CSA Bios: McIntosh, McGowan, McCown, McComb

[Battleline]

Brig. Gen. James M. McIntosh (b. 1828, d. 1862) Leading his former cavalry regiment into the thickest of the Battle of Elkhorn Tavern, James McQueen McIntosh’s Confederate military career came to an abrupt end. McIntosh was hit in the heart, dying instantly March 7, 1862. The death of McIntosh, who led the cavalry of Gen. Ben McCulloch’s wing of the Confederate army came soon after that of his boss and led to confusion among the Confederates, who were ultimately defeated in the Arkansas battle. McIntosh was born at Fort Brooke (now Tampa), Florida in 1828 (no exact date was given). Born into a military family, he was the son of Col. James S. McIntosh, who was mortally wounded in the Battle of Molino del Rey during the Mexican War. James’ brother, John Baillie McIntosh, was an Annapolis graduate and served as a Federal general during the Civil War, gaining the rank of major general in both regular and volunteer forces. James McIntosh was appointed to the U.S. Military Academy from Florida and he graduated last in the Class of 1849. He served on the frontier and reached the rank of captain with the First Cavalry in 1857. He resigned his commission May 7, 1861, and was appointed captain of cavalry in the Regular Confederate Army. He was named colonel of the Second Arkansas Mounted Rifles, but received a promotion to brigadier general Feb. 24, 1862, after receiving praise at the Battle of Wilson’s Creek. In command of cavalry for Gen. Ben McCulloch’s wing of the army, he received his first, and last, test in combat at that rank at Elkhorn Tavern. Following the battle, McIntosh’s body was moved to Fort Smith, Arkansas, where he was buried in the National Cemetery. Gen. Earl Van Dorn described McIntosh as “alert, daring and devoted to duty, his death a loss to any commander partly because of his great popularity with his men.”

Brig. Gen. Samuel McGowan (b. 1819, d. 1897) Despite missing time due to four wounds suffered during the Civil War, Samuel McGowan saw action in just about every major action of the Army of North Virginia from the Seven Days Campaign through Appomattox. McGowan fought the war in command of South Carolina troops, both at the regimental and brigade levels. Born in Laurens District, South Carolina, Oct. 19, 1819, McGowan was the son of Irish Presbyterian immigrants. He graduated from South Carolina College in 1841 and studied law in Abbeville, South Carolina. In 1842, McGowan was admitted to the bar. But his major achievements were outside the courtroom. McGowan entered politics and served for 13 years in the South Carolina house of representatives. He fought in the Mexican War, enlisting as a private in the Palmetto Regiment. He received a commendation for gallantry at Chapultepec and ended that conflict as a staff captain. In 1861, McGowan was serving as a major general in charge of militia. He had a brigade during the siege of Fort Sumter. After that, he was a volunteer aide to Gen. Milledge Bonham at Blackburn’s Ford and First Manassas. In 1862, McGowan was named colonel of the 14th South Carolina infantry, taking that unit north to Virginia. He was wounded for the first time at the Battle of Gaines’ Mill. The 14th South Carolina occupied a key spot in the Confederate line at Second Manassas, holding firm. Out of ammunition, McGowan’s men resorted to throwing rocks at the Federals. McGowan was wounded again. When Gen. Maxey Gregg was killed at the Battle of Fredericksburg, McGowan was supported for promotion by many, including Gen. A.P. Hill. McGowan was promoted to brigadier general April 23, 1863 (dated to Jan. 17, 1863). At Chancellorsville, he was wounded in the left leg during the attack. He missed Gettysburg with John Pettigrew and John Marshal commanding his brigade. At Spotsylvania, McGowan’s men engaged in hand-to-hand combat over trenches, driving the Federals out. During this action, he was wounded again. McGowan led a charge with what had been A.P. Hill’s Light Division at Dinwiddie Court House near the end of the war. After the war, McGowan returned to Abbeville and was elected to the U.S. Congress. However, he was refused his seat. Fighting carpet bag rule, McGowan was elected to the state legislature in 1878 and was named associate justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court in 1879. He held this spot until 1893. McGowan died in Abbeville, South Carolina, Aug. 9, 1897.

