CSA Bios: Weisiger, Wayne, Waul, Watie, Waterhouse, Walthall and Wallace

[Battleline]

Brig. Gen. David A. Weisiger, CSA (b. 1818 d. 1899) Born at “The Grove" in Chesterfield County, Va., David Addison Weisiger saw first military action as in the Mexican War as a second lieutenant, Co. E, First Virginia Volunteers. He left the Army for private enterprise after the war, but remained captain of the Virginia militia and was officer of the day at the hanging of John Brown in 1859. He was on duty in Norfolk with the Fourth Virginia Battalion Militia as a major. He entered Confederate service as colonel of the 12th Virginia Infantry May 9, 1861. His unit was stationed on the lower Peninsula until the spring of 1862, when it was pulled into the Army of Northern Virginia, being placed into Gen. William Mahone’s brigade. The 12th Virginia fought at Seven Pines during the Seven Days Campaign and then participated at Second Manassas. Wounded in the latter battle, Weisiger was lucky to return to the army the following July. At the Wilderness, he took over Mahone’s brigade with a temporary brigadier general rank to date May 31, 1864. His promotion was made permanent July 30, 1864, in recognition of his performance at the Battle of the Crater, where Weisiger and Mahone led the counterattack that led to the Confederate victory. Weisiger again was wounded in the fighting. Paroled at Appomattox April 9, 1865, Weisiger entered civilian life as a bank cashier in Petersburg, Va. He became a businessman in Richmond and died there Feb. 23, 1899.

Brig. Gen. Henry C. Wayne, CSA (b. 1815 d. 1883) While born in Savannah, Ga., Sept. 18, 1815, Henry Constantine Wayne received a northern education at Northampton and Cambridge, Mass. He received an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1834. Graduating with the Class of 1838, his firs assignment was to the Fourth Artillery as a second lieutenant. He was with the quartermaster’s department in 1846 as a staff captain. For gallantry at the battles of Contreras and Churubusco during the Mexican War, Wayne was brevetted to major. He published “Sword Exercises Arranged for Military Instruction” in 1850. In the 1850s, Wayne was part of the experiment that looked into using camels for the Army in the southwestern United States. He resigned his commission Dec. 31, 1860 and was appointed Georgia’s adjutant and inspector general by Gov. Joseph E. Brown upon that state’s secession from the Union. He received a commission to brigadier general in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States. Four days after being ordered to Joseph E. Johnston’s command at Manassas Junction, Jan. 7, 1862, he resigned his commission, returning to state duties. He served in Georgia for the remainder of the war. For a time, he commanded the Georgia militia, but was relieved by Gen. G.W. Smith in September of 1864. After the war, Wayne returned to Savannah and became active in the lumber business. He died in Savannah March 15, 1883.

Brig. Gen. Thomas N. Waul, CSA (b. 1813, d. 1903) Born in Sumter District, S.C., Jan. 5, 1813, Thomas Neville Waul lived his youth around the south. He attended South Carolina College through his junior year, taught in Florence, Ala., and studied law in Vicksburg, Miss. He was admitted to the bar in 1835, but he soon moved to Texas. In Gonzales County, Texas, Waul owned a plantation and practiced law. He ran for the U.S. Congress in 1859, but was defeated. He was elected to the Provisional Congress of the Confederacy in 1861, serving until a permanent government was established. Returning to Texas, he recruited Waul’s Legion and was commissioned as its colonel May 17, 1862. His unit was surrendered with the city of Vicksburg, but Waul was later exchanged and promoted. His rank of brigadier general dated from Sept. 18, 1863. In the Red River Campaign of 1864, Waul commanded a brigade in Gen. John G. Walker’s division at Mansfield and Pleasant Hill. Moving to Arkansas to oppose forces of Union Gen. Frederick Steele, fighting at Jenkins’ Ferry. At the close of the war, Waul was elected to the Texas reconstruction convention. Following that, he practiced law in Galveston, later retiring to a farm near Greenville. He died there, without any blood relatives, July 28, 1903.

