History of Alabama and dictionary of Alabama biography, Volume I, Part 64

Author: Owen, Thomas McAdory, 1866-1920; Owen, Marie (Bankhead) Mrs. 1869-
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Chicago, The S. J. Clarke publishing company
Number of Pages: 756

USA > Alabama > History of Alabama and dictionary of Alabama biography, Volume I > Part 64

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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firmed January 25, 1864; promoted May 14, 1864, Major-General, P. A. C. S., under act of Confederate Congress, February 28, 1861. Appointed from Alabama May 14, 1864, and confirmed same day, to rank from date of appointment; paroled at Appomattox Court House, Va., April 9, 1865. Died at Miami, Fla., January 9, 1904.

Gorgas, Josiah .- Brigadier-General (Spe- cial) P. A. C. S., by act of Confederate Con- gress, October 13, 1862. Born in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, July 1, 1818. Ap- pointed from Alabama November 19, 1864, to rank from November 10, 1864; confirmed November 19, 1864; Chief of Ordnance; no record of final capture or parole has been found. Died at Tuscaloosa, Ala., May 15, 1883.

Gracie, Archibald, Jr .- Brigadier-General, P. A. C. S., by act of Confederate Congress, Febuary 28, 1861. Born in New York, December 1, 1833. Appointed from Alaba- ma November 4, 1862, to rank from same date; confirmed April 22, 1863. Killed at Petersburg, Va., December 2, 1864.

Holtzclaw, James T .- Brigadier-General, P. A. C. S., temporary rank, by act of Confeder- ate Congress, May 31, 1864. Born in Mc- Donough, Henry County, Ga., December 17, 1833. Appointed from Alabama July 8, 1864, to rank from July 7, 1864; confirmed February 21, 1865; paroled at Meridian, Miss., May 10. 1865. Died at Montgomery, Ala., July 19, 1893.

Johnston, George D .- Brigadier-General, P. A. C. S., temporary rank, by act of Confed- erate Congress, May 31, 1864. Appointed from Alabama July 26, 1864, to rank from same date; confirmed February 21, 1865; no record of final capture or parole has been found. Died at Tuscaloosa,; Ala., December 8, 1910.

Kelly, John H .- Brigadier-General, P. A. C. S., by act of Confederate Congress, Feb- ruary 28, 1861. Born at Carrollton, Pickens County, Ala., March 31, 1840. Appointed from Alabama November 17, 1863, to rank from November 16, 1863; confirmed February 17, 1864. Killed in action near Franklin, Tenn., August 20, 1864.

Leadbetter, Danville .- Brigadier-General, P. A. C. S., by act of Confederate Congress, February 28, 1861. Born in Maine, 1811. Appointed from Alabama March 6, 1862, to rank from February 27, 1862; confirmed March 6, 1862; no record of final capture or parole has been found. Died September 26, 1866, at Clifton, Canada.

Longstreet, James .- Brigadier-General, P. A. C. S., by act of Confederate Congress, Feb- ruary 28, 1861. Born in Edgefield District, South Carolina, January 8, 1821. Appointed from Alabama June 17, 1861, to rank from same date; confirmed August 28, 1861. Died at Charlottsville, Va., April, 1891.

Longstreet, James .- Lieutenant-General, P. A. C. S., by acts of Confederate Congress, September 18, 1862, and February 17, 1864. Born in Edgefield District, South Carolina, January 8, 1821. Appointed from Alabama, October 11, 1862, to rank from October 9, 1862; confirmed October 11, 1862; paroled at Appomattox Court House, Va., April 9, 1865.

Brigadier-General, P. A. C. S., by act of Confederate Congress, February 28, 1861. Appointed from Alabama June 17, 1861, to rank from same date; confirmed August 28, 1861. Died at Charlottesville, Va., April, 1891.

Moody, Young M .- Brigadier-General, P. A. C. S., by act of Confederate Congress, Feb- ruary 28, 1861. Born in Chesterfield County, Virginia, June 23, 1822. Appointed from Alabama March 13, 1865, to rank from March 4, 1865; confirmed March 13, 1865; paroled at Appomattox Court House, Va., April 9, 1865.

