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Born in Poland. Colonel, 14th La. Inf.: June 1861. “As an officer on duty he was the incarnation of military law – despotic, cruel, absolutely without mercy. On the other hand no regiment was better looked after for its material needs than his.” William C. Oates wrote about life in camp near Richmond after 1st Manassas: “The Polish Legion from Louisiana, commanded by Colonel Sooli Koski, a Polish officer of distinction, arrived one or two days later and was encamped near us upon the same island….each afternoon, as soon as we evacuated, the Polish Legion, with its numerous drum corps, would occupy the ground. The foreign accent of Sooli Koski and the alacrity and precision with which his men obeyed his commands, not a word of which could we understand, presented a good entertainment for the edification of our officers and men.” He resigned on 19th February 1862, and returned to New Orleans. “Two months later General Magruder urged him to reenter the service of the Confederate army and to take command of the engineer department, but he replied proudly that ‘under no circumstances’ would he reenter the service. Arrest by General Butler’s orders brought forth a vigorous protest, dated June 5, 1862, written from the customhouse, where he was evidently in confinement. He denied any connection with or interest in the Confederacy; he even intimated that his hostility would be useful in influencing the Confederates against their government. In view of that vehement letter it is astonishing, to say the least, to find him serving Magruder with the rank and pay of a colonel of cavalry from February 6, 1863, to about January 19, 1864, at Galveston for the district of Texas, and signing himself ‘Chief Engineer’. It appears that he stood in the relation of personal employee to Magruder, a relationship certain to be provocative of friction, for the Confederate government which he refused to recognize would not recognize him.…therefore when he found his orders disregarded, on August 27, 1863, he resigned a second time from an impossible situation, though his resignation seems not to have been accepted at once.”
[Krick, Lee’s Colonels; Bergeron, Guide To Louisiana Confederate Military Units, p.106; Lonn, Foreigners In The Confederacy, p.145-146; Oates, The War Between The Union & The Confederacy.]
Last edited by bill_torrens; 09-08-2005 at 12:47 PM.
Bill:
This is yet again, one of your tireless and outstandingly significant contributions to this board! A most excellent and brilliant work.
If it be your wish and desire, my humble appeal is for a continuation of this endeavor into the Officers of the Confederate Army of Tennessee.
Interestingly, my ancestor was present when Col. Arthur J.L. Fremantle of the Coldstream Guards visited the Confederate Army of Tennessee, P.R. Cleburne's Division. Col. Fremantle commented; "they drilled tolerably well, and an advance in line was remarkably good."
The Army of Tennessee as well? I'm willing enough, but I'd need to be reincarnated in order to have time to do it. I've been at this since 1980!
But if there is someone out there who is under 25 and willing to dedicate their spare time for the rest of their lives to researching the officers of the A.O.T. all I can say is...good luck!
My ambition, for what it is worth, is to help make the officer corps of the A.N.V. the best documented in 19th century history.
Bill:
I like the "reincarnated" part..LOL I didn't realize you had been researching/writing since 1980. WOW! At that, all I can say is may God grant this to you and us! What a splendid endeavor! General Lee & his officer Corps would be very proud. Your ambition is a noble one IMHO!
