Confederate Biography :  LEWIS T. WIGFALL, Harrison Co, TX

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Submitted by Susie McFarland Lemin slemin@yahoo.com
12 October 2001
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TEXANS WHO WORE THE GRAY by Sid S. Johnson, p. 92

Lewis T. Wigfall, of Marshall, was born in Edgefield district, S. C., 
April 21, 1816.  He enterd the College of South Carolina, where he 
prusued the regular couse until the outbreak of the Seminole War, when 
he enlisted and recieved a commission as lieutenant of volunteers.  
Returning home he took up the study of law at the University of 
Virginia.  Upon being admitted to the bar he removed to Texas, locating 
in Marshall, where he commenced the practice of his profession.  He was
elected to the Texas House of Representatives, serving in 1849-50, and 
was state senator in 1857-58 and again n 1859-60.  While serving in the 
State Senate he was elected to the United States Senate, taking his seat 
in that body Jan. 4, 1860. Upon the outbreak of the war he became a 
member of the staff of Gen. Beauregard, and with the consent of Gen. 
James Simmons, in command of the forces on Morris Island, crossed the 
bay in a lull in the bombardment of Fort Sumter, found ingress to the 
fort through an open port hole and demanded from Gen. Robt. Anderson 
the unconditional surrender of the place, which he received.  Gen. 
Wigfall hoisting a white flag and the surrender of the fort was 
accomplished.  He was now commissioned Colonel of the 1st Texas 
Infantry, Aug. 20, 1861, and on Oct. 21st was made bigadier-general, 
his command composing the 1st, 4th, and 5th Texas, and the 1st Georgia 
infantry regiments and assigned to the army of northern Virginia.  
This was afterwards known as "Hood's Texas Brigade."  Gen. Wigfall 
resigned Feb. 20, 1862 to take his seat in the Confedrate Congrress to 
which he had been elected as a senator from Texas.  He had already 
served in the House as a representative from Texas from Feb. 1861 to 
Feb. 1862.  He remained a member of the Confederate Senate up to the
close of the war, when he took up his residence in England, where he 
remained for several years.  He returned to the Untied States in 1873 
and died in Galveston Feb. 18, 1874.