Morgan, John T .- Brigadier-General, P. A. C. S., by act of Confederate Congress, Feb- ruary 28, 1861. Born in Athens, Tenn., June 24, 1824. Appointed from Alabama June 6, 1863, to rank from same date; declined ap- pointment July 14, 1863; reappointed Novem- ber 17, 1863, to rank from November 16, 1863; confirmed February 17, 1864; paroled at Meridian, Miss., May 12, 1865. Died at Washington, D. C., June 11, 1907.

O'Neal, Edward A .- Brigadier-General, P. A. C. S., by act of Confederate Congress, February 28, 1861. Born in Madison County, Ala., 1818. Appointed from Alabama June 6, 1863, to rank from same date; canceled by order of the President. Died at Florence, Ala., November 5, 1890.

Perry, William F .- Brigadier-General, P. A. C. S., by act of Confederate Congress, February 28, 1861. Born in Jackson County, Georgia, 1823. Appointed from Alabama March 16, 1865, to rank from February 21, 1865; confirmed March 16, 1865; paroled at Appomattox Court House, Va., April 9, 1865. Died at Bowling Green, Ky., December 18, 1901.

Roddy, Philip D .- Brigadier-General, P. A. C. S., by act of Confederate Congress, Feb- ruary 28, 1861. Born in Moulton, Lawrence County, Ala., 1820. Appointed from Alaba- ma August 3, 1863, to rank from same date; confirmed January 25, 1864; paroled at Courtland, Ala., on or about May 17, 1865. Died in London, England, August, 1897.

Rodes, Robert E .- Brigadier-General, P. A. C. S., by act of Confederate Congress, Feb- ruary 28, 1861. Born in Lynchburg, Va., March 29, 1829. Appointed from Alabama October 21, 1861, to rank from same date; confirmed December 13, 1861; promoted to be Major-General, Provisional Army, May 7, 1863, to rank from May 2, 1863.

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Major-General, P. A. C. S., by act of Con- federate Congress, February 28, 1861. Ap- pointed from Alabama May 7, 1863, to rank from May 2, 1863; confirmed January 25, 1864. Killed in action at Winchester, Va., September 19, 1864.

Sanders, John C. C .- Brigadier-General, P. A. C. S., temporary rank, by act of Confeder- ate Congress, May 31, 1864. Born in Charles- ton, S. C. Appointed from Alabama, June 7, 1864, to rank from May 31, 1864; confirmed June 7, 1864. Killed in action at the Wel- don Railroad, Va., August 21, 1864.

Shelley, Charles M .- Brigadier-General, P. A. C. S., temporary rank, by act of Confeder- ate Congress, May 31, 1864. Born in Sulli- van County, Tennessee, December 28, 1833. Appointed from Alabama September 23, 1864, to rank from September 17, 1864; confirmed February 21, 1865; paroled at Greensboro, N. C., May 1, 1865. Died at Birmingham, Ala., January 20, 1907.

Walker, Leroy P .- Brigadier-General, P. A. C. S., by act of Confederate Congress, February 28, 1861. Born near Huntsville, Ala., July 28, 1817. Appointed from Ala- bama September 17, 1861, to rank from same date; confirmed December 13, 1861; resigned March 31, 1862. Died at Huntsville, Ala., August 22, 1884.

Withers, Jones M .- Brigadier-General, P. A. C. S., by act of Confederate Congress, February 28, 1861. Born in Madison Coun- ty, Ala., January 12, 1814. Appointed from Alabama July 10, 1862, to rank from same date; confirmed August 28, 1861; promoted to be Major-General, Provisional Army, Au- gust 16, 1862, to rank from April 6, 1862.

Major-General, P. A. C. S., by act of Con- federate Congress, February 28, 1861. Ap- pointed from Alabama August 16, 1862, to rank from April 6, 1862; confirmed Septem- ber 27, 1862; resigned July 16, 1863; re- stored July 21, 1863; paroled at Meridian, Miss., May 11, 1865. Died March 13, 1890.

