CSA Bios: Vance, Tyler, Twiggs, Tucker, Trimble
Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 10:29 pm
Brig. Gen. Robert B. Vance, CSA (b. 1828 d. 1899) Robert Brank Vance was the older brother of North Carolina governor and senator Zebulon Vance. Robert B. Vance was born April 24, 1828, in Buncombe County, N.C. He was educated locally and engaged in mercantile and agriculture. He served several years as clerk of the court of pleas and quarter sessions. In 1861, he was instrumental in recruiting the Buncombe Life Guards militia company and was elected its captain. When the unit was incorporated into the 29th North Carolina Infantry, he was elected the unit’s colonel. The 29th North Carolina Infantry was sent to East Tennessee to defend the Cumberland Gap. It was with Gen. Kirby Smith when he went into Kentucky. After Gen. James E. Raines died at Murfreesboro, Vance commanded the brigade until he was felled by typhoid fever. During his illness, he was promoted to brigadier general to rank from March 4, 1863. After his recovery, he was assigned to duty in western North Carolina and was captured at Crosby Creek Jan. 14, 1864. He was held prisoner at Fort Delaware, being exchanged March 10, 1865. Following the war, he was elected to Congress six times between 1873 and 1885. After that, he was assistant commissioner of patents in Washington. He served in the state legislature from 1894-96. He died near Ashville, N.C. Nov. 28, 1899.
Brig. Gen. Robert C. Tyler, CSA (b. 1833? d. 1865) Former mercenary Robert Charles Tyler was a man of mystery prior to 1856. It is said he was born and raised in Baltimore, Md., but that is speculation. He was on the Nicaragua expedition of William Walker in 1856. He listed his age as 28 when he enlisted as a private in Company D, 15th Tennessee Infantry, April 18, 1861. He had been living in Maryland at the time. His rise in the Confederate army was a quick one. He first was a regimental quartermaster, but was in charge of the 15th Tennessee by the time it fought at Belmont and Shiloh, holding the rank of lieutenant colonel. He was wounded at the latter fight. He was made full colonel upon his regiment’s reorganization in Corinth. At times, Tyler was the provost marshal for Gen. Braxton Bragg during the 1862 Kentucky Invasion. He returned to his regiment during later campaigns of the Army of Tennessee through the Chattanooga Campaign. He was badly wounded at Missionary Ridge and lost one leg due to his wound. During his recovery, he was promoted to brigadier general to rank from Feb. 23, 1864. Records do not indicate he returned to the main army after that. He was posted to West Point, Ga., during the winter of 1864-65. On April 16, 1865, he defended a small earthwork on the west side of West Point against a full brigade of Federal cavalry, which was part of Maj. Gen. James H. Wilson’s corps. He was killed by a Federal sharpshooter defending Fort Tyler.
Maj. Gen. David E. Twiggs, CSA (b. 1790 d. 1862) David Emanuel Twiggs was the oldest officer from the old U.S. Army to join the Confederacy. Twiggs was a veteran of two prior wars before left the U.S. Army. Born in Richmond County, Ga., in 1790, Twiggs was commissioned as a captain in the 8th Infantry March 12, 1812. He fought in the War of 1812 and was promoted to major in the 28th Infantry in 1814. By the outbreak of the Mexican War, Twiggs was a colonel in the Second Dragoons. With the beginning of that war, he was promoted to brigadier general. He led troops that stormed Monterey and received a brevet promotion to major general and was presented a sword by resolution of Congress. As of Dec. 31, 1861, he was one of four general officers on the U.S. Army roster (along with Winfield Scott, John E. Wool and William S. Harney). In command of the Department of Texas, he surrendered his forces and stores to Col. Ben McCulloch, who was representing the state of Texas. That brought about his dismissal from the U.S. Army March 1, 1861. He was appointed major general of the Provisional Army of the Confederacy and was the senior officer in that grade at the time. He was assigned to command the District of Louisiana. Unfortunately, he was too old for field duty and he was under virtual retirement until he died near Augusta, Ga. July 15, 1862.
