Brig. Gen. Archibald Gracie

[jkBluesman]

I was gracious enough to do him...

Brig. Gen. Archibald Gracie, Jr. (b. 1832, d. 1864). Born into a wealthy New York family, whose home is today the official residence of the mayor of New York City, Gracie settled in Alabama and subsequently joined the South. After being educated at Heidelberg, Germany, he graduated from West Point in 1854, participated in the Snake River expedition one year later but resigned from the army as early as 1856. With his father’s help he successfully entered banking business in Mobile, Alabama, where he joined the militia, becoming commander of the Washington Light Artillery. After Alabama’s secession the unit was incorporated into the 3rd Alabama and sent to Norfolk, Virginia. Gracie returned in July 1861 to his home state to help organize the 11th Alabama regiment with which he left for Virginia in late 1861. Commanding a battalion of sharpshooters at the opening of the Peninsula Campaign the next year, he distinguished himself in rear guard operations. Shortly before the Seven Days he was promoted to colonel and sent to East Tennessee. There he commended the 43rd Alabama under Gen. Kirby Smith, taking part in the Kentucky Campaign. Although he was not involved in the major engagements of the campaign, he got his own brigade and was promoted to brigadier general on November 4, 1862. His main task for the following months was to guard Cumberland Gap with his unit until it was sent to Chickamauga as part of Gen. Simon Buckner’s force. In the bloody battle of September 18-20, 1863 his brigade gained a foothold on the Horseshoe Ridge–the Federal main stronghold and rally point–but had to fall back after sustaining high casualties. Following Chickamauga, Gracie and his men took part in the Knoxville Campaign as part of Gen. Bushrod Johnson’ division, where Gracie was wounded in the fighting at Bean’s Station. He did not recover until early 1864, when he led his brigade to Virginia, where it was part of the defending force at Drewry’s Bluff on May 16, 1864. Assigned afterwards to trenches around Petersburg, Gracie was killed by an exploding shell on December 2, 1864. His son Colonel Archibald Gracie IV would write a book about his father’s biggest battle called “The Truth about Chickamauga”, but would gain more fame from his eyewitness account of the Titanic’s sinking.

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

Teaches: Sustained Volley, Polar Bears

[Battleline]

I know Gracie started in the Third Alabama and Cullen Battle actually wrote a bit about Gracie. I don't have the book with me right now, but will look to see if there is anything else that could be added to this excellent bio.

[jkBluesman]

I did some more research and found a website dealing with Gracie's (Moody's) Alabama Brigade which has a bio sketch. It says that Gracie went to Virginia with the 3rd Alabama but already in July 1861 promoted to major of the 11th.
Can't wait to hear what Cullen Battle wrote. There is enough space left to include a good quote.

[Gil R.]

I've copied it, but won't edit it until we know if something is being added.

[Battleline]

From Third Alabama by Cullen Battle, edited by Brandon Beck:
Gracie was elected captain of Co. E, the Washington Light Infantry of Mobile
He had been in Mobile as part of a cotton brokerage concern along with his father. When it was certain war was coming, Gracie's father went back to New York.
Gracie was with the Third Alabama while the unit was in garrison in Norfolk, Virginia. While there, the unit watched the naval battles of the CSS Virginia vs. the Federal fleet and the next day against the USS Monitor.
Gracie was one of the officers sent back to Alabama to help form new units in the sumer of 1861.
Unfortunately, Cullen Battle didn't leave any witty comment personally on Gracie, but did cite him among the number of generals the brigade of Rodes contributed to the Confederacy.

[jkBluesman]

ORIGINAL: Gil R.

I've copied it, but won't edit it until we know if something is being added.

I added the bit about Norfolk.

[Gil R.]

Okay, change received.

[Gil R.]

Edited, and ready to go:

Brig. Gen. Archibald Gracie, Jr. (b. 1832, d. 1864). Born into a wealthy New York family, whose home, “Gracie Mansion,” is today the official residence of the Mayor of New York City, Gracie settled in Alabama and subsequently joined the Confederacy. Having been educated at Heidelberg, Germany, Gracie graduated from West Point in 1854, participating in the Snake River expedition one year later but resigned from the army as early as 1856. With his father’s help, he successfully entered banking business in Mobile, Alabama, where he joined the militia, becoming commander of the Washington Light Artillery. After Alabama’s secession the unit was incorporated into the 3rd Alabama Infantry and sent to Norfolk, Virginia. In July 1861, Gracie returned to his home state to help organize the 11th Alabama Infantry, which he led to Virginia later that year. Commanding a battalion of sharpshooters at the opening of the Peninsular Campaign the following spring, Gracie distinguished himself in rearguard operations. Shortly before the Seven Days’ Battles of June 25-July 1, 1862, he was promoted to colonel and sent to eastern Tennessee, where he commanded the 43rd Alabama under Gen. Kirby Smith's Army of East Tennessee, taking part in the Kentucky Campaign. Although he was not involved in the major engagements of the campaign, he was put in command of his own brigade and promoted to brigadier general on November 4, 1862. His main task for the following months was to guard the Cumberland Gap with his unit, until it was sent to Chickamauga as part of Gen. Simon Buckner’s force. In the bloody battle fought there on September 18-20, 1863, Gracie’s brigade gained a foothold on the Horseshoe Ridge – the Union’s main stronghold and rally point as the Confederates surged forward, where Gen. George H. Thomas gained fame as the “Rock of Chickamauga – but had to fall back after sustaining high casualties. Following Chickamauga, Gracie and his men took part in the Knoxville Campaign as part of Gen. Bushrod Johnson’ division, with Gracie being wounded in the fighting at Bean’s Station. He did not recover until early 1864, when he led his brigade to Virginia and took part in the defense at Drewry’s Bluff, the last fortification on the James River before Richmond, on May 16, 1864. Assigned afterwards to trenches around Petersburg, Gracie was killed by an exploding shell on December 2. His son, Col. Archibald Gracie IV, would write a book about his father’s biggest battle, entitled “The Truth about Chickamauga,” but would gain more fame from his eyewitness account of the Titanic’s sinking. (Bio by Joern Kaesebier)

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

Teaches: Sustained Volley, Polar Bears

Start date: 44
Death date: 94