CSA Bio Brig. Gen. Daniel C. Govan

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Brig. Gen. Daniel C. Govan (b. 1829, d. 1911) Despite fighting in many of the bloodiest battles in Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi and Georgia, Brig. Gen. Daniel Chevilette Govan survived into the 20th Century before dying. Govan was born in Northampton County, North Carolina, July 4, 1829. His father was a South Carolina congressman. As a youth, he was raised in Mississippi and spent some time at the University of South Carolina. When the Gold Rush came in 1849, Govan went west with Ben McCulloch (who also later became a Confederate general). When McCulloch was elected sheriff of Sacramento in 1850, Govan became his deputy. In 1852, Govan returned to Mississippi. When he married, he relocated to Phillips County, Arkansas, living as a planter until the start of the Civil War. With war coming, Govan organized a militia company which was incorporated into the Second Arkansas Infantry as Co. F. Soon after, he was elevated to lieutenant colonel. The regiment saw action at Rowlett’s Station, Kentucky, Dec. 17, 1861, and was bloodied in major combat at Shiloh (April 6-7, 1862). After being pushed back from Shiloh, the regiment fought in battles around Corinth, Mississippi, through June of 1862. In August of 1862, Govan and his unit pushed north into Kentucky, seeing action in a victory at Richmond, Kentucky (Aug. 29-30, 1862), and again at Perryville, Kentucky (Oct. 8, 1862), a battle which saw the Confederates dominate but leave the field to the Federals. The end of 1862 saw the regiment as part of Maj. Gen. Patrick Cleburne’s division fighting at Murfreesboro (Stones River) Dec. 31-Jan. 3, 1862, another tactical Confederate victory which ended with the Federals holding the ground. Next came the Tullahoma Campaign June 23-July 3, 1863, a Federal offensive designed to keep Gen. Braxton Bragg from sending troops to help reinforce Vicksburg, Mississippi. When Bragg finally stopped retreating to fight at Chickamauga, Georgia, Sept. 19-20, 1863. Govan commanded a brigade under Brig. Gen. St. John Richardson Liddell. On Missionary Ridge, Govan's Brigade was posted on the northern end of the defenses near the eastern exit of the railroad tunnel The Second Arkansas was consolidated with the 15th Arkansas (due to losses) in Liddell’s Brigade. After the Confederates were driven out of Chattanooga, Govan fought at the Battle of Ringgold Gap, Georgia, Nov. 25, 1863, in a successful delaying action. In reorganization, Govan was promoted to brigadier general to rank from Dec. 29, 1863. For the Atlanta Campaign, Govan commanded a brigade of mauled and consolidated Arkansas units (eight which represented about four full-strength units) and a regular army regiment. Govan was one of the brigadiers under Cleburne to be praised for his work at the Battle of Pickett’s Mills outside Atlanta May 27, 1864. At the disastrous Battle of Jonesboro (Aug. 31-Sept. 1, 1864), Govan was captured with much of his brigade. Part of the brigade did manage to escape. Govan was soon exchanged and rejoined them. He was back with Gen. John B. Hood’s Army of Tennessee for the push back into the Volunteer State. Govan survived the bloodbath at Franklin, Tennessee, Nov. 30, 1864, and the bitter defeat at Nashville, Tennessee, Dec. 15-16, 1864. Govan made his way to join Gen. Joseph Johnston in North Carolina and surrendered with these forces April 26, 1865. After the war, Govan returned to his land in Arkansas. In 1894, he moved to the state of Washington after being appointed an Indian agent by Pres. Grover Cleveland. His final years were spent traveling to visit his 14 children in Tennessee and Mississippi. After dying in Memphis, Tennessee, March 12, 1911, Govan was buried in Holly Springs, Mississippi.

Main sources stated Govan was promoted to brigadier general to rank from Feb. 29, 1863, obviously not a valid date. The Chickamauga OOB has him as a colonel commanding Liddell’s Brigade in Liddell’s Division of Walker’s Reserve Corps. Wikipedia states the correct date for promotion should be Dec. 29, 1863, after Chickamauga. Also, I couldn’t find any information of Govan at Missionary Ridge or in the Chattanooga OOB. Perhaps he was wounded at Chickamauga or otherwise on leave?

Pulled out "Storming the Heights, a Guide to The Battle of Chattanooga" (another of my books from the Chickamauga book store) and found Govan in command of the same brigade. Govan's brigade was still pretty small at Missionary Ridge as it had been mauled a couple of different times during Chickamauga.

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Pulled out my copy of "This Terrible Sound" by Peter Cozzens (page 19), part of my haul from the gift shop at Chickamauga, oddly very close to Govan's brigade's final position in the battle. Found another interesting passage. Seems Govan was not a Braxton Bragg fan (as were few in the Army of Tennessee, if you take Sam Watkins' accounts in "Co. Aytch." At any rate, Govan and Liddell were having an exchange about whether or not Bragg intended on holding during the Tullahoma Campaign. Liddell had been assured that Bragg intended to fight Rosecrans there. Govan was skeptical.
"No matter, General, I don't believe it, and I will go an oyster supper on it," Govan was reported to say.
No word on whether or not Govan ever got that oyster supper.
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[jkBluesman]

Great bio and good to see how you used your stay at Chickamauga. In "Stonewall of the West" the book by Symonds on Cleburne I found the information that Govan commanded Liddell's brigade at Missionary Ridge. It fought as part of a salient close to Chickamauga Creek against Sherman under the overall command of Cleburne.
In the same book it is mentioned that Govan was made brigadier general after Murfreesburo without giving a date.

[Battleline]

jkBluesman,
Thanks!
I don't know whether or not the Cleburne author also used that Feb. 29, 1863 date or not since it's been in many places. Warner's "Generals in Gray" lists that date and many others have used Warner as a source. From everything I have found for data from Order of Battle lists for both Chickamauga and Chattanooga indicate that Govan was still a colonel for those fights. That leads me to believe the Dec. 29 date is closer in line to what actually happened.
If anyone has access to Confederate records, this might be an interesting detail to find!
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[Gil R.]

Let me know when this one is safe to copy.

I wish I had known you were going to Chickamauga. I still have the CD for the driving tour from last year, and could have sent it to you. Oh well, if you ended up spending ten dollars on one it did go to a good cause...