Brig. Gen. James Deshler

[jkBluesman]

Brig. Gen. James Deshler (b. 1833, d. 1863). By the age of thirty Deshler had risen to brigadier general but his career in that capacity lasted only to his first major battle. Born in Tuscumbia, Alabama as son of parents who had moved to the South from Pennsylvania he was appointed to the United States Military Academy in 1850. Graduating as seventh in a class of forty-six–one of them being future Southern hero J.E.B. Stuart–he served in the artillery and infantry prior to the Civil War, including fighting against the Sioux and participating in the Utah expedition against the Latter-day Saints in 1857-1858. In 1861 Deshler was stationed at Fort Wise, Colorado Territory when the War Between the States broke out. Some sources suggest that he did not resign but was dropped from the army after overstaying a leave. In any case he joined the Confederate army and assigned as captain of artillery to Gen. Henry R. Jackson in western Virginia. Deshler served through the Cheat Mountain campaign but was wounded in the Battle of Camp Alleghany on December 13, an inconclusive skirmish which allowed the Confederates to remain in control of the strategic important Staunton-Parkersburg Pike. Upon recovery, Deshler became staff officer to Gen. Theophilus Holmes. In spring of 1862 he served as Holmes’ chief of artillery during the Seven Days. When Holmes was afterwards transferred to the Trans-Mississippi-Department, Deshler accompanied him. The Alabamian received command of a brigade near Austin, Texas in October and sent to Arkansas Post. When the stronghold was attacked by a combined Union force of gunboats and infantry on January 9-11, 1863 the Confederate defenders surrendered after inflicting high casualties on the attackers. Deshler was also taken prisoner but soon exchanged and promoted to brigadier general on July 28. Again given a brigade of Texas infantry he reported to division commander Gen. Patrick R. Cleburne in the Army of Tennessee replacing the in the rank and file unpopular Gen. Thomas W. Churchill. The first major battle of his life would be Deshler’s last. At Chickamauga on September 19 he successfully led an attack against the Federals through the heavy woods near sunset. The next day the assault was renewed against the Union troops who had entrenched themselves during the night. The attack of Cleburne’s division failed and Deshler was almost cut in half by an artillery shell while encouraging his troops who were covering the division’s withdrawal. However the Confederate attack on the other wing was a success and secured a Southern victory. Deshler’s remains were afterwards brought to his hometown and buried in Oakwood Cemetery. Cleburne praised Deshler in his battle report as a “brave and efficient” officer who “brought always to the discharge of his duty a warm zeal and a high conscientiousness”.

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

Teaches: Woodsmen

[Gil R.]

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