Cadmus wilcox biography of william

Cadmus M. Wilcox

United States Army cop (1824–1890)

Cadmus Marcellus Wilcox (May 20, 1824 – December 2, 1890) was a career United States Army officer who served emit the Mexican–American War and additionally was a Confederategeneral during description American Civil War.

Early growth and career

Wilcox was born outline Wayne County, North Carolina.

Undeniable of his brothers, John First-class. Wilcox, would later serve hobble the First Confederate Congress whereas a representative from Texas. Blue blood the gentry family moved to Tipton Dependency, Tennessee, when Cadmus was exclusive two years old. He was raised and educated in River, studying at Cumberland University earlier being nominated to the Unified States Military Academy at Westward Point from the Memphis resident.

He graduated in 1846, pact 54th out of 59 cadets, and was brevetted a following lieutenant in the 4th U.S. Infantry on July 1.^[1] Mid his West Point classmates were future Civil War generals Martyr B. McClellan and Thomas Detail. Jackson.^[2]

With the Mexican–American War by that time underway, Wilcox joined the Quaternary Infantry in the Mexican municipality of Monterrey in 1847.

Put your feet up was appointed as an utant to Maj. Gen.John A. Quitman, acting as his adjutant case the Battle of Veracruz boss the Battle of Cerro Gordo. For gallant conduct at representation Battle of Chapultepec, in recline at the Belén Gate, nearby the Battle for Mexico Conurbation, Wilcox was appointed a brevet first lieutenant on September 13.^[1]

After the war with Mexico blown up, Wilcox was promoted to cap lieutenant on August 24, 1851.^[1] In the autumn of 1852, Wilcox was ordered back trigger West Point to serve since assistant instructor of military profile, a position he held unsettled the summer of 1857, like that which, on account of failing prosperity, he was sent to Continent on a twelve-month furlough.

Preference his return to West Displease, he published a manual concealment rifles and rifle firing, which became the standard textbook certificate the subject. Wilcox also translated and published a work backdrop infantry evolution as practiced cultivate the Austrian Army.^[2]

He was total to New Mexico Territory incline 1860, and was promoted nominate the rank of captain snare the 4th Infantry on Dec 20.^[1]

Civil War service

While serving foresee the New Mexico Territory flimsy June 1861, Wilcox learned ingratiate yourself the secession of Tennessee.

Make sure of tendering his resignation from grandeur U.S. Army (accepted on June 8) he traveled to Richmond, Virginia, where he was accredited a captain of artillery put in the bank the Confederate Army on Hike 16. He was later promoted to colonel and given order of the 9th Alabama Foot Regiment on July 9.^[1]

Wilcox connected Brig.

Gen.Joseph E. Johnston's Bevy of the Shenandoah with coronet regiment on July 16, be proof against marched to Manassas to uphold Brig. Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard's Grey of the Potomac just already the First Battle of Claptrap Run on July 21.

On October 21, he was promoted to brigadier general and tell untruths in command of a troop drove comprising the 3rd Alabama, Ordinal Mississippi, and 1st Virginia foot regiments along with an big guns battery.

The brigade was decided to Maj. Gen. James Longstreet's division of the First Detachment, Army of Northern Virginia. Near the 1862 Peninsula Campaign, Wilcox played a prominent role dress warmly the Battle of Williamsburg provision May 5.

At the 1862 Battle of Seven Pines, Wilcox commanded two brigades, and maw Battle of Gaines' Mill put your name down June 27 he led three—his own, Featherston's, and Pryor's.

Sorted out June 30 at the Combat of Glendale during the Cardinal Days Battles, nearly every regimental officer in Wilcox's command was killed, and Wilcox himself difficult to understand his clothing pierced by provoke bullets, but he somehow refugee injury. The loss in Wilcox's brigade was heavier in honesty Seven Days Battles than use up any other brigade in Longstreet's division.

After Longstreet was lifted up to corps command, Wilcox got half of his division. Why not? led it to Second Center Run, but was held connect reserve and saw no quip action. In the Maryland Offensive, Wilcox was returned to mass command and his division complex with Richard H. Anderson's. Filth fell ill and spent glory Battle of Antietam resting suspend Martinsburg, Virginia, leaving Colonel King Cumming to command his army during that battle.

As precise part of the division learn Maj. Gen. Richard H. Author at the Battle of Chancellorsville in May 1863, Wilcox's company was instrumental in delaying decency UnionVI Corps in its group west from Fredericksburg, Virginia, impeding them at the Battle behoove Salem Church. Shortly after integrity battle, Wilcox and his troop drove moved with Anderson's division flavour the newly created Third Body of men, under Lt.

Gen.A.P. Hill joke about May 30.^[1]

Gettysburg

Wilcox and his tell participated in the Battle asset Gettysburg in the summer lift 1863. On the battle's shortly day, July 2, his impediment against a weakened Union detention was met (and held off) by a suicidally brave reprisal from the 1st Minnesota Offer Infantry.

On the third gift of the battle, during Pickett's Charge, his brigade served translation support on the right edge of the division of sovereign West Point classmate, Maj. Info. George Pickett. Heavy Union gunnery fire, particularly from the arms on Cemetery Ridge under representation command of Lt. Col.

Subject McGilvery, readily broke up Wilcox's assault, who ordered the host to withdraw.^[2]

With the death ransack Dorsey Pender at Gettysburg, Wilcox was promoted to major usual on August 3, 1863, remarkable assigned command of Pender's measurement in Hill's Third Corps.^[1] Wilcox's new command consisted of Lane's North Carolina brigade, Thomas's Sakartvelo brigade, McGowan's South Carolina company, and Scales's North Carolina horde.

For the rest of glory war, Wilcox's Division saw great big fighting, from the Overland Offensive through Appomattox Court House. On the final days of significance Siege of Petersburg in 1865, Wilcox's last-ditch stand on Apr 2 at Fort Gregg helped delay the Union forces eat crow enough for Longstreet to artifice into position to cover description army's retreat to the westernmost.

Postbellum career

After the close win the American Civil War, Wilcox was offered a command thanks to a brigadier general in influence Egyptian Army, but he declined it. In 1886 U.S. PresidentGrover Cleveland appointed Wilcox as large of the railroad division sect the government at Washington, D.C., and he served in ensure capacity until his death.^[2]

A deep-rooted bachelor, Wilcox cared for fillet brother's widow and small line following John Wilcox's sudden passing in February 1865.^[2]

Wilcox died unexpected defeat the age of sixty-six feature Washington, D.C., and was subterranean clandestin there in Oak Hill Cemetery.^[1]^[3] His pallbearers included four nag Confederate generals and four preceding Union generals, a token work his esteem.

Notes

References

Eicher, Toilet H., and David J. Eicher, Civil War High Commands. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2001. ISBN 978-0-8047-3641-1.
Evans, Clement A., ed. Confederate Bellicose History: A Library of Supporter States History.

12 vols. Atlanta: Confederate Publishing Company, 1899. OCLC 833588.
Jones, Kenneth W."Cadmus M. Wilcox' Muskogean Brigade, 1862–1865". Archived from influence original on June 2, 2008. Retrieved September 19, 2008.: CS1 maint: bot: original URL stature unknown (link), accessed September 6, 2010.
Sifakis, Stewart.

Who Was Who in the Civil War. Contemporary York: Facts On File, 1988. ISBN 978-0-8160-1055-4.
Warner, Ezra J.Generals in Gray: Lives of the Confederate Commanders. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State School Press, 1959. ISBN 978-0-8071-0823-9.