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Brig. Gen. Zachariah Cantey Deas (b. 1819, d. 1882). Born in Camden, South Carolina, Deas grew up in Mobile, Alabama. He entered the cotton business and made a fortune. Volunteering for the Mexican-American War, he gained his first military experience. At the outbreak of the Civil War Deas was assigned to Gen. Joseph Johnston’s staff. After First Manassas, Deas and Major Robert Armistead raised the 22nd Alabama and equipped it with Enfield Rifles at Deas’ own expense (he received war bonds the next year, which never paid off). The regiment was blooded at Shiloh, where Deas commanded the whole brigade on the second day after its commander and his successor had been wounded. Deas was himself wounded in the fighting and did not return to command his regiment until the Kentucky Campaign of 1862. For his conduct at Munfordville and Salt River he was promoted to brigadier general on December 13, 1862 but was not given a brigade until after the Battle of Murfreesboro. He led it through the Tullahoma Campaign and at Chickamauga, where it lost 40 Percent of its men while routing Gen. Philip Sheridan’s division, capturing 17 cannons during the battle. At Missionary Ridge a large part of Deas’ brigade was captured when Union soldiers overran its trenches. During the Atlanta Campaign Deas fought under Johnston and Gen. John B. Hood when he replaced Johnston. With Hood the army invaded Tennessee. Deas was slightly wounded at Franklin but recovered in time for the Battle of Nashville, where his brigade formed part of the reserve, which–when thrown into the fight did not last long. Deas led what remained of the division his brigade had been in during the Confederate retreat and was sent to the Carolinas to serve once again under Johnston. Falling ill, he was taken prisoner at Raleigh, North Carolina and later paroled. After the war he moved to New York City and re-entered cotton trade, rising to a seat in the New York stoke exchange. He died on March 6, 1882 and was buried in the Bronx's Woodlawn Cemetery. He was a cousin of Confederate general James Chestnut, Jr.

Ldr: 2 or 3
Tact: 4
Init: 2
Cmd: 3
Cav: 0

Teaches: Blasted

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