Brig. Gen. Evander Law

[jkBluesman]

Brig. Gen. Evander McIvor Law (b. 1836, d. 1920). Born in Darlington, South Carolina Law became associated during the war with Alabama as leader of the „Alabama Zouaves” and the “Alabama Brigade”. The strained relationship to his superior Gen. James Longstreet and the rivalry with Gen. Micah Jenkins prevented him from rising to major general. Law had graduated from the South Carolina Military Academy (today the Citadel) in 1856 and taught at the Kings Mountain Military Academy before founding his own Military High School in Tuskegee, Alabama. When his new home state seceded in 1861 he was commissioned a captain of the 4th Alabama, also called “Alabama Zouaves”, in the Confederate States Army. His regiment consisted mostly of students from his school. At First Manassas, Law received a crippling wound in his left arm but returned in time for the Peninsula Campaign in May 1862, being promoted colonel the same month. He led the “Alabama Brigade” in Gen. John B. Hood’s division and fought under him throughout the Battle of the Seven Days, Second Manassas and Antietam. His reliable service brought the promotion to brigadier general in October 1862. His brigade was part of Longstreet’s corps that was detached to Suffolk, Virginia the following winter and did not return to the Army of Northern Virginia until after the Battle of Chancellorsville. Gettysburg brought the chance of advancement for Law. When Hood was wounded on the battle’s second day Law assumed command of the division. However, he was not notified of it until his brigade’s attack on Little Round Top was already on its way. Then it was too late to coordinate the divisional movement in the difficult terrain of the battlefield. The whole assault failed. When Longstreet’s corps was sent to Tennessee in fall, Hood was back in command of the division. However, on the second day of the Battle of Chickamauga, Hood was wounded again while leading the assault that brought Confederate victory. Law replaced him for the rest of the battle, but the division command went to Jenkins afterwards. Jenkins, a fellow South Carolinian with whom Law had shared every step of his scholar and military education, was an old rival of Law. But he was also a favourite of Longstreet. As Law had the support of Hood and the rank and file, he protested against Jenkins’ nomination. Longstreet tried to solve the quarrel by leaving Law in Tenessee when the corps returned to Virginia for the Overland Campaign of 1864. Law requested a transfer to Alabama instead and was arrested for insubordination in return. Gen. Robert E. Lee finally put Law back to command of his brigade (the division now under the command of Gen. Charles Field) after Longstreet had been wounded in the Wilderness (on May 6). But Law only fought the Battle of Cold Harbor with his Alabamians during which he was wounded in the left eye. After recovering he joined Gen. Wade Hampton’s cavalry in South Carolina, where he surrendered to Union soldiers. During Reconstruction Law became a teacher again, amongst others teaching at Southern Florida Military Institute, and retired as editor of a newspaper in Bartow, Florida, where he was buried after his death in Oak Hill Cemetery.

Ldr: 5
Tact: 4
Init: 3
Cmd: 4
Cav: I have no confirmation that he ever led cavalry while under the command of Hampton. So if he gets a rating at all, it should not be more than 3

Teaches: Woodsmen, Chargers, if a third it could be Polar Bears for the hardships in Tennessee

[jkBluesman]

I do not know for sure whether the Alabama Zouaves or the Alabama Brigade qualify for a legendary unit. But one can look at them as the equivalent to Hood's Texas Brigade.

[Battleline]

There were other Alabama brigades in the Army of Northern Virginia as well, such as the Second Corps one commanded by Robert Rodes and Cullen Battle.
Thanks,
Battleline

[jkBluesman]

That is true. This one was first commanded by Gen. B. E. Bee at First Manassas. It consisted of the 4th, 15th, 44th, 47th and 48th Alabama Infantry.

[Battleline]

Yes, a fine unit!
I'm enjoying your biographies. Keep up the good work!
Battleline

[Gil R.]

Copied. As for the Alabama Zouaves, they can certainly be considered for LU status. Sometime this summer I need to start dealing with LU's again -- we have lots more we can add.

[jkBluesman]

Gil: I edited the bio after finding the evidence that Law and Jenkins were old rivals.

Battleline: I know now why you insisted on the other brigades from Alabama. By comparing the Texas Brigade and Law's men I did not want to say that Cullen Battle's did not serve well.

[Gil R.]

Okay, I got your changes.

I just discovered that I somehow managed to copy this bio into the part of the master file with Battleline's bios -- I hope everyone's been checking bylines to make sure I haven't misattributed any bios!

[General Quarters]

Very interesting about Law and Jenkins.

[Gil R.]

Here's Law. Battleline also did a bio of him, not realizing that jkBluesman had done one. So, I kept the first but added some material from Battleline's bio (which I copied below). Looks good to go:

