Jump to content

Alexander T. Hawthorn

Alexander T. Hawthorn
Hawthorn, before 1861
Birth nameAlexander Travis Hawthorn
Born(1825-01-10)January 10, 1825
Conecuh County, Alabama, U.S.
DiedMay 31, 1899(1899-05-31) (aged 74)
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Buried
Greenwood Cemetery,
Marshall, Texas, U.S.
32°33′14.5″N 94°22′34.7″W / 32.554028°N 94.376306°W / 32.554028; -94.376306
Allegiance
Branch
Years of service
  • 1847–1848 (U.S.)
  • 1861–1865 (C.S.)
Rank
Commands
Battles
Spouse(s)
Anna Medley
(m. 1850)
Children3

Alexander Travis Hawthorn (January 10, 1825 – May 31, 1899) was a senior officer of the Confederate States Army who commanded infantry in the Western and Trans-Mississippi theaters of the American Civil War. After the war, in company with a party of friends, he traveled extensively in Brazil as the guest of the imperial government, the policy of the government being to encourage immigration from the Southern States. In 1880, he was ordained a minister of the Baptist Church.

Early life and education

Alexander Travis Hawthorn was born in Conecuh County, Alabama, on January 10, 1825, and was educated at Evergreen Academy and Mercer University.[1] He then studied law at Yale University, from 1846 to 1847,[2] relocating to Camden, Arkansas, where he commenced the practice of law.[3]

American Civil War

When the 6th Arkansas Infantry Regiment was organized in 1861, Hawthorn was elected lieutenant colonel and then, the following spring, was appointed its colonel. He was wounded at Shiloh and, in 1863, took a gallant part in the assault on Hindman Hill during the attack on Helena.[4] During the Spring 1864 Red River Campaign and Battle of Jenkins' Ferry,[5] he commanded the 4th Arkansas Infantry Brigade of the 1st Arkansas Infantry Division.[6] Meanwhile, Hawthorn had been promoted brigadier general to date from February 18, 1863. He remained with the division until May 1865.[3]

Later life

Hawthorn traveled to Brazil in 1867, but returned in 1874 and engaged in business in New Orleans. Six years later he entered the Baptist ministry and was ordained, after which he lived in Texas until his death on May 31, 1899, at Dallas.[1] He is buried in Greenwood Cemetery at Marshall, Texas.[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Cunningham, S. A., ed. (September 1899). "Gen. A. T. Hawthorn". Confederate Veteran. Vol. VII, no. 9. Nashville, Tenn.: S. A. Cunningham. pp. 418–419. OCLC 1564663 – via Internet Archive.
  2. ^ Catalogue of the Officers and Students in Yale College, 1846–7. New Haven: Yale College. 1846. p. 10 – via Internet Archive.
  3. ^ a b c Warner, Ezra J. (1997), Generals in Gray: Lives of Confederate Commanders, Baton Rouge, La.: Louisiana State University Press, pp. 129–130, ISBN 0-8071-0823-5
  4. ^ Thomas, David Y. (1926), Arkansas in War and Reconstruction, 1861-1874, Little Rock: Arkansas Division, United Daughters of the Confederacy, p. 191, LCCN 27003960, OCLC 2306662 – via Central Printing Company
  5. ^ Evans, Clement A., ed. (1899). Confederate Military History. Vol. X. Atlanta, Ga.: Confederate Pub. Co. pp. 402–403. LCCN 02017198 – via Internet Archive.
  6. ^ "Louisiana and Arkansas—Banks and Steele". The Daily Conservative. Vol. 1, no. 31. Raleigh, N. C. May 28, 1864. p. 1.

Further reading

Military offices
Preceded by
Colonel Richard Lyon
Commanding Officer of the 6th Arkansas Infantry Regiment
1861–1862
Succeeded by
Lieutenant-Colonel Gordon N. Peay
Acting
Preceded by
Colonel Albert W. Johnson
Commanding Officer of the 39th Arkansas Infantry Regiment
1862–1864
Succeeded by
Colonel John B. Cocke
Preceded by Commanding Officer of the 4th Arkansas Infantry Brigade
1864–1865
Command disbanded

See what we do next...

OR

By submitting your email or phone number, you're giving mschf permission to send you email and/or recurring marketing texts. Data rates may apply. Text stop to cancel, help for help.

Success: You're subscribed now !