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Brig. Gen. Alfred Holt Colquitt (b. 1824 – d. 1894) On April 20, 1824, he was born in Monroe, Georgia. The son of a US Representative and Senator graduated from Princeton College in 1844. He passed his bar examination in 1846 and began practicing law in Monroe. When the Mexican War began, he served as major and staff officer. Upon returning from the war, he was elected as a US Congressman from 1853 – 1855 and then to the Georgia State Legislature in 1859. He was a delegate during the Georgia Secession Convention of 1861. At the start of the war, he became a Capt of the 6th Georgia Infantry. Then he became the regiment’s Colonel in May 1861. In 1862, he and the 6th Georgia saw action in the Peninsula Campaign and the battles of Seven Days. On September 1, 1862, he was promoted to Brig. Gen. and commanded Colquitt’s Brigade. He fought at the battle of South Mountain on Sept. 14, 1862 and earned the name of “The Rock of South Mountain”. During the battle of Antietam, he was attached to Maj. Gen. D.H. Hill’s Division and was part of the fighting in the East Woods, Cornfield and Bloody Lane. In December, he was at the battle of Fredericksburg. The next battle was Chancellorsville, where he was part of Brig. Gen. Rhodes Division which led Gen. Jackson's flanking attack. After the initial success, Colquitt halted his brigade to prepare for a Federal cavalry attack that never happened. This decision slowed the attack and soon the battleline and momentum began to fall apart. His performance was criticized. He and his brigade were transferred to North Carolina, then eventually to Charleston, South Carolina where he helped in the defense of the city. In February, he went to Florida where he helped defeat Union forces under Brig. Gen Seymour at the battle of Olustee. During the summer of 1864, he was recalled the Virginia where his brigade fought in the battle of Drewry’s Bluff and Petersburg. At the end of the war, he led his brigade to North Carolina where he surrendered in May 1865. After the war, he became a certified Methodist preacher but eventually went into politics. He was governor of Georgia from 1877 – 1882 and then elected US Senator in 1883 - 1894. He became re-elected and died in Washington DC in 1894 during his second term. He was laid to rest at Rose Hill Cemetery in Macon, Georgia.

I also read one little bio that said he was promoted to major gen but could not confirm the date nor find another source.

Thanks!

Here's Colquitt:

Brig. Gen. Alfred Holt Colquitt (b. 1824, d. 1894). Colquitt, whose father was a U.S. Representative and Senator, was born in Monroe, Georgia on April 20, 1824. Graduating from Princeton College in 1844, he passed his bar examination two years later and began practicing law in Monroe. When the Mexican War began, Colquitt served as major and staff officer. Having return from the war, he began a career in politics, being elected to Congress for a single term in 1853 and to the Georgia State Legislature in 1859, and later serving as a delegate to the Georgia Secession Convention of 1861. At the start of the Civil War, Colquitt became a Captain in the 6th Georgia Infantry, and became the regiment’s Colonel in May 1861. In 1862, he and the 6th Georgia saw action in the Peninsula Campaign and the Seven Days Campaign. On September 1, 1862, he was promoted to Brigadier General and put in command of a brigade. Colquitt’s Brigade fought at the Battle of South Mountain on September 14, 1862 and earned the name of “The Rock of South Mountain.” Who earned it? The general or the brigade? During the Battle of Antietam three days later, Colquitt was attached to Maj. Gen. D.H. Hill’s Division and took part in the fighting in the East Woods, Cornfield and Bloody Lane. That December, Colquitt’s Brigade was at the Battle of Fredericksburg. Its next battle was Chancellorsville, where the brigade was part of Brig. Gen. Robert E. Rodes’ division, which led Gen. “Stonewall” Jackson's flanking attack. After an initial success, Colquitt halted his brigade to prepare for a Federal cavalry attack that never came. This decision slowed the Confederate attack and soon the battle line and momentum began to fall apart. Colquitt’s performance on this occasion was later criticized. He and his brigade were transferred to North Carolina and eventually to Charleston, where he helped in the defense of the city. In February, Colquitt went to Florida, where he helped to defeat Union forces under Brig. Gen. Truman Seymour at the Battle of Olustee. During the summer of 1864, Colquitt was recalled to Virginia, where his brigade fought in the Battle of Drewry’s Bluff and at Petersburg. At the end of the war, he led his brigade to North Carolina, where he surrendered in May, 1865. After the war, Colquitt became a certified Methodist preacher, but eventually went into politics once again. He was governor of Georgia from 1877-82 and then was elected to the U.S. Senate, where he served from 1883 to 1894, until dying in Washington, D.C. during his second term. Colquitt was laid to rest at Rose Hill Cemetery in Macon, Georgia. (Bio by Andrew Thayer)

