American Civil War Confederate Brigadier General. Born into a wealthy New York City family, following his elementary education, he attended the University of Heidelberg for five years. Upon his return to the US, he received an appointment ot the US Military Academy at West Point, New York, graduating with a 2nd lieutenant's commission in 1854. He served as an escort to Washington Territory Governor Isaac Stevens and i9n 1857 he resigned his commission to join his father's business in Mobile, Alabama and later became president of the Barings Bank there. Following Alabama's secession from the US in 1861 and the beginning of the American Civil War, he joined the Confederate Army and became a major in the 11th Alabama Regiment. The following year, he saw action at the Battle of Yorktown, then led a brigade at Chattanooga, Tennessee. Through his successes in Huntsville, Tennessee, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier general in November 1862. His company was the guard of the rear of Confederate General Braxton Bragg's army during his retreat from the Battle of Perryville, Kentucky, and following the Tullahoma Campaign in middle Tennessee during the early Summer of 1863. In September 1863 he participated at the Battle of Chickamauga, and the Battle of Bean's Station, Tennessee three months later where he was wounded. After his recovery, he was sent to Richmond, Virginia, and the following year he served in the trenches of Petersburg, Virginia, and while he was observing the Union positions with his telescope, he was killed when an artillery shell exploded in front of him. His son, Archibald Gracie IV, was one of the passengers who survived the sinking of the British passenger liner RMS Titanic in April 1912.
American Civil War Confederate Brigadier General. Born into a wealthy New York City family, following his elementary education, he attended the University of Heidelberg for five years. Upon his return to the US, he received an appointment ot the US Military Academy at West Point, New York, graduating with a 2nd lieutenant's commission in 1854. He served as an escort to Washington Territory Governor Isaac Stevens and i9n 1857 he resigned his commission to join his father's business in Mobile, Alabama and later became president of the Barings Bank there. Following Alabama's secession from the US in 1861 and the beginning of the American Civil War, he joined the Confederate Army and became a major in the 11th Alabama Regiment. The following year, he saw action at the Battle of Yorktown, then led a brigade at Chattanooga, Tennessee. Through his successes in Huntsville, Tennessee, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier general in November 1862. His company was the guard of the rear of Confederate General Braxton Bragg's army during his retreat from the Battle of Perryville, Kentucky, and following the Tullahoma Campaign in middle Tennessee during the early Summer of 1863. In September 1863 he participated at the Battle of Chickamauga, and the Battle of Bean's Station, Tennessee three months later where he was wounded. After his recovery, he was sent to Richmond, Virginia, and the following year he served in the trenches of Petersburg, Virginia, and while he was observing the Union positions with his telescope, he was killed when an artillery shell exploded in front of him. His son, Archibald Gracie IV, was one of the passengers who survived the sinking of the British passenger liner RMS Titanic in April 1912.
Bio by: William Bjornstad
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