CSA Bios: DH Reynolds, AW Reynolds, R Ransom, M Ransom
Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2007 11:18 pm
Brig. Gen. Daniel H. Reynolds, CSA (b. 1832, d. 1902) Just over a month before Gen. Joseph Johnston surrendered his Confederate army at Greensboro, N.C., the conflict came to an end for Brig. Gen. Daniel Harris Reynolds, who was wounded so badly at the Battle of Bentonville, N.C. (March 19-21, 1865) that he had to have a leg amputated. Thus ended the career of an officer who started as a captain with the First Arkansas Mounted Rifles at the Battle of Wilson’s Creek, Mo. Reynolds was born in Centerburg, Ohio, Dec. 14, 1832. He was educated at Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio, along with Gen. Otho F. Strahl. Reynolds received education in law in Somerville, Tenn., and was admitted to the bar in 1858. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Reynolds was living in Lake Village, Ark. He helped to raise a company for Confederate service and was the unit’s captain when it was incorporated into the First Arkansas Mounted Rifles. Until the unit was moved to Gen. Earl Van Dorn’s army, it participated in skirmishes in Missouri and Arkansas. Under Van Dorn’s command, Reynolds rose in rank as the unit fought as a dismounted unit in east Tennessee and Kentucky through 1862 (Battles of Richmond, Perryville, Murfreesboro). At the Battle of Chickamauga, the First Arkansas was on the left flank and Reynolds earned praise from Gen. Bushrod Johnson for “faithful toil and heroic conduct,” especially for “his efforts to preserve our lines and encourage and press on our men.” Reynolds was promoted to brigadier general to rank from March 5, 1864, and he fought through the Atlanta Campaign with his new brigade. During the Tennessee Invasion, Reynolds’ brigade played a large role during the army’s retreat after the Battle of Nashville. His unit joined up with Gen. Joseph Johnston’s troops in North Carolina. After being wounded, Reynolds was captured and paroled two months later. After the war, Reynolds returned to Arkansas, practiced law and served one term in the state senate. He died in Lake Village, Ark., March 14, 1902.
Brig. Gen. Alexander W. Reynolds, CSA (b. 1816, d. 1876) Alexander Welch Reynolds served in three armies during his military career, which encompassed most of his life. Born in Clarke County, Va., in April 1816, he entered the U.S. Military Academy in 1833 and graduated with the Class of 1838. Reynolds fought in the Seminole War and served in garrison duty. In 1847, he transferred to the quartermaster department. He was dismissed from service in 1855 due to discrepancies in his accounts, but was reinstated in the U.S. Army in March 1858 without loss of seniority or rank. He was dismissed again Oct. 4, 1861, for being absent without leave. Reynolds had been appointed captain in the Regular Confederate Army as early as March of 1861 and had been commissioned as the colonel of the 50th Virginia Infantry July 10, 1861. He fought with John Floyd’s command in western Virginia in 1861-62 and was with Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith at Knoxville. Captured at Vicksburg, Reynolds was paroled and exchanged. He received a promotion to brigadier general Sept. 14, 1863, and commanded a brigade in Carter Stevenson’s division of Hardee’s corps during the Atlanta Campaign. Wounded at combat at New Hope Church, Ga., Reynolds led troops in north Alabama and middle Tennessee in the final months of the war. In 1869, Reynolds received a new military opportunity, joining the army of the Egyptian Khedive along with several other former Federal and Confederate officers. Holding the rank of colonel, he served in staff capacities under Gen. W.W. Loring. Reynolds died in Alexandria, Egypt, May 26, 1876, and was buried there. Location of the grave has been lost, but there is a stone in his memory in the cemetery of St. James the Less in Philadelphia, hometown of his wife.