Wood, Sterling A. M .- Brigadier-General, P. A. C. S., by act of Confederate Congress, February 28, 1861. Appointed from Alaba- ma January 7, 1862, to rank from same date; confirmed January 14, 1862; resigned Octo- ber 17, 1863. Died at Tuscaloosa, Ala., July 26, 1891.

Hawthorne, Alexander T .- Brigadier-Gen- eral, P. A. C. S., by act of Confederate Con- gress, February 28, 1861. Appointed from Arkansas February 23, 1864, to rank from February 18, 1864; confirmed May 11, 1864; . included in the Canby-Smith convention of May 26, 1865, but no record of his personal parole has been found. Died at Dallas, Tex., May 31, 1899.

Law, Evander M .- Brigadier-General, P. A. C. S., by act of Confederate Congress, Feb- ruary 28, 1861. Born at Darlington, S. C.,

1836. Appointed from Alabama October 3, 1862, to rank from same date; confirmed October 3, 1862; paroled at Charlotte, N. C., May 25, 1865.

Pettus, Edmund W .- Brigadier-General, P. A. C. S., by act of Confederate Congress, Feb- ruary 28, 1861. Born in Limestone County, Ala., July 6, 1821. Appointed from Ala- bama September 19, 1863, to rank from September 18, 1863; confirmed February 17, 1864; paroled at Salisbury, N. C., May 2, 1865. Died at Hot Springs, Ark., July 27, 1907.

Tracy, Edward D .- Brigadier-General, P. A. C. S., by act of Confederate Congress, February 28, 1861. Born in Macon, Ga., 1833. Appointed from Alabama August 16, 1862, to rank from same date; confirmed September 30, 1862. Killed in action at Port Gibson, Miss., May 1, 1863.

REFERENCES .- Col. Charles C. Jones, "Roster of General Officers," etc., in Southern HistorIcal Society, Papers, vols. 1 and 2, 1876; U. S. War Department, Memorandum Relative to the Gen- eral Officers appointed by the President in the Armies of the Confederate States, 1861-1865 (1905) ; Gen. Marcus J. Wright, General Officers of the Confederate Army (1911) ; Ala. Hist. So- ciety, Transactions, vol. 3, pp. 78-79; and man- uscript data in the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

CONFEDERATE GOVERNMENT AT

MONTGOMERY. Montgomery is familiarly referred to as the first capital of the Con- federacy. In the provisional constitution, adopted by the Provisional Congress Feb- ruary 8, 1861, section 3, article 6 provided that "Until otherwise provided by the Con- gress, the city of Montgomery in the state of Alabama shall be the seat of government." The permanent constitution, adopted March 11, 1861, made no change in this provision, and Montgomery continued as the seat of government until the adjournment of con- gress on Tuesday following May 21, 1861, the date of the approval of a resolution pro- viding for adjournment and reassembling at Richmond July 20, 1861.

The facts in connection with the selection of Montgomery for the preliminary conference of the seceding states are interesting. On the secession of South Carolina, December 20, 1860, an invitation had been extended other states to meet her delegates in convention for conference. Under resolutions adopted at the same time, Andrew P. Calhoun was appointed commissioner to Alabama for the purpose of inviting cooperation in the formation of "a Southern Confederacy." Mr. Calhoun pre- sented his credentials, and appeared before the Alabama Secession Convention, on the second day of its sitting, January 8, 1861. Among other things he said "that, before he left Charleston, the commissioners to the sev- eral states, in a meeting, had determined to suggest the first Monday in February, the 3rd. He said he had heard Montgomery suggested,

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but was not authorized to say anything on that point himself." The adoption of the Ordinance of Secession, January 11, 1861, withdrawing the state from the union, was ac- companied by resolutions, inviting "the people of the States of Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Arkan- sas, Tennessee, Kentucky and Missouri . . . to meet the people of the State of Alabama, by their delegates in convention, on the 4th day of February next, in Montgomery

for the purpose of consultation with each other as to the most effectual mode of secur- ing concerted, harmonious action in whatever measures may be deemed most desirable for the common peace and security." This invita- tion was favorably received, and Montgomery became the birthplace of the new Republic.