If I were youger (I'm 47) I would attempt an AOT version. My prayers are with you and your fine work...Sincerely, Rob Adams
Born in Walterboro, S.C., on 4th July 1822. Attended Charleston College. Then taught mathematics there. Mayor of Charleston in 1855. His term of office has been described as “progressive”, and involved the reorganization of the police force and the introduction of a drainage system. Member of U.S. House of Representatives. Member of South Carolina’s secession convention. “The modest Miles, a handsome fellow despite his slight ‘student’s stoop’, and his eye for the ladies, still feared that others saw him as Rhett’s foil, even though Pickens sent most of his official communications to the thoughtful, unassuming younger man in preference to anyone else.” In February 1861 he cautioned Pickens against a hasty attack on Fort Sumter: “It seems to me we ought not to attack Ft. Sumter without authority from the Confederate government. I cannot see that the short delay compromises the honor of the State in the least – if – when the attack is ordered – South Carolina troops alone engage in it. We do not ask our Confederate States to help us take it. But our attack necessarily plunges the new government into war with the United States and that before they (our Confederates) are prepared. This would be the inevitable consequence for surely the United States government as soon as we open with our batteries upon Sumter will be bound by every consideration to send relief and assistance to Major Anderson and his handful of men, who is holding his post by the express orders of his Government. Might not our attack be considered as ‘making war’ which the Provisional Constitution restrains a State from doing except in case of invasion?” When the bombardment of Sumter caused the fort’s flagstaff to come down, “Beauregard ordered up a small boat with a flag of truce, and sent his aide, Captain Lee (with Porcher Miles and Roger Pryor for company), out to the fort to ask the major if he needed assistance…” V.A.D.C. to Beauregard at 1st Manassas, in December 1862 and in August 1863. In his report on 1st Manassas Col. Kershaw of the 2nd S.C. Inf. wrote: “Colonel Miles, of General Beauregard’s staff, met me to hasten our march, and informed me that Hampton’s Legion had just engaged, and that the enemy had acquired a decided advantage.” Was involved in designing the A.N.V. battleflag. C.S. Congressman and chairman of the Committee on Military Affairs. “Miles of South Carolina spent his free hours in the Exchange parlor talking smoothly to the young ladies as he leaned against the piano.” Mary Chesnut had mixed feelings about him: on 8th August 1861 she wrote: “Miles came. I found him affected & a bore”, whereas on 27th August 1861 she wrote “he was in one of his moods which I find pleasant. Sometimes I like him – sometimes I hate his affectation and folly.” On 13th October 1863 Edmund Ruffin noted in his diary: “I have long known him, & always found him a very polite & agreeable gentleman, as well as an intelligent legislator.” He married Betty Beirne in 1863. Lived in Nelson Co., Va., from 1865 to 1880. Appointed President of U.S.C. in 1880, “but he resigned that post two years later to assume the management of his father-in-law’s extensive sugar holdings in Ascension Parish, Louisiana. During the next two decades he resided at Houmas House, the former home of John Smith Preston and John Burnside, and was one of the giant figures in the Louisiana sugar industry.” Died at Burnside, La., on 11th May 1899. Buried in Union, W.Va.
[Krick, Staff Officers In Gray, p.221; Woodward & Muhlenfeld, The Private Mary Chesnut, pp119 & 142; Scarborough, The Diary Of Edmund Ruffin, II, pp.174-175 (n); ibid, III, pp. 184-185; Davis, A Government Of Our Own, pp.47-48, 145; Official Records, I, 2, p.522; Catton, The Coming Fury, pp.248-249, 322.]
Last edited by bill_torrens; 09-09-2005 at 05:35 AM.
Born in Washington Co., Ga., on 28th September 1811. Son of George Gordon & Polly Hughes. Was orphaned at the age of two, and brought up by his uncle, James Hughes. “In 1821, a band of roving Indian warriors seized young Alexander C. Gordon and his brother, Irwin Rodgers, while fishing in Phillip’s Creek, a small tributary of the Chattahoochee. The two boys, Alexander ten years of age and Irvin five, were carried into the wilderness of Wolf Bay, now in Dale County. The band of Creek Indians who seized the boys, 50 in number, were making their way south to join the Seminole in Florida. The Indians crossed the Chootawatchee and carried their tearful prisoners two hundred miles into the interior of north Florida. On this trip the boys existed on gophers and briar roots. Later, their captors bartered them to a tribe of friendly Indians in exchange for food. Here, with these friendly Indians for two years the two little captives helped the Indian women raise corn, goobers (peanuts), and potatoes, and spent much of their time killing birds and small game with blow guns and bows and arrows. Alexander was known among the Indians as Nocasehargo--Crazy Bear. Finally, word from white traders of their place of captivity reached their uncle James Hughes. Hughes went down the Chattahoochee on a pole boat and ransomed the two boys for fifty dollars in silver. After the return of these boys, the Hughs family moved to Abbeville. Polly Rogers, the mother of Alexander Gordon and Irvin Rogers, and sister of James Hughs lived with them for many years.” Married Evelyn T. Hudspeth (1813-81). Served in the Mexican War. Captain, 6th Ala Inf.: 6 May 1861. Resigned on 21 November 1861. Served as Captain of Co.E, 47th Ala Inf., while recruiting it. Served out the war as Pvt. and then Captain of the Henry Mounted Rebels in Blair's Bn. of Ala. Reserves. Died in Henry Co., Ala., on 16th June 1887. Buried in the City Cemetery in Abbeville, Henry Co., Ala.
