CSA Bio Brig. Gen. John B. Grayson

[Battleline]

Brig. Gen. John B. Grayson (b. 1806, d. 1861) John Breckinridge Grayson never commanded Confederate troops in combat. Grayson died while in command of the Department of Middle and Eastern Florida. His death, in Tallahassee, Florida, Oct. 21, 1861, was attributed to a “disease of the lungs” (probably tuberculosis). He was buried in New Orleans at St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 with his body brought back by his son, a captain in the Washington Artillery. Grayson’s major military accomplishments came before the Civil War. Born at “Cabell’s Dale” in Fayette County, Kentucky, Oct. 18, 1806, Grayson spent most of his life in the military. He was educated at the U.S. Military Academy and graduated with the Class of 1826 (22nd of 41). He had a long career in the military, starting as an artillery subaltern at Fort Monroe in Virginia. He also served in other garrisons in the south. He fought in Florida against the Seminoles in 1835-36. After that, he joined the commissary of subsistence and was stationed in New Orleans from 1836-47. During the Mexican War, Grayson was the chief of commissariat during the Mexico City campaign in 1847. He was breveted to major for meritorious conduct during the battles of Contreras and Churubusco. He was breveted again to lieutenant colonel for conduct at Chapultepec. From 1848-55, he held a post in Detroit. He held the position of major-commissary of subsistence in New Mexico Territory when he submitted his resignation from the U.S. Army. It was accepted July 1, 1861. Confederate President Jefferson Davis commissioned Grayson a brigadier general in the Provisional Army of the Confederacy to rank from Aug. 15, 1861. He was assigned to the Department of Middle and Eastern Florida with headquarters at Fernandina. With his health already failing, Grayson worked to improve coastal defenses. With his health and ability to command failing, he was relieved Oct. 10, 1861. He died 11 days later.

[Gil R.]

This is one of those that was just too short not to edit as soon as I copied it. Poor guy was barely even in the Civil War. I gave him "Diggers" out of sympathy.


Brig. Gen. John Breckinridge Grayson (b. 1806, d. 1861). Grayson never commanded Confederate troops in combat, dying early in the war while in command of the Department of Middle and Eastern Florida – a theater that was quiet for much of the war. His death, in Tallahassee, Florida, on October 21, 1861, was attributed to a “disease of the lungs” (probably tuberculosis). Grayson was buried in New Orleans at St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, with his body having been brought back by his son, a captain in the Washington Artillery. Grayson’s major military accomplishments came before the Civil War. Born at “Cabell’s Dale” in Fayette County, Kentucky, on October 18, 1806, he spent most of his life in the military. He was educated at the U.S. Military Academy and graduated with the Class of 1826 (22nd of 41). He had a long career in the military, starting as an artillery subaltern at Fort Monroe in Virginia. He also served in other garrisons in the South, and fought in Florida against the Seminoles in 1835-36. After that, he joined the commissary of subsistence and was stationed in New Orleans from 1836-47. During the Mexican War, Grayson was the chief of commissariat during the Mexico City Campaign in 1847. He was brevetted to major for meritorious conduct during the battles of Contreras and Churubusco, and was brevetted again to lieutenant colonel for conduct at Chapultepec. From 1848-55, he held a post in Detroit. He was holding the position of major-commissary of subsistence in New Mexico Territory when he submitted his resignation from the U.S. Army. It was accepted on July 1, 1861, and Confederate Pres. Jefferson Davis commissioned Grayson a brigadier general in the Provisional Army of the Confederacy to rank from August 15, 1861. He was assigned to the Department of Middle and Eastern Florida, which was headquartered at Fernandina. With his health already failing, Grayson worked to improve coastal defenses. With his health and ability to command failing, he was relieved on October 10. He died 11 days later. (Bio by Bill Battle)

Leadership: 4
Tactics: 3
Initiative: 1
Command: 2
Cavalry: 0

Teaches: Diggers (7)

Start date: 15
Death date: 19