The location of the permanent seat of gov- ernment very naturally excited the local patriotism of Alabamians. The selection of Montgomery as the point for organization, its designation in the provisional constitution as the temporary seat of government, and the liberal and loyal spirit of its people, very generally recognized and the subject of favor- able comment, combined to give the impres- sion that it might be still further favored. The newspapers contained editorials and com- munications, pointing out the desirability of a central location, and one in full sympathy with the new government. Other places in Ala- bama were likewise ambitious. The citizens of Selma formed a strong committee, with directions to prepare and submit a memorial on the subject. The Alabama Secession Con- vention then in session, adopted an ordinance, March 20, 1861, authorizing the legislature to cede exclusive jurisdiction to a district in the state not exceeding 10 miles square, or in the event a selection should be made lying partly in Alabama and partly in another state, to cede such of the district as should fall in Alabama.

The discussions of the permanent location assumed that a like course would be adopted as in the selection of the federal capitol. This was indicated in the adoption of the ordinance in references to cession above referred to. The Montgomery correspondent of the New Orleans Delta, commenting on the probable location of the permanent capital, among other things says:

"The opinion that Montgomery will be the Confederate capital seems to gain ground. This, of course, implies that the Border States will not secede and federate. I presume that the next congress will appoint a commission to locate the District of Davis. Such, of course, will be its title. This commission will bear in mind that the capital ought to be the proximate center of population, the center of health, the center of geography, and the center of railroads. The District of Davis ought, therefore, to be out of the yellow fever district, and within twenty-four hours of our navy yards or seacoast. What I recommend is that Montgomery shall be the capital until the district is located, and the

state edifices are built. This will require say six years. I like Montgomery; the people are so polite, it is remarkable; everybody in Montgomery salutes everybody as if every- body knew everybody."

However, the decision to remove the capitol to Richmond shattered the dreams of Ala- bamians, and particularly the citizens of Montgomery. Quoting the Memoir of Mrs. Davis: "It had already become evident that Virginia would be the battleground of the coming struggle, and it was desirable, there- fore, that the Confederate government should have its headquarters in that state." While the dreams of Alabamians, and particularly of the citizens of Montgomery, were shattered by this decision, they lost none of their enthu- siasm or loyalty, and the city continued, throughout the four years of desperate strug- gle, to be an important and strategic center.

Provisional Congress .- The place for the formal assembling of delegates and the or- ganization of the provisional government was the Alabama Senate Chamber. This hall had been formally tendered for the sessions. It presented in its general features the same appearance as today. Until its renovation in December 1910, it had undergone no general overhauling or repairs since the erection of the building in 1850. Prints are preserved showing the graceful curves of the galleries, the well proportioned background of the president's desk, the presiding officer's stand, the handsomely designed individual desks, modelled after the furniture of the federal capitol in Washington. In response to a sug- gestion of The Montgomery Advertiser, many citizens placed at the disposal of the commit- tee on arrangements a number of handsome pictures, including George Washington, Andrew Jackson, John C. Calhoun, Henry Clay, Dixon H. Lewis, William L. Yancey and Albert J. Pickett. The portrait of Wash- ington was an original by Gilbert Stuart.

The day appointed for the meeting, Feb- ruary 4, 1861, was clear and bracing. A bright sun shone, deemed auspicious as the birthday of a new Republic. The air was in- vigorating. The delegates had reached Mont- gomery one or more days in advance. At the same time came numbers of other public men, military leaders, and many interested observers of passing events. There are con- temporary references to many faces on the streets of Montgomery, already long familiar on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington. The notels were thronged, boarding houses and private homes were taxed for accommo- dations. Within a day almost Montgomery had taken on cosmopolitan airs.

