CHATHAM COUNTY, GA - OBITS   McLaws, Lafayette

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This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by:Fammaw54@aol.com  Jacqueline King


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".

[Burial: Laurel Grove Cemetery - Savannah
http://findagrave.com/  has photo of tombstone]
July 27, 1897