Brig. Gen. Stand Watie, CSA (b. 1806 d. 1871) A major force within the Cherokee community, Stand Watie was three-quarters Cherokee and entered the world Dec. 12, 1806, near present-day Rome, Ga. He learned English in a mission school and became a planter. He also helped with the Cherokee newspaper, the Phoenix. In 1835, he was one of those signing the treaty removing the remaining Cherokee to Indian Territory (Oklahoma). The Cherokee tribe split over the treaty and Stand Watie became leader of the minority treaty party. When the Civil War came, the Cherokee first tried to remain neutral, but then split into two factions. Most were loyal to the Union. Watie and his minority pledged their allegiance to the Confederacy. He raised a company in 1861 and was appointed colonel of the First Cherokee Mounted Rifles later that year. Watie’s command fought at Wilson’s Creek and Elkhorn Tavern (Pea Ridge) and many skirmishes in Indian Territory and along its borders. As soldiers, the Cherokee were “excellent in sudden offensive dash, but were reluctant to stand up to artillery fire.” (Confederate Military History: A Library of Confederate States History, 1899. Ed. Clement Anselm Evans). Watie was promoted to brigadier general May 6, 1864, and fought until the very end. His unit supposedly did not surrender until June 23, 1865. After the war, he was a planter and was involved in various business enterprises. He died at his home on Honey Creek (now in Delaware County, Okla.) Sept. 9, 1871.

Brig. Gen. Richard Waterhouse, CSA (b. 1832 d. 1876) Born in Rhea County, Tenn., Jan. 12, 1832, Richard Waterhouse had the same name as his father and frequently has been confused with him. He ran away as a boy to take part in the Mexican War and moved with his parents to San Antonio, Texas, in 1849, where he helped his father in the mercantile business. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Waterhouse played a major role in recruiting the 19th Texas Infantry around Jefferson, Texas. He was commissioned colonel of that unit May 13, 1862. He served under Generals Hindman and Holmes in Arkansas and under Gen. Richard Taylor in Louisiana. He saw action at the Battle of Milliken’s Bend under Gen. Henry E. McCulloch and received commendation for his performance. During the Red River Campaign, his unit fought in Scurry’s Brigade at Mansfield and Pleasant Hill. He was “assigned to command” as a brigadier general by Gen. Kirby Smith to date from April 30, 1864, and officially appointed by President Davis as of March 17, 1865. He was confirmed by the Confederate Senate the following day. After the war, he lived in San Augustine and Jefferson, Texas, working in land speculation. During a trip to Waco, he fell down the stairs at a hotel and dislocated his shoulder. Two days later, March 20, 1876, he died of pneumonia.

Maj. Gen. Edward C. Walthall, CSA (b. 1831 d. 1898) Virginia born, Mississippi raised, Edward C. Walthall took a familiar path of Confederate generals, being a lawyer before the war. Walthall was born in Richmond, Va., April 4, 1831, and raised in Holly Springs, Miss. He attended St. Thomas Hall, studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1852. He was elected district attorney in 1856 and 1859. His military career began with the Yalobusha Rifles in 1861 as a first lieutenant. That unit became part of the 15th Mississippi and he was elected lieutenant colonel of that unit. Seeing action at Mill Springs (Fishing Creek), Walthall’s performance was one of the few bright spots in the conflict. He was elected colonel of the 29th Mississippi April 11, 1862. He commanded that unit at Corinth and during the Kentucky Campaign. He was ill and missed the battle of Murfreesboro. On Dec. 13, 1862, Walthall was promoted to brigadier general, commanding units at Chickamauga and Chattanooga. He commanded Confederate forces in the “Battle Above the Clouds” on Lookout Mountain. Walthall’s thin skirmish line was distinguished and the general suffered a foot wound during the action. In the Atlanta Campaign, Walthall again distinguished himself, and earned a promotion to major general July 6, 1864. Part of Hood’s army, he was part of the Tennessee Campaign, having two horses killed under him at Franklin. During the retreat from Nashville, Walthall commanded the rear guard. He moved with the Army of Tennessee into the Carolinas and was paroled in Greensboro, N.C., May 1, 1865. Back home in Mississippi, he practice law and worked to overthrow the carpetbag regime there. He was appointed to the U.S. Senate in 1885 and served nearly continuously in that capacity until his death in Washington D.C. April 21, 1898.

Brig. Gen. William H. Wallace, CSA (b. 1827 d. 1901) William Henry Wallace was born March 24, 1827, in Laurens District, S.C. An 1849 graduate of South Carolina College, Wallace was a planter, newspaper publisher and lawyer. He was in the South Carolina legislature and supported the secession call at the 1860 convention. When his term ended, he enlisted as a private in Co. A, 18th South Carolina Infantry. He was elected its lieutenant colonel in May, 1862, and was in charge when the unit moved to Virginia shortly after the Seven Days Campaign. During the Second Manassas Campaign, the unit’s colonel was killed Aug. 30, 1862 and Wallace took charge. His official nomination for colonel came June 10, 1864. During the meantime, he led the 18th South Carolina at Boonesboro (South Mountain) in the brigade of Gen. Evans. His unit was moved to South Carolina and defended Charleston. In the spring of 1864, the brigade was led by Gen. Stephen Elliott, Jr., and was ordered back to Virginia. In the Battle of the Crater, four companies of the 18th South Carolina were blown up in the mine explosion that created the crater. Wallace was promoted to brigadier general Sept. 20, 1864, and he led the brigade through the final winter of the war. He was paroled at Appomattox April 9, 1865. After the war, he was committed to his law practice and his plantation. He was one of the few Democrats to be elected to the state legislature in 1872. He twice won re-election. In 1877, Wallace was picked to serve as a circuit judge and did that until his 1893 retirement. He died March 21, 1901, in Union, S.C.