Maj. Gen. Robert Ransom, Jr., CSA (b. 1828, d. 1892) Younger brother of Confederate Brig. Gen. Matt W. Ramsom, Robert Ramsom Jr., was born in Warren County, N.C., Feb. 12, 1828. He attended the U.S. Military Academy and graduated from West Point in 1850. He served for the next 11 years with the U.S. Army dragoons (mainly on the frontier with the First Cavalry) before resigning to join the Confederate forces. A captain in the Regular Confederate Army, Ransom was made colonel of the First North Carolina Cavalry, Provisional Army. That unit also was called the Ninth North Carolina Volunteers. Not popular with his men due to his ideas on strict discipline, Ransom still managed to post an impressive combat record starting Nov. 26, 1861. Due to that record, Ransom was promoted to brigadier general March 1, 1862. Originally detailed to organize cavalry in the west, Ransom was moved to North Carolina instead. He was in Gen. Huger’s division during the Seven Days Campaign and his command suffered at Malvern Hill. After the Maryland Campaign, Ransom commanded a division in the center of the defensive lines at Marye’s Hill at Fredericksburg. He was promoted to major general May 26, 1863. Ironically, Ransom’s brother ascended to take over his old brigade. He was moved to command the military district which included southeastern Virginia. He later commanded a district which included Richmond. At Second Drewry’s Bluff, Ransom came to the aid of Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard and commanded a division which broke the right flank of the Army of the James. Beauregard criticized him for allowing the Federals to escape to Bermuda Hundred. He commanded cavalry under Jubal Early for the Shenandoah Campaign of 1864, but went on sick leave. He was assigned another district in South Carolina, but saw no more active duty. After the war, he returned to North Carolina. Postwar jobs included being an express agent, city marshal of Wilmington, N.C., farmer and civil engineer in charge of making river and harbor improvements in New Bern, N.C. He died in New Bern, N.C., Jan. 14, 1892.
Brig Gen. Matt W. Ransom, CSA (b. 1826, d. 1904) While he didn’t have the military background of his younger brother, Matt Whitaker Ransom still ascended to brigade command in the Confederate army. Ransom’s younger brother was Robert Ransom, Jr. Matt Ransom actually took over his brother’s unit when he was promoted to major general. Matt Ransom was born in Warren County, N.C., Oct. 8, 1826. He graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1847 and studied law during his senior year. He was admitted to the bar. He was a Whig presidential elector in 1852 and served in the lower house of the North Carolina legislature from 1858-61. He was one of three North Carolina commissioners sent to Montgomery, Ala., to form the Confederate government. He enlisted as a private, but was quickly commissioned as lieutenant colonel in the First North Carolina State Troops. He was made colonel of the 35th North Carolina Infantry and his regiment was placed in his brother’s brigade. Ransom fought at Seven Pines, the Seven Days Campaign, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg before the unit was detailed for action in North Carolina. There, he fought at Plymouth and Weldon before returning to Virginia for combat at Suffolk and the siege of Petersburg. Ransom was wounded three times during the war, including at Second Drewry’s Bluff. The unit wrapped up the war with actions at Fort Stedman and Five Forks before surrendering at Appomattox. After the war, he returned to North Carolina and resumed his law practice. He also farmed on his wife’s plantation on the Roanoke River. Ransom was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1872 and served in that capacity until 1895, when he was appointed minister to Mexico by President Grover Cleveland. Ransom died Oct. 8, 1904, near Garysburg, N.C.
Brig. Gen. Alexander W. Reynolds, CSA (b. 1816, d. 1876) Alexander Welch Reynolds served in three armies during his military career, which encompassed most of his life. Born in Clarke County, Va., in April 1816, he entered the U.S. Military Academy in 1833 and graduated with the Class of 1838. Reynolds fought in the Seminole War and served in garrison duty. In 1847, he transferred to the quartermaster department. He was dismissed from service in 1855 due to discrepancies in his accounts, but was reinstated in the U.S. Army in March 1858 without loss of seniority or rank. He was dismissed again Oct. 4, 1861, for being absent without leave. Reynolds had been appointed captain in the Regular Confederate Army as early as March of 1861 and had been commissioned as the colonel of the 50th Virginia Infantry July 10, 1861. He fought with John Floyd’s command in western Virginia in 1861-62 and was with Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith at Knoxville. Captured at Vicksburg, Reynolds was paroled and exchanged. He received a promotion to brigadier general Sept. 14, 1863, and commanded a brigade in Carter Stevenson’s division of Hardee’s corps during the Atlanta Campaign. Wounded at combat at New Hope Church, Ga., Reynolds led troops in north Alabama and middle Tennessee in the final months of the war. In 1869, Reynolds received a new military opportunity, joining the army of the Egyptian Khedive along with several other former Federal and Confederate officers. Holding the rank of colonel, he served in staff capacities under Gen. W.W. Loring. Reynolds died in Alexandria, Egypt, May 26, 1876, and was buried there. Location of the grave has been lost, but there is a stone in his memory in the cemetery of St. James the Less in Philadelphia, hometown of his wife.
