Civil War Confederate Brigadier General, US Senator. He was born in Athens, Tennessee. At the age of 9, he moved with his family to Calhoun, Alabama. He received his education at home and at some local schools, later, he went to Tuskegee, Alabama, where he studied law privately. He became an attorney in 1845, and opened a practice in Selma, Alabama, ten years later. While at Selma he became known for advocating states rights and white supremacy. In 1860, he served as an elector for John C. Breckinridge in the 1860 presidential election, and was a delegate to the state secession convention. The following year, he enlisted as a Private in the Cahaba Rifles on May 5, 1861, which was a part of the 5th Alabama. He was promoted to Major just six days later. He served at First Bull Run and was promoted on November 20, 1861, to Lieutenant Colonel. He returned to Alabama and resigned his commission in 1862, raising the 51st Alabama Cavalry (Alabama Partisan Rangers), and was named its Colonel on September 2. He led the 51st at Stone's River, and with the Army of Tennessee fought at Chickamauga, rode on Major General Joseph Wheeler's raid on the supply lines at Chattanooga, and, under Wheeler, supported the Knoxville Campaign. He was named a Brigadier General with the idea that he would command Robert E. Rodes' old brigade in the Army of Northern Virginia, but he declined the appointment on July 14, 1863. Having been given command of a cavalry brigade under Wheeler, he was reappointed four months later and this time accepted the commission. He fought in the Atlanta Campaign and harassed the Union army on their March to the Sea. Near the end of the war, he was assigned to service at Demopolis, Alabama, organizing home defense. In an effort which proved too little too late, in his final assignment, he recruited black troops for the Confederacy. After the war he returned to his law practice, then won election to the United States Senate in 1876. In Washington, he would develop a national reputation as a conservative, a supporter of Jim Crow laws, and an advocate of a Nicaraguan canal, which he thought would help Southern ports. He however lost his fight to the "Panama Lobby" and had to accept the Panama Canal. He remained in office until his death.
Civil War Confederate Brigadier General, US Senator. He was born in Athens, Tennessee. At the age of 9, he moved with his family to Calhoun, Alabama. He received his education at home and at some local schools, later, he went to Tuskegee, Alabama, where he studied law privately. He became an attorney in 1845, and opened a practice in Selma, Alabama, ten years later. While at Selma he became known for advocating states rights and white supremacy. In 1860, he served as an elector for John C. Breckinridge in the 1860 presidential election, and was a delegate to the state secession convention. The following year, he enlisted as a Private in the Cahaba Rifles on May 5, 1861, which was a part of the 5th Alabama. He was promoted to Major just six days later. He served at First Bull Run and was promoted on November 20, 1861, to Lieutenant Colonel. He returned to Alabama and resigned his commission in 1862, raising the 51st Alabama Cavalry (Alabama Partisan Rangers), and was named its Colonel on September 2. He led the 51st at Stone's River, and with the Army of Tennessee fought at Chickamauga, rode on Major General Joseph Wheeler's raid on the supply lines at Chattanooga, and, under Wheeler, supported the Knoxville Campaign. He was named a Brigadier General with the idea that he would command Robert E. Rodes' old brigade in the Army of Northern Virginia, but he declined the appointment on July 14, 1863. Having been given command of a cavalry brigade under Wheeler, he was reappointed four months later and this time accepted the commission. He fought in the Atlanta Campaign and harassed the Union army on their March to the Sea. Near the end of the war, he was assigned to service at Demopolis, Alabama, organizing home defense. In an effort which proved too little too late, in his final assignment, he recruited black troops for the Confederacy. After the war he returned to his law practice, then won election to the United States Senate in 1876. In Washington, he would develop a national reputation as a conservative, a supporter of Jim Crow laws, and an advocate of a Nicaraguan canal, which he thought would help Southern ports. He however lost his fight to the "Panama Lobby" and had to accept the Panama Canal. He remained in office until his death.
Bio by: Ugaalltheway
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