Up Next: Eight CSA Walkers!

[marecone]

Very nice. You are on fire

[Missouri_Rebel]

You are tearing it up. How do you find the time? My cshedule is such that I haven't even played the game yet. Keep up the good work. Are you writing all these or taking em from another source? Just curious.

mo reb

[Gil R.]

Thanks! If I can make one small request, please always give the general's ultimate rank before the name. I know that you always provide it in the text, but since all generals bios need to begin RANK NAME (DATES) it would be helpful if you put the rank there for me.

[Battleline]

Missouri_Rebel,
I don't think at this time that anyone actually "writes" the bio, although I did compile Cullen A. Battle and Robert E. Rodes from different sources. My main sources have been Ezra J. Warner's Generals in Gray and Generals in Blue. Both can be found at major chain bookstores (I got mine at two different Borders in St. Louis County). Most of it has been mainly compiling the information and re-writing for style. I'm lucky that I can work a few minutes here or there during the day.
Where in Missouri do you call home?
Battleline

[Battleline]

Gil,
Will do. Sorry I haven't done that before. Was thinking about it, but wanted to remain consistent.
Thanks,
Battleline

[Missouri_Rebel]

Well I currently own a small chunk of ground in Hillsboro. We moved closer to st.louis to shorten the commute but it is getting a little crowded around here for my taste. Grew up around Ironton, Taum-Sauk area. Spent a little time in South City, Benton Park to be exact, in the early 90's but the neighborhood went to hell and it was time for this honkey cat to get back to the woods. Been looking for a 40 to 50 acre plot south of here lately but to no avail as of yet.What about you? Kirkwood or Wildwood? Some other wood?

mo reb

[Battleline]

Missouri_Rebel,
I grew up in the Fenton area, or "Unincorporated St. Louis County" as my parents liked to call it. I now live and work in the city of corncob pipes and collapsing downtown buildings, Washington! I get into the county about once a week to visit relatives, etc.
I can understand about South City. One of my best friends lived near Hampton and Eichelberger before he moved even farther south than you. I have some ties to the Lafayette Square neighborhood.
Got to be careful about land in the Hillsboro area. Never know where Highway 21 will go next!
Battleline

[Battleline]

Thanks!

[Missouri_Rebel]

yeah, "Unincorporated St. Louis County" does have a certain ring to it. Man what a small world. I used to ride dirt bikes in Labadie some years ago near the power plant and have been to my share of Washington fairs. The main attraction back then was the beer garden and fist-fights, but that was long ago. I'm sure the fair has a different face now days. BTW...it's WaRshington. Better say it right or the locals will peg you as an outsider for sure.

Yeah...HWY 21 is blazing a path through Jefferson County. Next thing you know we will have coffee shops and leash laws. Sigh. I'm just waiting for my daughter to finish school in 3 years. Then me and Momma can do as we wish.

mo reb

[Missouri_Rebel]

After re-reading that I should have said how pretty washington area is. It is really booming too. When I used to go to Washington it was still a pretty small town. The downtown waterfront pub scene wasn't there at that time.It seems that the fair draws some big names these days. I should return some time to see how things have changed.

mo reb

[Battleline]