Maj. Gen. Robert Ransom, Jr., CSA (b. 1828, d. 1892) Younger brother of Confederate Brig. Gen. Matt W. Ramsom, Robert Ramsom Jr., was born in Warren County, N.C., Feb. 12, 1828. He attended the U.S. Military Academy and graduated from West Point in 1850. He served for the next 11 years with the U.S. Army dragoons (mainly on the frontier with the First Cavalry) before resigning to join the Confederate forces. A captain in the Regular Confederate Army, Ransom was made colonel of the First North Carolina Cavalry, Provisional Army. That unit also was called the Ninth North Carolina Volunteers. Not popular with his men due to his ideas on strict discipline, Ransom still managed to post an impressive combat record starting Nov. 26, 1861. Due to that record, Ransom was promoted to brigadier general March 1, 1862. Originally detailed to organize cavalry in the west, Ransom was moved to North Carolina instead. He was in Gen. Huger’s division during the Seven Days Campaign and his command suffered at Malvern Hill. After the Maryland Campaign, Ransom commanded a division in the center of the defensive lines at Marye’s Hill at Fredericksburg. He was promoted to major general May 26, 1863. Ironically, Ransom’s brother ascended to take over his old brigade. He was moved to command the military district which included southeastern Virginia. He later commanded a district which included Richmond. At Second Drewry’s Bluff, Ransom came to the aid of Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard and commanded a division which broke the right flank of the Army of the James. Beauregard criticized him for allowing the Federals to escape to Bermuda Hundred. He commanded cavalry under Jubal Early for the Shenandoah Campaign of 1864, but went on sick leave. He was assigned another district in South Carolina, but saw no more active duty. After the war, he returned to North Carolina. Postwar jobs included being an express agent, city marshal of Wilmington, N.C., farmer and civil engineer in charge of making river and harbor improvements in New Bern, N.C. He died in New Bern, N.C., Jan. 14, 1892.
Brig Gen. Matt W. Ransom, CSA (b. 1826, d. 1904) While he didn’t have the military background of his younger brother, Matt Whitaker Ransom still ascended to brigade command in the Confederate army. Ransom’s younger brother was Robert Ransom, Jr. Matt Ransom actually took over his brother’s unit when he was promoted to major general. Matt Ransom was born in Warren County, N.C., Oct. 8, 1826. He graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1847 and studied law during his senior year. He was admitted to the bar. He was a Whig presidential elector in 1852 and served in the lower house of the North Carolina legislature from 1858-61. He was one of three North Carolina commissioners sent to Montgomery, Ala., to form the Confederate government. He enlisted as a private, but was quickly commissioned as lieutenant colonel in the First North Carolina State Troops. He was made colonel of the 35th North Carolina Infantry and his regiment was placed in his brother’s brigade. Ransom fought at Seven Pines, the Seven Days Campaign, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg before the unit was detailed for action in North Carolina. There, he fought at Plymouth and Weldon before returning to Virginia for combat at Suffolk and the siege of Petersburg. Ransom was wounded three times during the war, including at Second Drewry’s Bluff. The unit wrapped up the war with actions at Fort Stedman and Five Forks before surrendering at Appomattox. After the war, he returned to North Carolina and resumed his law practice. He also farmed on his wife’s plantation on the Roanoke River. Ransom was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1872 and served in that capacity until 1895, when he was appointed minister to Mexico by President Grover Cleveland. Ransom died Oct. 8, 1904, near Garysburg, N.C.