoah.
It took part in the engagement at
Falling Waters, July 2d, and the skirmishes near
Bunker Hill and
Charlestown.
Strengthened with eight Southern regiments, this army started for
Manassas, on July 18th, and took part in the
first battle of Bull Run.
After this, it formed a part of the Confederate Army of the
Potomac.
was born in
Cherry Grove, near
Farmville, Virginia, February 3, 1807.
He served in the
Black Hawk,
Seminole, and
Mexican wars, in the last of which he was twice severely wounded.
He resigned his rank of brigadier-general to enter the
Confederate service on April 20, 1861, and was given the rank of general in August.
He was in command at
Harper's Ferry after May 24th, and headed the Army of the Shenandoah.
He brought his troops to
Manassas and superseded
Beauregard in the command, at
Bull Run, joining his force to the Army of the Potomac.
In command of the Army of Northern Virginia, he was severely wounded at
Fair Oaks.
In November, 1862, he was assigned to the head of the Department of Tennessee, but outside of an attempt to relieve
Pemberton at
Vicksburg in May, 1863, he saw no active service until he assumed command of the Army of Tennessee in December, 1863.
He opposed
Sherman during the
Atlanta campaign of 1864, being superseded by
General Hood on July 18th.
His strategy was much criticised at the time, but it is now recognized that he displayed great ability during the campaign.
In February, 1865, he was again given command of the Army of Tennessee,
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and attempted to prevent
Sherman's advance through the Carolinas.
Johnston's capitulation was agreed upon near Durham's Station, North Carolina, April 26, 1865.
He was
United States commissioner of railroads from 1885 to 1889.
He died in
Washington, March 21, 1891.
Army of the Peninsula
The Department of the
Peninsula was established on May 26, 1861, and
Colonel John B. Magruder was put in command.
The troops therein were organized into divisions in November, and denominated the Army of the Peninsula.
In December, the aggregate present was about sixteen thousand.
On April 12, 1862, it was merged in the Army of Northern Virginia—constituting, under
Major-General Magruder, the right wing of that army.
（U. S.M. A. 1830) was born at
Winchester, Virginia, August 15, 1810, and served in the
Seminole and
Mexican wars.
He was stationed in
Washington in 1861, and resigned in April to enter the
Confederate service as colonel.
He had charge of the artillery in and around
Richmond, and after May 21st, a division in the Department of the
Peninsula, the troops of which were later designated the Army of the Peninsula.
On June 10th, his division repelled the attack of