Maj. Gen. Edward C. Walthall (b. 1831 d. 1898) Virginia born, Mississippi raised, Edward C. Walthall took a familiar path of Confederate generals, being a lawyer before the war. Walthall was born in Richmond, Virginia, April 4, 1831, and raised in Holly Springs, Mississippi. He attended St. Thomas Hall, studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1852. He was elected district attorney in 1856 and 1859. His military career began with the Yalobusha Rifles in 1861 as a first lieutenant. That unit became part of the 15th Mississippi and he was elected lieutenant colonel of that unit. Seeing action at Mill Springs (Fishing Creek), Walthall’s performance was one of the few bright spots in the conflict. He was elected colonel of the 29th Mississippi April 11, 1862. He commanded that unit at Corinth and during the Kentucky Campaign. He was ill and missed the battle of Murfreesboro. On Dec. 13, 1862, Walthall was promoted to brigadier general on the recommendation of Gen. Braxton Bragg. He commanded units at Chickamauga and Chattanooga. He commanded Confederate forces in the “Battle Above the Clouds” on Lookout Mountain. At Missionary Ridge, Walthall’s thin skirmish line was distinguished and the general suffered a foot wound during the action. In the Atlanta Campaign, Walthall again distinguished himself, and earned a promotion to major general July 6, 1864. Part of Hood’s army, he was part of the Tennessee Campaign, having two horses killed under him at Franklin. During the retreat from Nashville, Walthall commanded the rear guard. He moved with the Army of Tennessee into the Carolinas and was paroled in Greensboro, North Carolina, May 1, 1865. Back home in Mississippi, he practice law and worked to overthrow the carpetbag regime there, becoming a major force in state politics. He was appointed to the U.S. Senate in 1885 and served nearly continuously in that capacity until his death in Washington D.C. April 21, 1898.

[Battleline]

Brig. Gen. William H. Wallace (b. 1827 d. 1901) William Henry Wallace was born March 24, 1827, in Laurens District, Sourth Carolina. An 1849 graduate of South Carolina College, Wallace was a planter, newspaper publisher and lawyer. He was in the South Carolina legislature and supported the secession call at the 1860 convention. When his term ended, he enlisted as a private in Co. A, 18th South Carolina Infantry. He was elected its lieutenant colonel in May, 1862, and was in charge when the unit moved to Virginia shortly after the Seven Days Campaign. The unit fought in the Peninsular Campaign. During the Second Manassas Campaign, the unit’s colonel was killed Aug. 30, 1862 and Wallace took charge. His official nomination for colonel came June 10, 1864. During the meantime, he led the 18th South Carolina at South Mountain in the Tramp Brigade of Gen. Nathan "Shanks" Evans. The Tramp Brigade was moved to South Carolina and defended Charleston. In the spring of 1864, the brigade was led by Gen. Stephen Elliott, Jr., and was ordered back to Virginia. In the Battle of the Crater, four companies of the 18th South Carolina were blown up in the mine explosion that created the crater. By recommendation of Gen. Bushrod Johnson, Wallace was promoted to brigadier general Sept. 20, 1864, replacing the wounded Elliott and he led the brigade through the final winter of the war. He briefly commanded a division just before the final surrender. He was paroled at Appomattox April 9, 1865. After the war, he was committed to his law practice and his plantation. He was one of the few Democrats to be elected to the state legislature in 1872. He twice won re-election. In 1877, Wallace was picked to serve as a circuit judge and did that until his 1893 retirement. He died March 21, 1901, in Union, South Carolina.

[Battleline]

Brig. Gen. Stand Watie (b. 1806 d. 1871) A major force within the Cherokee community, Stand Watie was three-quarters Cherokee and entered the world Dec. 12, 1806, near present-day Rome, Georgia, (then Oothcaloga) He learned English in a mission school and became a planter. He also helped with the Cherokee newspaper, the Phoenix. In 1835, he was one of those signing the treaty removing the remaining Cherokee to Indian Territory (Oklahoma), supporting his uncle, Major Ridge. The Cherokee tribe split over the treaty and Stand Watie became leader of the minority treaty party. Most treaty supporters were killed during feuding with the John Ross faction. When the Civil War came, the Cherokee first tried to remain neutral, but then split into two factions. Most were loyal to the Union. Watie and his minority, the Knights of the Golden Circle, pledged their allegiance to the Confederacy. He raised a company in 1861 and was appointed colonel of the First Cherokee Mounted Rifles later that year. The unit chased Creeks loyal to the Union and fought at Chustenahlah Dec. 26, 1861. Watie’s command fought at Wilson’s Creek and Elkhorn Tavern (Pea Ridge) and many skirmishes in Indian Territory and along its borders under Gen. Albert Pike. When Federal forces captured Ross in 1862, taking him to Washington, D.C., Watie proclaimed himself as the new principal chief of the Cherokee nation. As soldiers, the Cherokee were “excellent in sudden offensive dash, but were reluctant to stand up to artillery fire.” (Confederate Military History: A Library of Confederate States History, 1899. Ed. Clement Anselm Evans). Watie was promoted to brigadier general May 6, 1864. Watie's men captured the Federal steamer J.R. Williams on the Arkansas River June 15, 1864, and followed up by capturing a 300-wagon supply train after the Second Battle of Cabin Creek Sept. 19, 1864. His unit supposedly did not surrender until June 23, 1865. After the war, he was a planter and was involved in various business enterprises. He died at his home on Honey Creek (now in Delaware County, Oklahoma) Sept. 9, 1871.