Leadership: 4
Tactical: 4
Initiative: 2
Command: 4
Cavalry:

Teaches: Random (-1)

Start date: 40

I got the nickname from the georgiaencyclopedia.org qoute "Colquitt's service in Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia garnered him the sobriquet "the rock of South Mountain" because his brigade stalwartly repelled an attack from the Union army at South Mountain in Maryland on September 14, 1862." I found no other references to this name but thought the georgia encyclopedia should be credible. They make it sound like it was for him but certainly the brigade did all the fighting. Another nickname is "Hero of Olustee". Now that sounds like it was given to him specifically.

Okay, thanks. I managed to work in both nicknames. The completed bio now reads:


Brig. Gen. Alfred Holt Colquitt (b. 1824, d. 1894). Colquitt, whose father was a U.S. Representative and Senator, was born in Monroe, Georgia on April 20, 1824. Graduating from Princeton College in 1844, he passed his bar examination two years later and began practicing law in Monroe. When the Mexican War began, Colquitt served as major and staff officer. Having return from the war, he began a career in politics, being elected to Congress for a single term in 1853 and to the Georgia State Legislature in 1859, and later serving as a delegate to the Georgia Secession Convention of 1861. At the start of the Civil War, Colquitt became a Captain in the 6th Georgia Infantry, and became the regiment’s Colonel in May 1861. In 1862, he and the 6th Georgia saw action in the Peninsula Campaign and the Seven Days Campaign. On September 1, 1862, he was promoted to Brigadier General and put in command of a brigade. Colquitt’s Brigade fought at the Battle of South Mountain on September 14, 1862, earning him the name of “The Rock of South Mountain.” During the Battle of Antietam three days later, Colquitt was attached to Maj. Gen. D.H. Hill’s Division and took part in the fighting in the East Woods, Cornfield and Bloody Lane. That December, Colquitt’s Brigade was at the Battle of Fredericksburg. Its next battle was Chancellorsville, where the brigade was part of Brig. Gen. Robert E. Rodes’ division, which led Gen. “Stonewall” Jackson's flanking attack. After an initial success, Colquitt halted his brigade to prepare for a Federal cavalry attack that never came. This decision slowed the Confederate attack and soon the battle line and momentum began to fall apart. Colquitt’s performance on this occasion was later criticized. He and his brigade were transferred to North Carolina and eventually to Charleston, where he helped in the defense of the city. In February, Colquitt went to Florida, where he helped to defeat Union forces under Brig. Gen. Truman Seymour at the Battle of Olustee (and gained another nickname, as the “Hero of Olustee”). During the summer of 1864, Colquitt was recalled to Virginia, where his brigade fought in the Battle of Drewry’s Bluff and at Petersburg. At the end of the war, he led his brigade to North Carolina, where he surrendered in May, 1865. After the war, Colquitt became a certified Methodist preacher, but eventually went into politics once again. He was governor of Georgia from 1877-82 and then was elected to the U.S. Senate, where he served from 1883 to 1894, until dying in Washington, D.C. during his second term. Colquitt was laid to rest at Rose Hill Cemetery in Macon, Georgia. (Bio by Andrew Thayer)