Brig. Gen. William F. Tucker, CSA (b. 1827 d. 1881) William Feimster Tucker fought in the first major battle of the Civil War in the brigade of Gen. Barnard E. Bee, but he saw much of his action in fighting in Tennessee and Georgia. Born in Iredell County, N.C., May 9, 1827, Tucker graduated from Emory and Henry College in Virginia at the age of 21. He moved to Houston, Miss., and was elected probate judge of Chickasaw County, Miss., in 1855. Studying law, he was admitted to the bar there and was a lawyer when the Civil War broke out. He started as captain of Company K, 11th Mississippi Infantry, and fought at First Manassas under the command of Gen. Bee. His company was then transferred west and made part of the 41st Mississippi. He was selected the unit’s colonel May 8, 1862. He led the 41st Mississippi through battles at Perryville, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga and Chattanooga, being promoted to brigadier general March 1, 1864. During the Atlanta Campaign, Tucker was severely wounded during fighting at Resaca May 14, 1864, that he had to leave field command. In the final weeks of the war, he commanded the District of Southern Mississippi and East Louisiana. After the war, he returned to Chickashaw County and resumed his legal practice. He served as a member of the state legislature from 1876 to 1878. Tucker was killed Sept. 14, 1881, in Okolona, Miss. Allegedly, two men were hired for the task by a “Shaw.” Tucker had a case pending against him for misappropriation of guardianship funds.
Maj. Gen. Isaac R. Trimble, CSA (b. 1802 d. 1888) Born in Culpepper County, Va., May 15, 1802, Isaac Ridgeway Trimble was a member U.S. Military Academy at West Point’s Class of 1822. He served 10 years as a lieutenant of artillery before resigning his commission to work on railroad development. Until 1861, he worked as an engineer for a number of railroads being constructed in the east and south. He identified himself with the state of Maryland and at the outbreak of the Civil War, he was engaged in the burning of bridges north of Baltimore to try to prevent Federal troops from reaching Washington. Going to Virginia, he accepted a commission as colonel of engineers in Virginia state forces (May 1861) and was sent to work on Norfolk’s defenses. He as appointed brigadier general in the Provisional Army Aug. 9, 1861, and given command of a brigade in Ewell’s Division. His command fought in the Valley Campaign of 1862. At the Battle of Cross Keys, June 8, 1862, Trimble triggered a crushing blow to Gen. John C. Fremont’s command. He served at the Seven Days Campaign, Cedar Junction and Gen. Jackson’s capture of Manassas Junction. He was wounded at Second Manassas. During his recovery, he was promoted to major general to rank from Jan. 17, 1863. He returned to the army in time for the Battle of Gettysburg, going as a major general without command. When William D. Pender was wounded, Gen. Robert E. Lee assigned him to command the Pender’s division in the Third Corps. Trimble was wounded in the ankle during Pickett’s charge. He was captured and ended up losing much of the leg to his wound. He remained in Federal custody until Feb. 1865, but was unable to rejoin the army before the surrender at Appomattox. Following the war, Trimble made his home in Baltimore, Md., dying there Jan. 2, 1888.
Brig. Gen. Robert C. Tyler, CSA (b. 1833? d. 1865) Former mercenary Robert Charles Tyler was a man of mystery prior to 1856. It is said he was born and raised in Baltimore, Md., but that is speculation. He was on the Nicaragua expedition of William Walker in 1856. He listed his age as 28 when he enlisted as a private in Company D, 15th Tennessee Infantry, April 18, 1861. He had been living in Maryland at the time. His rise in the Confederate army was a quick one. He first was a regimental quartermaster, but was in charge of the 15th Tennessee by the time it fought at Belmont and Shiloh, holding the rank of lieutenant colonel. He was wounded at the latter fight. He was made full colonel upon his regiment’s reorganization in Corinth. At times, Tyler was the provost marshal for Gen. Braxton Bragg during the 1862 Kentucky Invasion. He returned to his regiment during later campaigns of the Army of Tennessee through the Chattanooga Campaign. He was badly wounded at Missionary Ridge and lost one leg due to his wound. During his recovery, he was promoted to brigadier general to rank from Feb. 23, 1864. Records do not indicate he returned to the main army after that. He was posted to West Point, Ga., during the winter of 1864-65. On April 16, 1865, he defended a small earthwork on the west side of West Point against a full brigade of Federal cavalry, which was part of Maj. Gen. James H. Wilson’s corps. He was killed by a Federal sharpshooter defending Fort Tyler.