Farmer in Florence, Ala. 3rd Lieut.., Co.H, 4th Ala. Inf.: 28th April 1861. 2nd Lieut.: 6th August 1861. Suffered from jaundice during the first year of the war: “In one of the small wards four of us were placed; among the number was Lieutenant Karsner of H Company, a boon companion and a brave and gallant officer, that is, when he was well. When ill he was a perfect nuisance to those around him – irritable, quarrelsome and melancholy. He declared the jaundice would kill him and knew he would never see his dear mother again. All our efforts to cheer him were perfectly exhausted without the least effect in quieting him. When his malady became somewhat complicated, though not at all serious, the nurse, whom we termed our baby, came in smiling and stated that the surgeon had ordered him to perform an operation on Lieutenant Karsner. When the nurse displayed the instrument which he was to use, Karsner, having a very vague idea of its use, declared he could not survive such treatment. We begged and pleaded with him, stating that his only chance of recovery was to comply with the instructions of the surgeon. Finally he submitted. After the departure of the nurse, he became very quiet for half an hour or more and peace and quiet at last reigned in our ward, much to our relief. One of the boys became alarmed at the unusual quiet of our patient and remarked: ‘Do you suppose that operation has really killed him?’ He at the same time tip-toed gently over to Karsner’s cot, to find him wide awake. He was asked in a very sympathetic tone: ‘Lieutenant, how do youfeel now?’ ‘Oh,’ he said, ‘God bless enemas, when I recover I shall certainly take one every morning.’ Whether he ever adhered to his own prescription or not, he was never seriously sick again and never missed a battle in which the regiment participated, was a jolly good fellow and a brave, efficient and capable officer.” 1st Lieut.: 21st April 1862. Captain: 27th June 1862. At Sharpsburg, “as jovial Captain Karsner, Lieutenant Dan Turner and I were slowly wending our way…a shell of the enemy from over on the right of the line burst near us, and a fragment struck Karsner’s too prominent nose. The shock was so great it knocked him for a severe fall, at full length upon his back. We ran to him, thinking he was killed. On examination, as he still remained where he fell, though bleeding profusely, we found the wound very slight. With the blood running down in his eyes and mouth, he presented, lying there, a most ludicrous sight, so much so that it was impossible to avert a smile on our part. He imagined that the missile had gone entirely through his head, so great was the shock; and when he observed that we entertained so little feeling for a ‘dying’ comrade, he promptly rose and, still quite dazed, abused us soundly for our lack of sympathy. After being convinced that it was nothing serious he soon regained his usual merry mood. Just then General Hood was seen approaching from the rear. After showing the division where to reform, Lieutenant Turner remarked, ‘Captain, wipe that blood from your face before General Hood reaches us.’ ‘No,’ he said, ‘I will see if I can make him sympathise with me.’ He then, with his hands, smeared the clotted blood thickly over his face. General Hood exclaimed as he rode up, ‘My God! Captain, I am sorry to see you so seriously wounded.’ ‘Yes, General,’ he said, ‘I came very near getting my face shot off.’ General Hood was as sympathetic as a woman.” In December 1862, “Captain Karsner came blustering into the office tent on a friendly call. He drew a camp stool up to the fire and began stroking his long black beard and complaining of the severe cold splitting the ends of the hairs. Scruggs threw down his book and picked up the bottle of mucilage from the table, which had been used in sealing the papers, and expiated on the purity and excellency of the hair oil it contained. To convince him of its genuineness, Scruggs stuck his forefinger over the mouth of the bottle, shook it vigorously and doubling down that finger rubbed his own beard with the middle one. Karsner then poured a copious amount in the palm of his hand and anointed his beard throroughly. Sitting before the hot fire, it became in a few minutes as stiff as horn. Without a word he arose and went back to his company. The next evening he returned in as jolly a mood as ever and said that Gabe (his servant) had to heat three camp kettles of water before he could get his beard back to its normal condition.” At Appomattox.