Brig. Gen. Evander McIvor Law (b. 1836, d. 1920). Born in Darlington, South Carolina, Law became associated during the war with Alabama as leader of the “Alabama Zouaves” and the “Alabama Brigade.” A strained relationship with his superior, Gen. James Longstreet, and a rivalry with fellow officer Micah Jenkins prevented him from rising to major general. Born in Darington, South Carolina, on August 7, 1836, Law graduated from the South Carolina Military Academy (today the Citadel) in 1856 and taught at the Kings Mountain Military Academy before founding his own Military High School in Tuskegee, Alabama. When his new home state seceded in 1861, Law joined the Confederate States Army and was commissioned a captain of the 4th Alabama, also called “Alabama Zouaves,” which consisted mostly of students from his school. At the First Battle of Manassas Law, serving as the regiment’s lieutenant colonel, received a crippling wound in his left arm during the fighting on Henry House Hill, but he returned in time for the Peninsula Campaign in May 1862, gaining promotion to colonel the same month. He led the “Alabama Brigade” at Seven Pines and then during the Seven Days Battles, serving in the divisions of Gen. Gustavus W. Smith and Gen. W.H.C. Whiting, and later Second Manassas and Antietam under Gen. John B. Hood. Law’s reliable service brought him a promotion to brigadier general on October 2, 1862. His brigade was detached with Longstreet’s corps to Suffolk, Virginia that winter and did not return to the Army of Northern Virginia until after the Battle of Chancellorsville. The Battle of Gettysburg two months later brought the chance of advancement for Law. When Hood was wounded on the battle’s second day Law assumed command of the division. However, he was not notified of it until his brigade’s attack on Little Round Top was already initiated. By then it was too late to coordinate the divisional movement in the difficult terrain of the battlefield, and the whole assault failed. When Longstreet’s corps was sent to Tennessee that fall to support Gen. Braxton Bragg’s army, Hood was back in command of the division. However, on the second day of the Battle of Chickamauga Hood was wounded again while leading the assault that brought Confederate victory. Law replaced him for the rest of the battle, but the division command went to Jenkins afterwards. Jenkins, a fellow South Carolinian with whom Law had shared every step of his scholarly and military education, was an old rival of Law, and was also a favorite of Longstreet. As Law had the support of Hood and the rank and file, he protested against Jenkins’ nomination. The situation got worse during the continued campaigning in Tennessee that winter, and Law even traveled to Richmond in order to resign, but was talked out of it by Hood. Longstreet first tried to solve the problem by arresting Law for insubordination, and then trying to leave Law and his men in Tennessee when the corps returned to Virginia. Gen. Robert E. Lee, however, recalled Law’s Brigade to Virginia for the Overland Campaign of 1864 and put Law himself back in command of his brigade – the division now being under the command of Gen. Charles Field – after Longstreet had been wounded in the Wilderness on May 6. But Law only fought with his Alabamians once more, when he commanded them in the Battle of Cold Harbor a month later, during which he was wounded in the left eye. After recovering, Law joined Gen. Wade Hampton’s cavalry as a brigade commander for the Carolinas Campaign, surrendering along with the rest of the Army of Tennessee that April. After the war, Law settled in Florida, founding a military school and working in education. He also pursued journalism, and retired as editor of a newspaper in Bartow. Law died there on October 31, 1920, and was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery. (Bio by Joern Kaesebier with Bill Battle)

Ldr: 5
Tact: 4
Init: 3
Cmd: 4
Cav: 3

Teaches: Woodsmen (19), Chargers (13), if a third it could be Polar Bears for the hardships in Tennessee

Start date: 42


Battleline’s bio:
Brig Gen. Evander M. Law (b. 1836, d. 1920) Born in South Carolina, Evander McIvor Law made his military career with Alabama troops during the Civil War. Law was born in Darington, South Carolina, Aug. 7, 1836. He graduated from South Carolina Military Academy in 1856, where he acted as an instructor of belles lettres during his senior year. He went into teaching at military schools, both at the Citadel and at King’s Mountain Military School. He helped to found the Military High School in Tuskegee, Alabama. There, he recruited a company of state troops, which he took to Pensacola, Florida. His unit was incorporated into the Fourth Alabama and he was elected the unit’s lieutenant colonel. At First Manassas, Law was wounded on Henry House Hill. He returned to be elected colonel of the Fourth Alabama in November. He led the regiment at Seven Pines, during the Seven Days Campaign (leading a brigade in Gen. Whiting’s Division), at Second Manassas and Sharpsburg. Hood’s division fought unsupported on the Cornfield, trading lives for the time needed by Gen. Stonewall Jackson. Law received promotion to brigadier general Oct. 2, 1862. Part of Hood’s Division in Longstreet’s Corps, Law led his men into battle at Gettysburg and Chickamauga. At Gettysburg, Law’s brigade assaulted Little Round Top July 2. When Hood was wounded, Law commanded the division until Hood could return. When Hood was wounded again at Chickamauga, Law commanded in operations around Chattanooga. Back in Virginia, Law led the men through the Wilderness, Spotsylvania and Cold Harbor before he was wounded again. Following his recovery, Law had enough with Longstreet and asked to be relieved and went to command a cavalry force under Gen. Joseph Johnston in the Carolinas Campaign. He was promoted to major general in March of 1865. After the war, he settled in Florida, founding a military school and played a role in establishing that state’s educational system. He also worked in newspapers until he was 80. A commander of the Florida division of the United Confederate Veterans, he wrote a number of articles on Civil War campaigns he participated in. He died in Bartow, Florida, Oct. 31, 1920, and was buried there.

[jkBluesman]

Gil, from where did you get the inforamtion that Law travelled to Richmond to see Hood. I only know that he visited Hood while the Texan was still recovering in Tennessee.

[Gil R.]

From Wikipedia. (My copy of Heidler is still in a box from my move. Not sure which box...) According to that, there was an earlier visit to the wounded Hood and then another meeting in Richmond. Perhaps the latter was when Hood was recovered, and in Richmond for some other reason?

[jkBluesman]

I looked it up and found the information about Law's visit to Richmond in the bio on Longstreet also. So everything is fine with me and the bio ready to go, thanks.

[Gil R.]

Okay, good to know.