Maj. Gen. David E. Twiggs, CSA (b. 1790 d. 1862) David Emanuel Twiggs was the oldest officer from the old U.S. Army to join the Confederacy. Twiggs was a veteran of two prior wars before left the U.S. Army. Born in Richmond County, Ga., in 1790, Twiggs was commissioned as a captain in the 8th Infantry March 12, 1812. He fought in the War of 1812 and was promoted to major in the 28th Infantry in 1814. By the outbreak of the Mexican War, Twiggs was a colonel in the Second Dragoons. With the beginning of that war, he was promoted to brigadier general. He led troops that stormed Monterey and received a brevet promotion to major general and was presented a sword by resolution of Congress. As of Dec. 31, 1861, he was one of four general officers on the U.S. Army roster (along with Winfield Scott, John E. Wool and William S. Harney). In command of the Department of Texas, he surrendered his forces and stores to Col. Ben McCulloch, who was representing the state of Texas. That brought about his dismissal from the U.S. Army March 1, 1861. He was appointed major general of the Provisional Army of the Confederacy and was the senior officer in that grade at the time. He was assigned to command the District of Louisiana. Unfortunately, he was too old for field duty and he was under virtual retirement until he died near Augusta, Ga. July 15, 1862.
Brig. Gen. William F. Tucker, CSA (b. 1827 d. 1881) William Feimster Tucker fought in the first major battle of the Civil War in the brigade of Gen. Barnard E. Bee, but he saw much of his action in fighting in Tennessee and Georgia. Born in Iredell County, N.C., May 9, 1827, Tucker graduated from Emory and Henry College in Virginia at the age of 21. He moved to Houston, Miss., and was elected probate judge of Chickasaw County, Miss., in 1855. Studying law, he was admitted to the bar there and was a lawyer when the Civil War broke out. He started as captain of Company K, 11th Mississippi Infantry, and fought at First Manassas under the command of Gen. Bee. His company was then transferred west and made part of the 41st Mississippi. He was selected the unit’s colonel May 8, 1862. He led the 41st Mississippi through battles at Perryville, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga and Chattanooga, being promoted to brigadier general March 1, 1864. During the Atlanta Campaign, Tucker was severely wounded during fighting at Resaca May 14, 1864, that he had to leave field command. In the final weeks of the war, he commanded the District of Southern Mississippi and East Louisiana. After the war, he returned to Chickashaw County and resumed his legal practice. He served as a member of the state legislature from 1876 to 1878. Tucker was killed Sept. 14, 1881, in Okolona, Miss. Allegedly, two men were hired for the task by a “Shaw.” Tucker had a case pending against him for misappropriation of guardianship funds.
Maj. Gen. Isaac R. Trimble, CSA (b. 1802 d. 1888) Born in Culpepper County, Va., May 15, 1802, Isaac Ridgeway Trimble was a member U.S. Military Academy at West Point’s Class of 1822. He served 10 years as a lieutenant of artillery before resigning his commission to work on railroad development. Until 1861, he worked as an engineer for a number of railroads being constructed in the east and south. He identified himself with the state of Maryland and at the outbreak of the Civil War, he was engaged in the burning of bridges north of Baltimore to try to prevent Federal troops from reaching Washington. Going to Virginia, he accepted a commission as colonel of engineers in Virginia state forces (May 1861) and was sent to work on Norfolk’s defenses. He as appointed brigadier general in the Provisional Army Aug. 9, 1861, and given command of a brigade in Ewell’s Division. His command fought in the Valley Campaign of 1862. At the Battle of Cross Keys, June 8, 1862, Trimble triggered a crushing blow to Gen. John C. Fremont’s command. He served at the Seven Days Campaign, Cedar Junction and Gen. Jackson’s capture of Manassas Junction. He was wounded at Second Manassas. During his recovery, he was promoted to major general to rank from Jan. 17, 1863. He returned to the army in time for the Battle of Gettysburg, going as a major general without command. When William D. Pender was wounded, Gen. Robert E. Lee assigned him to command the Pender’s division in the Third Corps. Trimble was wounded in the ankle during Pickett’s charge. He was captured and ended up losing much of the leg to his wound. He remained in Federal custody until Feb. 1865, but was unable to rejoin the army before the surrender at Appomattox. Following the war, Trimble made his home in Baltimore, Md., dying there Jan. 2, 1888.