Major-General Joseph Brevard Kershaw CSA (b 1822 - d 1894)

[mikeejay2]

Major-General Joseph Brevard Kershaw CSA (b 1822 - d 1894) was born at Camden, S.C. General Kershaw was educated for the legal profession and began practice in 1844 at Camden. He was a member of the governor's staff in 1843, and served one year in the Mexican war as first lieutenant of Company C, Palmetto regiment. From 1852 to 1855 he was a representative in the legislature, and in 1860 participated in the convention which enacted the ordinance of secession. In February, 1861, he was commissioned colonel of the Second South Carolina regiment, with which he served at Sullivan's island, and in April went to Virginia. He commanded his regiment, in the brigade of General Bonham, at the Blackburn's Ford engagement and the battle of First Manassas, and in February, 1862, was promoted brigadier-general, to succeed General Bonham. In this rank he participated in the Yorktown campaign, and in McLaws' division fought through the Seven Days' campaign before Richmond, commanded the troops which captured Maryland heights, and had a gallant part in the fighting at Sharpsburg. At Fredericksburg his brigade was sent into the fight at Marye's hill, where Kershaw was in command after General Cobb was wounded; at Chancellorsville he was an active participant, and at Gettysburg he and his brigade were conspicuous in the defeat of Sickles at the peach orchard. Reaching the field of Chickamauga in time for the fighting of September 20th, he was in the grand line of veterans with which Longstreet overwhelmed the Federals, commanding McLaws' division, and in the last grand assault on George H. Thomas also commanding McNair's, Gracie's, Kelly's and Anderson's brigades. and other engagements commanding the division. In the same command he went into the Wilderness campaign of May, 1864, checked the Federal success on May 6th with his veterans, sweeping the enemy from his front and capturing his works. He was riding with Longstreet and Jenkins when these two generals were wounded, and fortunately escaped injury. It was his division which reached Spottsylvania Court House in time to support Stuart's cavalry and thwart the flank movement of Grant, and by an attack on Sheridan opened the bloody struggle at Cold Harbor, where the heaviest Federal loss was before Kershaw's position. He was promoted major.general, and after participating in the Petersburg battles was ordered to the support of Early in the Shenandoah valley. In September he was ordered back to Richmond, and while on the way Early was defeated at Winchester. Then returning to the valley he opened the attack at Cedar Creek, with great success. After this, until the fall of Richmond, he served before that city, north of the James. His last battle was Sailor's Creek, where he was captured with General Ewell and the greater part of the remnant of his command. As a prisoner of war he was held at Fort Warren, Boston, until August 12, 1865. On his return to South Carolina he again took up the practice of law, and in the same year was elected to the State senate and made president of that body. In 1874 he was the Democratic candidate for Congress in his district, and three years later was elected to the position of judge of the Fifth circuit. He served upon the bench until 1893, when he resigned on account of failing health and resumed practice as an attorney at Camden. In February, 1894, he was commissioned postmaster at that city, but he died on the 12th of April following. . His body is in the rector of St. Michael's church, Charleston.

[Gil R.]

Thanks!

[Gil R.]

Here's Kershaw. I have to admit, I didn't realize how many times he was front-and-center in an important battle. I've rated him accordingly. Let me know if his ratings and abilities make sense.


