Joseph T. Derry , A. M. , Author of School History of the United States; Story of the Confederate War, etc., Confederate Military History, a library of Confederate States Military History: Volume 6, Georgia
Clement Anselm Evans, Ed.

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[433] the army of Northern Virginia, then on the march into Maryland. He had the hardest part of the work to do at the capture of Harper's Ferry and Maryland heights, being for the time under the command of Stonewall Jackson. After the fall of Harper's Ferry, he marched for Sharpsburg and reached the field just as Jackson and Hood were being forced back before the overwhelming strength of the enemy. Throwing his division immediately to the front, and reinforced soon after by John G. Walker's division, the repulse of the Federals on the Confederate left was made complete. At Fredericksburg, one of his brigades (Barksdale's Mississippians) kept the Federal army from crossing the Rappahannock until Lee was ready for them to come, and it was his division that made the magnificent defense of Marye's hill. At Chancellorsville, he formed the right wing of the Confederate army, and when Sedgwick, having succeeded in running over Marye's heights, was advancing upon Lee's rear, McLaws defeated him at Salem church and forced him to recross the Rappahannock. At Gettysburg his division assailed and drove back Sickles in the second day's fight. He and his troops went with Longstreet to Georgia in September, 1863, and participated in the Knoxville campaign. Against his own judgment he made the assault on Fort Sanders, by Longstreet's order, and desisted from the attack when he found success impossible. Longstreet made complaint against him, but his conduct was justified by the court martial. In 1864, being placed in command of the district of Georgia, he opposed Sherman's march through the State as well as possible with the limited means at his command. He commanded a division under Hardee at the battle of Averasboro, March 16, 1865, and was afterward sent back to resume command of the district of Georgia. The surrender of General Johnston included his command. General McLaws then went to Augusta and entered the insurance business. In 1875 he was appointed