At a little past noon the delegates were in their places. The galleries were thronged with men and matrons. The deputy from the Montgomery district, Hon. William P. Chilton, "called the convention to order, and moved that the Hon. R. W. Barnwell, of South Carolina, be selected as temporary president." The motion was adopted unanimously. After an acknowledgment of the honor, a prayer was offered by Rev. Dr. Basil Manly, one of

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the most ardent secessionists of the south. The several delegates in alphabetical order by states then presented their credentials:

Alahama: R. W. Walker, R. H. Smith, J. L. M. Curry, William P. Chilton, S. F. Hale, Colin J. McRae, Jno. Gill Shorter.

Florida: Jas. B. Owens, J. Patton Anderson. Georgia: Robert Toombs, Howell Cobb, Francis S. Bartow, Martin J. Crawford, Eugenius A. Nisbet, Benj. H. Hill, A. R. Wright, Thomas R. R. Cohb, Augustus H. Kenan, Alex. H. Stephens.

Louisiana: John Perkins, jr., Edward Spar- row, A. DeClouet, D. F. Kenner, Henry Marshall.

Mississippi: W. P. Harris, Walter Brooke, W. S. Wilson, W. S. Barry, J. T. Harrison.

South Carolina: R. B. Rhett, sr., R. W. Barnwell, L. M. Keitt, James Chesnut, jr., C. G. Memminger, W. Porcher Miles, Thomas J. Withers, W. W. Boyce.

The roll having been signed, Hon. R. Barn- well Rhett, sr., nominated Hon. Howell Cobb, of Georgia, as president. His election fol- lowed unanimously, and he was immediately brought to the chair. He spoke briefly. He referred to the extraordinary occasion which had brought the deputies together, speaking of them as "representatives of sovereign and independent states, who by their solemn judgment, have dissolved the political asso- ciation which connected them with the government of the United States."

As secretary of the convention, Hon. John- son J. Hooper, a distinguished political leader of Alabama, and a newspaper man of note, was unanimously chosen.

In response to a resolution offered by Hon. Alexander H. Stephens, delegate from Geor- gia, a committee of five tò report rules was named, consisting of Messrs. Stephens, Keitt, Curry, Harrison and Perkins.

The proceedings had taken only a little more than one hour.

In the days immediately following, the congress proceeded with promptness, unanim- ity and enthusiasm to the performance of the task of fully and completely organizing the new government. On the second day, con- gressional printers were elected, the clergy of Montgomery were invited to attend and open the sessions with prayer, additional officers were provided, and rules for the government of congress adopted. In his discussion of the report of the committee on rules, Mr. Stephens, the chairman, among other things said:

"These rules are made on the principle that we are a congress of sovereign independent states, and must vote, therefore, as states, and not individually as members." The most important action of the day, however, was the adoption of the following resolution:

"That this convention deems it expedient forthwith to form a Confederacy of the states that have seceded from the federal union, and that a committee he reported to report a plan for the provisional government for the same upon the basis of the constitution of the United States." The deliberations

of the committee continued throughout the third and fourth days. On Thursday, Feb- ruary 7, Mr. C. G. Memminger, chairman of the committee of twelve, submitted a report. On a divided vote the report of the com- mittee was ordered printed, after which con- gress adjourned until the next day. On Fri- day, after perhaps an hour's deliberation, congress went into secret session to consider the report of the committee. The discussions lasted throughout the afternoon, and were continued into the night. About 10:30 o'clock a provisional constitution was adopted unanimously, the instrument was ordered en- rolled on parchment, and one thousand copies ordered printed for the use of congress.

On the fifth day, Saturday, February 9, the delegates met at eleven o'clock a. m. Judge Richard W. Walker of the supreme court of Alabama, then administered the oath to the Hon. Howell Cohh, to support the constitution of the provisional government, and President Cobb in turn administered the oath to the members of the congress. After this preliminary, the first act was the presentation, by Mr. Memminger, of a model for a flag of the Confederate states, from the ladies of South Carolina, and also a model from a gentleman of the city of Charleston. Immediately following, Mr. Miles moved the appointment of a committee, consisting of one from each state, to take into considera- tion the adoption of a flag.