Maj. Gen. Joseph Brevard Kershaw (b. 1822, d. 1894). Kershaw was born at Camden, South Carolina, and was educated for the legal profession, beginning his practice there in 1844. He was a member of the governor's staff in 1843, and served one year in the Mexican war as 1st Lieutenant of Company C, Palmetto Regiment. From 1852 to 1855 he was a representative in the legislature, and in December 1860 participated in the convention that enacted the ordinance of secession. In February 1861, he was commissioned Colonel of the 2nd South Carolina Infantry Regiment, with which he served at Sullivan's Island. That April he and his regiment headed to Virginia, where they served in the brigade of Gen. Milledge L. Bonham at the Blackburn's Ford engagement and the Battle of First Manassas. In February 1862, Kershaw was promoted to Brigadier General, succeeding Bonham. At this rank he participated in the Yorktown campaign, and while serving in Gen. Lafayette McLaws' division fought through the Seven Days Campaign, commanded the troops which captured Maryland Heights at Harpers Ferry, and played a gallant part in the fighting at Antietam. At Fredericksburg, Kershaw’s brigade was sent into the fight at Marye's Heights, where he was in command after Gen. T.R.R. Cobb was wounded, and held off the Union’s attacks; at Chancellorsville, he was an active participant, and at Gettysburg he and his brigade were conspicuous in the defeat of Gen. Daniel Sickles at the Peach Orchard. Reaching the battlefield of Chickamauga in time for the fighting of September 20th, 1863, he was in the grand line of veterans with which Gen. James Longstreet overwhelmed the Federals, commanding McLaws' division Was this a temporary assignment or something permanent?, and in the last grand assault on Gen. George H. Thomas also commanding McNair's, Gracie's, Kelly's and Anderson's brigades. (You left in this sentence fragment: “and other engagements commanding the division.” Should it go, or does something need to be added to it? My guess is the former, but I’m not sure.) In the same command he went into the Wilderness Campaign of May 1864, checking the Union’s success on May 6th with his veterans, sweeping the enemy from his front and capturing their works. Kershaw was riding with Longstreet and Gen. Micah Jenkins when these two generals were wounded, but escaped injury himself. It was Kershaw’s division that reached Spottsylvania Court House in time to support Gen. J.E.B. Stuart's cavalry and thwart the flanking movement of Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, and by an attack on Gen. Philip Sheridan his division also opened the bloody struggle at Cold Harbor, where the heaviest Union losses occurred before Kershaw's position. In recognition of his division’s performance, Kershaw was promoted to Major General. He next participated in the Petersburg battles then was ordered to the support of Gen. Jubal Early in the Shenandoah Valley, where his men helped to fight Sheridan’s forces. That September Kershaw was ordered back to Richmond, and while he was on the way Early was defeated at Winchester, but a month later Early got his revenge on Sheridan at Cedar Creek, with Kershaw’s forces taking part in the action. I rewrote the sentence since it was a bit unclear – am I right to assume that Kershaw’s division returned to support Early at Cedar Creek? After this victory and until the fall of Richmond, Kershaw and his men served before that city, north of the James River. His last battle was at Sayler's Creek, where he was captured with his corps commander, Gen. Richard S. Ewell, and the greater part of what remained of his command. Kershaw was held as a prisoner of war at Fort Warren, Boston, until August 12, 1865, four months after the war had ended. On his return to South Carolina he again took up the practice of law, and in the same year was elected to the state senate and chosen to preside over that body. In 1874, Kershaw was the Democratic candidate for Congress in his district, and three years later was elected to the position of judge of the Fifth Circuit. He served on the bench until 1893, when he resigned on account of failing health and resumed practice as an attorney at Camden. In February, 1894, he was commissioned postmaster of that city, but he died on the 12th of April following. His body lies in the rector of St. Michael's Church in Charleston. (Bio by Scott Jennings)

Leadership: 5
Tactical: 5
Initiative: 3
Command: 5
Cavalry: 0

Start date: 26 or 27

Teaches: Chargers (13), Brave (2), Steady (14)

[jkBluesman]

Early did not get his revenge at Cedar Creek. Although the Union forces were beaten in the morning when Sheridan was still in Winchester, he reached the batllefield in time to rally his forces and repulse the Confederates.
Kershaw's division had been detached from Early in September but returned after the lost battle of Winchester.
The assignment at Chickamauga was temporary. As Longstreet's corps arrived in the middle of the battle, he had to deploy his forces as sson as they were available.

[Gil R.]

Good catch regarding Cedar Creek. I've rewritten those to sentences to read: "That September Kershaw was ordered back to Richmond, and while he was on the way Early was defeated at Winchester. A month later, once again supporting Early, Kershaw’s division took part in the action at Cedar Creek, achieving success themselves in what by late afternoon had become a devastating setback at the hands of Sheridan." I think that does the trick.

As for Chickamauga, my question was about what Kershaw was doing in charge of McLaws' division, not what was Kershaw doing under Longstreet. Any info on this?

[jkBluesman]

Kershaw was in charge of the division as McLaws did not arrive in time to take command. Kershaw and his officers had to lead on foot though as their horses had not yet arrived from Virginia. When McLaws arrived after the battle, he took command again.

[Gil R.]

ORIGINAL: jkBluesman

Kershaw was in charge of the division as McLaws did not arrive in time to take command. Kershaw and his officers had to lead on foot though as their horses had not yet arrived from Virginia. When McLaws arrived after the battle, he took command again.

Thanks. I've corrected that.