[Gil R.]

Copied.

[Gil R.]

I added some more stuff from Heidler, plus some more detail (from Wikipedia) about the Cherokee matters. Also, I cut the reference to Wilson’s Creek, since Watie wasn’t there, though an unknown number of Cherokee did appear. (The sources are virtually silent on this, unfortunately.)

I’m making Watie a 25-percenter, since he’s too famous not to be one.

Brig. Gen. Stand Watie (b. 1806, d. 1871). A major force within the Cherokee community, Stand Watie was three-quarters Cherokee. He was born on December 12, 1806 near present-day Rome, Georgia (then Oothcaloga), into a wealthy, land-owning Cherokee family. Named Degadoga, or “He Stands,” but also bearing the Christian name Isaac, he soon dropped the latter and became known as “Stand” Watie. Watie learned English in a mission school and became a planter, ultimately taking advantage of his education and family resources to establish a law practice in the Cherokee nation. He also helped with the “Cherokee Phoenix,” the first newspaper produced by Native Americans, which his older brother edited. In 1835, he was among the signers of the Treaty of New Echota, which was to remove the remaining Cherokee to Indian Territory (now Oklahoma). In doing so, Watie was supporting his uncle, Major Ridge, a prominent Cherokee leader. The Cherokee split over the treaty, with the pro-treaty faction heading out west and the anti-treaty faction, headed by the Cherokees’ principal chief John Ross, remaining behind and attempting to get the U.S. Senate to quash the treaty rather than ratify it. Pres. Martin Van Buren, however, ignored the Cherokees’ pleas and ordered Gen. Winfield Scott to send relocate them forcibly to Indian Territory, resulting in the death march known as the “Trail of Tears.” (Ironically, part of this trail traversed the Elkhorn Tavern battlefield, where Watie – who had established a new plantation in Indian Territory and was reaping the benefits of slave labor – would one day lead a Cherokee regiment into battle.) When Ross and his people reached the end of their journey, he and his supporters engaged in a series of assassinations against the pro-treaty party, killing Ridge, his son, and two of Watie’s brothers – leaving Watie as the lone survivor of this faction, and leading to fifteen years of civil war among the Cherokee. When the American Civil War came shortly after this violence had subsided, the Cherokee first tried to remain neutral, but then split into two factions: those under Ross were loyal to the Union, but Watie and his minority, organized secretly as the Knights of the Golden Circle, pledged their allegiance to the Confederacy. Watie raised a regiment of soldiers in the Indian Territory in July 1861 and was appointed Colonel of the 1st Cherokee Mounted Rifles later that year, after Watie’s efforts to block the Union from entering Indian Territory and his growing support forced Ross to enter into a treaty of alliance with the Confederacy on October 7. Watie’s Cherokee unit chased Creeks loyal to the Union and fought at Chustenahlah on December 26, 1861. More significantly, Watie fought under Gen. Albert Pike at Elkhorn Tavern (Pea Ridge) on March 7-8, 1862, and in many skirmishes in Indian Territory and along its borders. As soldiers, the Cherokee were “excellent in sudden offensive dash, but were reluctant to stand up to artillery fire,” according to the entry in the encyclopedic “Confederate Military History” edited by former Gen. Clement A. Evans. When Union forces captured Ross in 1862, taking him to Washington, D.C., Watie proclaimed himself the new principal chief of the Cherokee nation, leading to further civil strife among the Cherokee. Watie was promoted to brigadier general on May 6, 1864, as a reward for his loyalty. A month later, Watie’s men captured the supply-laden steamer J.R. Williams on the Arkansas River, and followed up by capturing a 300-wagon supply train after the Second Battle of Cabin Creek on September 19. Watie finally surrendered on June 23, 1865 – the last Confederate general to do so. After the war, he resumed planting and was involved in various business enterprises. Watie died at his home on Honey Creek (now in Delaware County, Oklahoma) on September 9, 1871. (Bio by Bill Battle)

Leadership: 3
Tactics: 2
Initiative: 2
Command: 3
Cavalry:

Teaches: Rangers (28), Foragers (17), Wild (3) (The description of “Wild” in FOF is “Make an opportunity charge after disordering an enemy in fire combat,” which fits the quote from Evans in the bio. So giving Watie “Wild” isn’t an attempt to be clever.)

Start date: 80