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Biographical.
Brigadier-General Arthur Pendleton Bagby was born in
Alabama, and appointed from that State to the United States military academy at
West Point.
He was graduated in 1852, and promoted in the army to brevet second lieutenant of infantry, after which he served in garrison at Fort Columbus, New York, 1852-53, and on frontier duty at
Fort Chadbourne, Texas, 1853.
He resigned in September of that year, and began the study of law. Being admitted to the bar, he practiced at
Mobile, Ala., from 1854 to 1858; then moved to
Gonzales, Tex., and was living there in 1861, when the war between the States began.
He was, during 1861, major in the Seventh Texas, becoming colonel of the regiment in 1862.
This regiment was in
General Sibley's command in
New Mexico in 1862, sharing the hardships and victories of that campaign of varied experiences.
On January 1, 1863, having been promoted in the latter part of 1862, he took part in the memorable victory at
Galveston, which was of substantial benefit to the
Confederate cause.
The land and naval forces were under the command of
General Magruder, who thus referred to
Colonel Bagby's part in the affair: ‘
Col. A. P. Bagby, of
Sibley's brigade, commanded the volunteers from his regiment for the naval expedition, in which every officer and man won imperishable renown.’
Gen. Richard Taylor, during his operations in
West Louisiana in 1863, frequently spoke of
Bagby in complimentary terms.
Referring to the battle near
Berwick bay, he said: ‘
Colonel Bagby was wounded seriously, but not dangerously, in the arm, but remained on the field with his regiment until the enemy had been driven back and ceased his attacks.’
So frequently is
