CHATHAM COUNTY, GA - BIOS McLaws, Lafayette (1821-1897) ***************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm *********************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by:Fammaw54@aol.com Jacqueline King McLAWS, LAFAYETTE, soldier, was born at Augusta, Ga., Jan. 15, 1821. He attended the University of Virginia, 1837- 1838, and was graduated from the U. S. Military Academy in 1843, and promoted 2d brevet Lieutenant, 6th Infantry, U.S.A., July 1, 1842. He served on frontier and garrison duty in Indian Territory, Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida, and Texas, 1842-46; was promoted 2d Lieutenant, 7th Infantry, March 16, 1844, and served in the war with Mexico, 1846-47, being engaged in the defence of Fort Brown, May 3- 9, 1846; the battle of Monterey, Sept. 21, 1846, and the siege of Vera Cruz, March 9, 1847. He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant , Feb. 16, 1847; was on recruiting duty, 1847- 1848; was acting assistant adjutant-general of the department of New Mexico, 1849-1851; was promoted captain, Aug. 24, 1851, and was on frontier and garrison duty in the west. He resigned his commission in the U. S. army, March 223, 1861. On returning to Georgia, he joined the state forces gathered by Governor Brown and was commissioned major of infantry. He entered the Confederate Army, March 23, 1861, as colonel of the 10th Georgia regiment and was promoted brigadier-general, Sept. 25, 1861. He was on the Lower Peninsula, Va., under Magruder, and distinguished himself at Lee's Mills, April 16, 1862, and in the Seven Days' battled before Richmond, where he commanded the 2d division of Magruder's command, June 25-July 1, 1862. He was ordered to Harper's Ferry, Va., by General Lee in Sept. 1862, and with Walker's Division on London Heights, and T. J. Jackson's on Bolivar Heights soon forced the surrender of the place. He joined Lee's army during the battle of Sharpsburg, Sept. 17, and commanded his division in Longstreet's Corps in the remainder of the battle, restoring the shattered Confederate line and covering the safe retreat of Lee's Army across the Potomac, Sept. 19, 1862. He commanded his division at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862, and held the ground at Marye's Heights, with 5000 men, against 40,000, and his stand cost the Federal Army in killed and wounded more than double the force he commanded. At Chancellorsville, Longstreet being absent with Hood's and Pickett's Divisions, he commanded the corps as well as his own division. At Gettysburg, July 1-3, 1863, his division held the right of the line of battle. After the retreat into Virginia, with Longstreet's Corps. He joined Hood's Army in Tennessee, and at Chickamauga, Sept. 29-20, 1863, he commanded Longstreet's Corps when Longstreet took the command of the left wing after Hood was wounded. In the investment in Knoxville, Nov. 17-Dec. 4, 1863, he held the right of Longstreet's Corps and of the line of battle. He was then ordered to the command of the district of Georgia, where he had charge of the defences of Savannah, and in the campaign through the Carolinas in pursuit of Sherman he commanded a division in Hardee's corps and reinforced Hoke's division at Bentonville, March 20, 1865. He surrendered with Johnston, and after the war engaged in business in Augusta, Ga. In 1875 he was appointed U. S. collector of internal revenue for the district of Savannah, and he was also appointed postmaster at Savannah in 1876. He delivered his lecture, "the Maryland Campaign", in 1886-1887, in various cities in the United States and is the author of: "The Confederate Left at Fredericksburg" in "Battles and Leaders of the Civil War," vol. III., p. 89-94. He died in Savannah, Ga., July 27, 1897. [Burial: Laurel Grove Cemetery - Savannah http://findagrave.com/ has photo of tombstone] The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans: Volume VIII Johnson, Rossiter, editors, 1904, Boston Mass., The Biographical Society Source: New York Times Jul 25, 1897. Death of Gen M'Laws Confederate Officer and Federal Soldier in the Mexican War Passes Away in Savannah Savannah, GA July 24 [1897] Major Gen La Fayette McLaws died here this morning of acute indigestion. Major Gen La Fayette McLaws was seventy-six years old, and one of the most interesting figures in the Southern Confederacy. Born in Augusta, Ga of Scot and French Huguenot stock, he received his earlies education at home, and was then sent to the University of Virginia. He remained only one year in that institution and received an appointment to a cadetship at West Point, whence he was graduated in 1842. He first did military duty in the Indian Territory, but when hostilities between the United States and Mexico commenced he joined the army of occupation at Corpus Christ under command of Gen Taylor. He was at Fort Brown and the famouse siege of Monterey, and witnesses the bombardment and surrender of Vera Cruz under Gen Scott. His health by this time being seriously impaired, he returned to the United States on recruiting duty, and shortly after the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was appointed Assistant Adjutant General of the Department of New Mexico, serving in that capacity for two years. In 1851 he was promoted to a captaincy and served under Sidney Johnston in the expedition of 1858 against the Mormons. His next command was against the Navajo Indians, 1859-60, during which he attained distinction for personal bravery and meritorius service. On the seccess of his State from the Union, Catp McLaws resigned his commission and offered his services to the Confederacy. He was appointed Colonel of the Tenth Georgia Regiment and on Sept 25, 1861, was commissioned as a Brigadier General. His gallantry in an action near Lee's Mill and the skill with which he led his command to Richmond after the battle of Williamsburg brought him to the attention of Gen Johnston, at whose recommendation he was made a Major General May 23, 1862. His division, which consisted of Kershaw's and Semmes's brigades, was engaged in the battles of Savage's Station and Malvern Hill, and when the Confederate Army started in pursuit of Pope it was left, with two other division, to watch the enemy at Harrison's Landing. Soon afterward he reentered Maryland and rejoined the army. Gen McLaws was placed in command of a corps and ordered to march on Harper's Ferry and capture Maryland Heights. He ordered a road built up the side of the mountain, by which cannon were got to the summit, and when they opened fire Harper's Ferry at once surrendered. He allowed his troops, who had been sixty hours under fire and without water at Elk Ridge, only a few hours rest at Harper's Ferry and then marched all night. He reached Sharpsburg just as the troops of Jackson and Hood were retiring in disorder, and driving back the Federal troops, restored the Confederate line. At Fredericksburg he posted his men along the bank of the Rappahannock and on Marye's Hill, where from a sunken road they drove back the Federal troops. At Gettysburg his division formed part of Gen James Longstreet's corps, which assaulted and repulsed Gen Daniel E. Sickles's corp and other troops in the second day's fight. At the seige of Knoxville he reluctantly carried out Gen Longstreet's order to assault Fort Saunders and deserted from the attack when he saw that success was impossible. He was summoned before a courtmartial, but his conduct was justified and his honor vindicated. Gen McLaws took part in many other engagements and served until the surrender. After the close of the war Gen McLaws engaged in business. He was subsequently appointed Collector of Internal Revenue at Savannah, GA in 1875 and Postmaster of that city in 1876. In 1886 he made a tour during which he gave a series of lectures on "The Maryland Campaign".