CSA Bios: Kershaw, Kennedy, Kemper

[Battleline]

Maj. Gen. Joseph B. Kershaw (b. 1822, d. 1894) With little military background, Joseph Brevard Kershaw commanded troops in the Army of Northern Virginia for most of the war. Kershaw was born Jan. 5, 1822, in Camden, South Carolina. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1843. During the Mexican War, Kershaw volunteered and served for a year as a lieutenant in the Palmetto Regiment. He saw action in Northern Mexico but had to leave the service because of illness. After that war, he returned to his law practice and earned two terms in the state legislature. He was a delegate to the secession convention. With war coming, Kershaw was elected colonel of the Second South Carolina and was at Morris Island during the bombardment of Fort Sumter. He led his men at First Manassas as part of the Army of the Potomac’s first brigade, commanded by Gen. Bonham. Kershaw received promotion to brigadier general Feb. 13, 1862, and took part in all of the operations of the Army of Northern Virginia’s First Corps. His brigade served in the division of Gen. McLaws starting with the Peninsular Campaign. At Fredericksburg, McLaws brigade occupied the sunken road in front of Marye’s Heights, repulsing numerous assaults. At Chancellorsville, Kershaw’s Brigade was east of Hooker’s Federals and helped to check Sedgwick’s advance. At Gettysburg, the brigade was caught up in fighting in the Peach Orchard and Wheatfield on the second day, losing about half of its strength there. In the fall of 1863, Kershaw’s Brigade went with Gen. Longstreet and took part in the Battle of Chickamauga. Kershaw was in division command there and again at Knoxville. Kershaw was promoted major general May 18, 1864, during the Overland Campaign. He commanded a division during Early’s Valley Campaign. At Sayler’s Creek, Kershaw was captured April 6, 1865, and sent to Fort Warren. After his release in July, 1865, he returned to his law practice and was almost immediately elected to the state senate. As a member of the Union Reform Party, he prepared resolutions at the 1870 party convention recognizing the Reconstruction acts. He was elected judge of the state’s fifth circuit court in 1877, and served until poor health compelled him to resign in 1893. He then served as postmaster of Camden until his death, April 13, 1894. He is buried in Camden. Kershaw also wrote of his experiences for “Battles and Leaders of the Civil War.”

Brig. Gen. John D. Kennedy (b. 1840, d. 1896) The life of John Doby Kennedy mirrored that of Joseph B. Kershaw, a fellow Camden, South Carolina, native. Kennedy was born Jan. 5, 1840, attended South Carolina College and then went into law, being admitted to the bar a few weeks before war broke out. He enlisted in the Second South Carolina and was elected captain of Company E. Kennedy was wounded at First Manassas. When Kershaw was promoted to brigadier general, Kennedy became colonel of the Second South Carolina. After the Battle of Savage’s Station during the Seven Days Campaign, June 29, 1862, Kennedy fell ill. He returned in time for the Maryland Campaign. At Fredericksburg, Kennedy led two regiments in support of Gen. Cobb’s brigade at the stone wall at the base of Marye’s Heights. At Gettysburg, he was wounded in the Peach Orchard while assaulting a Federal battery. Kennedy had been commanding Kershaw’s Brigade since Kershaw’s promotion to major general and division command. After the fall of Atlanta, South Carolina Gov. Andrew Magrath requested the brigade be sent to oppose Gen. Sherman. In the final months of the war, Kennedy’s brigade fought with Gen. Joseph Johnston’s army in the Carolinas. Kennedy was recognized with a promotion to brigadier general Dec. 22, 1864. At Averasborough (March 16, 1865) and Bentonville (March 19-21, 1865), Kennedy reportedly was hit by 15 spent bullets and wounded six times. After the war, he returned to practice law and was elected to Congress in December of 1865, but was refused his seat because he refused to take the Ironclad Oath. He stayed prominent in the Democratic Party and served in the legislature and as lieutenant governor. In 1885, Pres. Grover Cleveland appointed Kennedy consul general at Shanghai. Kennedy died from a stroke April 14, 1896, in Camden and was buried there.

Maj. Gen. James L. Kemper (b. 1823, d. 1895) James Lawson Kemper was at the Confederacy’s high-water mark, literally. Kemper, a brigade commander in Pickett’s Division, led his men in the attack on Federal positions at the extreme right of the charge. Kemper was felled within yards of the stone wall and captured. Kemper survived his wounds and was exchanged, but never could resume active field command. Kemper was born in Madison County, Virginia, June 11, 1823, and attended Washington College. After his graduation in 1842, Kemper was a captain of Virginia volunteers in the Mexican War. Returning home, he practiced law and served five terms in the Virginia House of Delegates. During his tenure (1848-60), he served as speaker of the house (1858-60), chairman of the committee on military affairs and president of the board of visitors for Virginia Military Institute. With war coming, Kemper was commissioned as colonel of the Seventh Virginia Infantry. He served in the Sixth Brigade under Col. Early during First Manassas. After Williamsburg, Kemper was promoted to brigadier general June 3, 1862. At Second Manassas, Kemper commanded a division of four brigades in Gen. Longstreet’s Corps. At South Mountain and Sharpsburg, his brigade was in the division of Gen. David Jones. His brigade was in Pickett’s Division from Fredericksburg forward. The brigade missed Chancellorsville on detached duty in North Carolina, and did not arrive at the Gettysburg battleground until the third day. After his capture, Kemper remained in Federal custody until being exchanged in 1864. He returned to Richmond, but was unable to command troops in the field. Instead, he was promoted to major general Sept. 19, 1864, and placed in charge of Virginia’s reserve forces. He surrendered Richmond’s home guard and was paroled at Danville, Virginia, May 2, 1865. After the war, Kemper resumed his law practice and returned to politics. He canvassed for Greeley in the 1872 presidential election. In 1873, he was elected governor as a Democrat, serving from 1874-77. His term was stressful as “Debt-payers” and “Readjusters” fought over how to solve the state’s war debt. After his term, Kemper returned to private life. He died April 7, 1895, in Orange County, Virginia.

[Gil R.]

Finally copied, thanks.