Military officer; born in
Williams county, Tenn., June 8, 1806; graduated at the University of Nashville; studied law, and rose to the front rank in his profession.
At the head of a brigade of Tennessee volunteers he joined
General Scott at
Vera Cruz in 1847, and performed gallant service throughout the war against
Mexico.
Scott made serious charges against him, but a court of inquiry acquitted him and left his fame untarnished.
In 1861 he was commissioned a major-general of
Tennessee militia, and also a brigadier-general in the Confederate army; but his military career was cut short early in 1862 by his conduct at
Fort Donelson.
He died in
Lee county, Ark., Oct. 6, 1878.
See
Donelson, Fort.