Maj. Gen. John P. McCown (b. 1815, d. 1879) John Porter McCown made his prewar career with artillery units in the U.S. Army. With the big guns, he ascended to the rank of major general in the Confederate army during the Civil War. Born Aug. 19, 1815, near Sevierville, Tennessee, McCown earned an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy. He was an 1840 West Point graduate. During the Mexican War, he earned a brevet at Cerro Gordo. He was with the Fourth Artillery when he resigned his captain’s commission May 17, 1861. He was commissioned colonel of the Tennessee Artillery Corps and entered Confederate service at that rank. He quickly moved up the grades, reaching brigadier general Oct. 12, 1861, and major general March 10, 1862. His first action came on the Mississippi River at Belmont, Missouri, and New Madrid, Missouri. He later relocated to Fort Pillow, escaping before the fall. McCown briefly commanded the Army of the West during June of 1862. He also commanded in the eastern part of Tennessee before his division joined Gen. Braxton Bragg at the Battle of Murfreesboro. McCown’s troops actually were the first to engage the Federals Dec. 31, 1862 despite Bragg’s lack of confidence in McCown’s abilities. McCown and Bragg did not get along. Each wanted the other removed. McCown actually threatened to resign to raise potatoes on his four-acre farm. Bragg brought charges against him in February of 1863 for disobedience of orders. Bragg stated McCown was unfit for command. He was found guilty and relieved of rank and pay for six months. McCown was not happy, calling the Confederacy “a damned stinking cotton oligarchy . . . gotten up for the benefit of (Tennessee Gov.) Isham G. Harris and Jeff Davis and their damned corrupt cliques.” As a result, he saw little action for the rest of the war. In April of 1865, McCown defended a crossing of the Catawba River near Morganton, North Carolina. McCown had 300 men and one artillery piece against the cavalry division of Federal Brig. Gen. Alan C. Gillam. Following the war, McCown taught school in Tennessee and later moved to Magnolia, Arkansas. While attending a meeting of the Masonic Lodge in Little Rock, Arkansas, McCown died Jan. 22, 1879.

Brig Gen. William McComb (b. 1828?, d. 1918) A native of the Keystone State, William McComb somehow ended up fighting in the Civil War for the Confederacy. McComb was born Nov. 21, 1828 (although some records indicate his birth year as being 1832) in Mercer County, Pennsylvania. In 1854, McComb moved south, settling in Clarksville, Tennessee. He became a manufacturing entrepreneur and even had a flour mill on the Cumberland River. A solid citizen of his new state, McComb enlisted in the 14th Tennessee Infantry as a private as the Civil War started. He was elected 2nd lieutenant of his unit in May of 1861 and moved up to major and lieutenant colonel within the next year. He saw action in the Cheat Mountain Campaign and fought at Cedar Mountain. McComb was promoted to colonel after Second Manassas. His regiment was in Archer’s Tennessee Brigade. McComb was wounded at Sharpsburg and again at Chancellorsville. He missed the Gettysburg Campaign, but was back with his unit during the 1864 Overland Campaign and subsequent siege at Petersburg. McComb was one of the final men promoted to the general’s rank, getting his brigadier spot Jan. 20, 1865. He was paroled at Appomattox and moved south. After stints in Alabama and Mississippi, McComb settled in Louisa County Virginia in 1869. He farmed there for nearly 50 years. He died on his plantation near Gordonsville, Virginia, July 21, 1918.

[jkBluesman]

Perhaps I might add to McGowan's performance at Second Manassas. Lee stated in his official report about Hill's division that it had received the Union attacks with "their accustomed steadiness". As McGowan's men were in the thick of the fight, maybe he should teach "Steady".

[Gil R.]

Thanks.

[Gil R.]

Here's McComb's bio. Nice and short, so I did it when I had a few moments free...


Brig Gen. William McComb (b. 1828?, d. 1918). A native of the Keystone State, William McComb somehow ended up fighting in the Civil War for the Confederacy. McComb was born November 21, 1828 (although some records indicate his birth year as being 1832) in Mercer County, Pennsylvania. In 1854, McComb moved south, settling in Clarksville, Tennessee. He became a manufacturing entrepreneur and even had a flour mill on the Cumberland River. A solid citizen of his new state, McComb enlisted in the 14th Tennessee Infantry as a private when the Civil War started. He was elected 2nd lieutenant of his unit in May 1861 and moved up to major and lieutenant colonel within the next year. McComb saw action in the Cheat Mountain Campaign of September 1861 and fought at Cedar Mountain on August 9, 1862. He was promoted to colonel after the Second Battle of Bull Run, during which his regiment served in Gen. James J. Archer’s Tennessee Brigade, one of the brigades in Gen. A.P. Hill’s “Light Division.” McComb was severely wounded at Antietam and again at Chancellorsville. He missed the Gettysburg Campaign, but was back with his unit during the 1864 Overland Campaign and subsequent siege at Petersburg. McComb was one of the final men promoted to the general’s rank, getting his brigadier spot on January 20, 1865. He was paroled after the surrender at Appomattox and moved south. After stints in Alabama and Mississippi, McComb settled in Louisa County, Virginia in 1869, where he farmed for nearly 50 years. McComb died on his plantation near Gordonsville, Virginia, on July 21, 1918. (Bio by Bill Battle)

Leadership: 4
Tactical: 3
Initiative: 2
Command: 3
Cavalry:

Start date: 97 [The poor guy, with a start date this late and 9-percenter status he’ll almost never be seen...]