CSA Bios: W.E. Starke, P.B. Starke, Stafford, Sorrel

[Battleline]

Brig. Gen. William E. Starke, CSA (b. 1814, d. 1862) William Edwin Starke and his brother, Peter Burwell Starke, both were generals in the Confederacy. William Starke was born in 1814 (date not known) in Brunswick County, Va., and operated a stage line in Virginia with his brothers. Later, he moved south and became a successful cotton broker in Mobile, Ala., and New Orleans, La. He was residing in New Orleans when the Civil War started. He was an aide-de-camp to Gen. R.S. Garnett in the Western Virginia Campaign. After Garnett was killed during the campaign, Starke was commissioned colonel in the 60th Virginia Infantry. His regiment was under Gens. Floyd and Wise. In the Seven Days Campaign, his regiment was in Field’s Brigade of A.P. Hill’s division. He was promoted to brigadier general Aug. 6, 1862, seeing first major action in the grade at Second Manassas. When Gen. Taliaferro was wounded, Starke ascended to command the Stonewall Division in Jackson’s Corps. His unit was involved in the capture of Harpers Ferry during the Maryland Campaign and arrived in Sharpsburg Sept. 16, 1862. During fighting Sept. 17, Starke was commanding the Stonewall Division after Gen. J.R. Jones retired from the field when he was hit three times. He died an hour later. His remains were returned to Richmond and he was buried at Hollywood Cemetery.

Brig. Gen. Peter B. Starke, CSA (b. 1815, d. 1888) Born in Brunswick County, Va., in 1815, Peter Burwell Starke spent his early life operating the family stage line between Lawrenceville and Petersburg via Boydton. During the 1840s, Starke moved to Bolivar County, Miss., and ran for Congress in 1846, but lost. He served in the lower house of the Mississippi state legislature from 1850-54 and in the senate from 1856-1862. He entered military service as colonel of the 28th Mississippi Cavalry Feb. 24, 1862. His duties were mainly in defense of Vicksburg until it fell. He moved to Gen. Joseph Johnston’s army near the end of the campaign and moved to Armstrong’s brigade in the Atlanta Campaign. After his promotion to brigadier general, Nov. 4, 1864, he fought under Gen. Forrest during Hood’s Tennessee Campaign. After that, Starke was with Gen. Chalmers in Mississippi. After the war, Starke served on the board of Mississippi levee commissioners. For one term, he was the sheriff of Bolivar County. All of his children from his first marriage died soon after the war, so in his later years, Starke moved back to Lawrenceville, Va. He died there July 13, 1888 and was buried in an unmarked grave.

Brig. Gen. Leroy A. Stafford, CSA (b. 1822, d. 1864) Commanding a brigade of Louisiana troops in the Stonewall Division, Leroy Augustus Stafford met his fate during the first day of the Battle of the Wilderness, May 5, 1864, dying of his wound three days later. That ended a lengthy military career of the man born at “Greenwood, near Cheneyville, La., April 13, 1822. After being educated in Kentucky and Tennessee, Stafford returned home and became a planter. In 1845, he was elected sheriff of Rapides Parish. He enlisted as a private in the Rapides Volunteers during the Mexican War and was serving under Ben McCulloch when he was mustered out. Becoming one of the most affluent planters in his region, he helped to recruit the Stafford Guards and was elected the unit’s captain. The company was mustered into Confederate service as Company B, Ninth Louisiana Infantry. Stafford was elected the regiment’s lieutenant colonel He was promoted to colonel, succeeding Richard Taylor, and fought with his regiment in Jackson’s Valley Campaign during 1861. The next spring, he was in the same command at the Seven Days Campaign, Cedar Mountain, Second Manassas, Harpers Ferry and Sharpsburg. In October 1862, his unit was moved to the brigade of Gen. Hays, fighting at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. Stafford received his promotion to brigadier general following the Gettysburg Campaign, Oct. 8, 1863, and was placed in charge of the Second Louisiana Brigade in the Stonewall Division. He led this brigade at Mine Run and was leading his brigade at the Wilderness when he was mortally wounded. First buried in Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, his remains were later moved back to “Greenwood.”

Brig. Gen. Gilbert M. Sorrel, CSA (b. 1838, d. 1901) The author of “Recollections of a Confederate Staff Officer,” Gilbert Moxley Sorrel served for much of the war on Gen. Longstreet’s staff. Sorrel was born in Savannah, Ga., Feb. 23, 1838. He was working for the Central Railroad of Georgia as a clerk in the banking department when the Civil War broke out. A private in the Georgia Hussars, a Savannah militia company, Sorrel witnessed the shelling of Fort Sumter and took part in the capture of Fort Pulaski. He quickly went to Richmond, looking to “get into the fight.” He joined Longstreet’s command as a captain and volunteer aide-de-camp. He was at First Manassas and served on Longsteet’s staff until the general was wounded at the Wilderness. Sorrel was promoted through ranks and was a lieutenant colonel and the chief of staff. He led the troops which rolled up the Federal II Corps at the Wilderness and that helped to earn a brigadier’s commission Oct. 27, 1864. He was given command of a Georgia brigade in Mahone’s Division. Wounded in the leg near Petersburg and shot through the lung at Hatcher’s Run (Feb. 1865), Sorrel was on his way back to the army after recovering from his wounds when he heard of the surrender at Appomattox. Following the war, he served as a merchant in Savannah and later worked with a steamship company. He died near Roanoke, Va., Aug. 10, 1901.

[Gil R.]

Got 'em.

Since you seem to be working your way through the S's, please keep in mind that Sedgwick and Shelby are both 25-percenters, and therefore would merit particular attention. Keep up the good work!

[Battleline]

Brig. Gen. Gilbert M. Sorrel, CSA (b. 1838, d. 1901) The author of “Recollections of a Confederate Staff Officer,” Gilbert Moxley Sorrel served for much of the war on Gen. Longstreet’s staff. Sorrel was born in Savannah, Ga., Feb. 23, 1838. He was working for the Central Railroad of Georgia as a clerk in the banking department when the Civil War broke out. A private in the Georgia Hussars, a Savannah militia company, Sorrel witnessed the shelling of Fort Sumter and took part in the capture of Fort Pulaski. He quickly went to Richmond, looking to “get into the fight.” He joined Longstreet’s command as a captain and volunteer aide-de-camp. He was at First Manassas and served on Longsteet’s staff until the general was wounded at the Wilderness. He was wounded at Sharpsburg. Sorrel was promoted through ranks and was a lieutenant colonel and the chief of staff. He led the troops which rolled up the Federal II Corps at the Wilderness and that helped to earn a brigadier’s commission Oct. 27, 1864. He was given command of a Georgia brigade in Mahone’s Division. Wounded in the leg near Petersburg and shot through the lung at Hatcher’s Run (Feb. 1865), Sorrel was on his way back to the army after recovering from his wounds when he heard of the surrender at Appomattox. Following the war, he served as a merchant in Savannah and later worked with a steamship company. He died near Roanoke, Va., Aug. 10, 1901.

[Gil R.]

Got it, thanks.