The important business of the day, how- ever, was the election of a provisional presi- dent and a provisional vice president. The journal entries are very brief, and reveal nothing of a contest, or even intimation of a contest, if indeed there was any. During the election an immense crowd gathered on the floor of congress and in the galleries to wit- ness this important business. The journal entries are as follows:

"The Congress then proceeded to the elec- tion of a President and a Vice-President for the Provisional Government.

Mr. Curry moved that two tellers be ap- pointed to conduct said election; which was agreed to.

Whereupon, the President, appointed Mr. Curry and Mr. Miles as tellers.

The vote being taken by States for Presi- dent, the Hon. Jefferson Davis, of Mississippi, received all the votes cast, being 6, and was duly declared unanimously elected President of the Provisional Government.

On motion of Mr. Toombs, a committee of three was appointed to inform Mr. Davis of his election.

Whereupon, the President appointed Mr. Toombs, Mr. Rhett, and Mr. Morton.

The vote was then taken by States for Vice-President, and the Hon. Alexander Ham- ilton Stephens, of Georgia, received all the votes cast, being 6, and he was duly declared unanimously elected Vice-President of the Provisional Government.

Mr. Perkins moved that a committee of three be appointed to inform Mr. Stephens of his election; which was agreed to, and

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the President appointed Mr. Perkins, Mr. Har- ris, and Mr. Shorter."

During the election an immense crowd gathered on the floor of congress, in the gal- leries, corridors and grounds, to witness the election and to hear the result. The an- nouncement of the election was greeted with loud cheers and applause.

From time to time with the withdrawal of Arkansas, Texas and Virginia, their represen- tatives appeared in Montgomery and took their seats as members of the congress. How- ever, the states of Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina and Tennessee had no representation during the sessions of the congress in Mont- gomery.

Two sessions of congress were held in Montgomery. The first and regular session assembled February 4, and adjourned March 16, 1861. The second, a called session, con- vened April 29, and adjourned May 21, 1861. The third session assembled at Richmond July 20, 1861.

Inauguration of Mr. Davis and Mr. Stephens .- The president-elect, Hon. Jeffer- son Davis, had reached Montgomery on Sunday evening, February 17. He was given a great ovation, and from the Commerce Street balcony of the Exchange Hotel, he addressed the assembled crowds. On the following day, Monday, February 18, the cere- mony of inauguration took place.

The local papers assert that Montgomery never before presented such an appearance as on that day. The city turned out en masse for the exercises. Thousands of visitors were in attendance. Capitol Hill was thronged. It seemed literally as if all the people had come together. The ladies were present, so one writer says, "in larger numbers than the men in honor of their gallant president." The same writer continues, "The assemblage could not have numbered less than 10,000 persons, all animated by a common desire to maintain the dignity, honor and independence of the Confederate States."

About noon a procession was formed on Montgomery Street, in front of the Exchange. The carriage for the president had been ten- dered for the occasion by Col. Tennent Lo- max. It was drawn by six gray horses. The president was accompanied by vice-president elect Stephens, Rev. Dr. Basil Manly, chaplain of the day, and Capt. George Jones, the per- sonal military escort of Mr. Davis. The chief marshal was Col. H. P. Watson. Following the president were carriages containing state and county committees, members of the Con- federate congress, visiting governors and dis- tinguished citizens. The military escort con- sisted of the "Columbus Guards," the "Bar- bour Rifles," the "Perote Guards," the "In- dependent Rifles," and the "Alabama Fusi- liers." Thousands followed on foot, and it is said that the procession extended from the hotel to the capitol terrace.

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History of Alabama and dictionary of Alabama biography, Volume I, Part 64

Author: Owen, Thomas McAdory, 1866-1920; Owen, Marie (Bankhead) Mrs. 1869- Publication date: 1921 Publisher: Chicago, The S. J. Clarke publishing company Number of Pages: 756

Author: Owen, Thomas McAdory, 1866-1920; Owen, Marie (Bankhead) Mrs. 1869-
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Chicago, The S. J. Clarke publishing company
Number of Pages: 756