[Stocker, From Huntsville to Appomattox, pp.35-36, 69-70, 86, 228 (n).]
Last edited by bill_torrens; 09-21-2005 at 12:35 PM.
Born in New York in c.1830. Clerk in New Orleans. Lieut., Co.A, 7th La. Inf.: 7th June 1861. Major and C.S. to W.H.T. Walker: 17th September 1861. Major & C.S. of Richard Taylor's Brigade by February 1862. Killed at Front Royal on 23rd May 1862. Taylor's report stated:- "After crossing the river [Davis] became separated from my staff, and, as I afterward learned, led on by a fatal impetuosity, joined in the cavalry charge of Colonel Munford's regiment, and met his death charging at its head. He was killed by a bullet entering his right breast." In his memoirs Taylor described Davis as “the very pearl of commissaries. Indefatigable in discharge of duty, he had as fine a nose for bullocks and bacon as Major Monsoon for sherry.” Taylor also wrote that “he could find all [the supplies] the country afforded, and had a wonderful way of cajoling old women out of potatoes, cabbages, onions, and other garden stuff, giving variety to camp rations, and of no small importance in preserving the health of the troops. We buried him in a field near the place of his fall. He was much beloved by the command, and many gathered quietly around the grave. As there was no chaplain at hand, I repeated such portions of the service for the dead as a long neglect of pious things enabled me to recall.”
[Taylor, Destruction and Reconstruction, pp.38 & 54; Krick, Staff Officers In Gray, p.110.]
1st Lieut., Co.E, 60th Va Inf. Col. Starke's report on the Seven Days:- "Lieut. I.H. Larew...particularly distinguished himself in the charge of the 30th; seizing the colors of the regiment from the color-bearer, who was exhausted, he bore them gallantly in front of the regiment until the enemy were driven from the field." Wounded at least twice: at Cloyds Mt. on 9th May 1864, and on 22nd September 1864. On the latter occasion he commanded the sharpshooters of Breckinridge's Division. He was hit on the right shoulder by a shell, "tearing away the shoulder blade and making one of the worst wounds a man ever recovered from." He was captured there, and his wound pronounced fatal: "after remaining in this condition several days, a Georgia surgeon who was at the hospital decided that the arm should be amputated. Larew found this out, and as he was a Mason, he found among the Federal guards several Masons, when he got to pledge that they would not permit the amputation. When the surgeon arrived the determination was made known, and he was ordered to leave. Larew remained there with no one to look after him but Miss Richards, and with a bent knitting needle she and he would pick the fragments of bone from the wound. He is now [1899] practicing law at the Pulaski bar." Died on 29th September 1904 and his death was reported to Confederate Veteran by a neighbour in Newbern, Virginia: "He came to this county after the war....he had been badly wounded, having both arms broken and one shoulder with the collar bone taken off by a shell."
Born in Surry Co., Va., in c.1828. His name at birth was William Griffin Orgain, which he subsequently changed. Married Frances Augusta Jessup in 1852. Lived at Curls Neck, and was said to have owned 1, 000 slaves and 40, 000 acres. [He later claimed to have lost $450,000 in property during the war: “I am perhaps the largest loser in the southern Confederacy.”] Captain, Brandon Artillery: May 1861. “The fourth William Allen of Claremont was very dedicated to the Southern cause. When an appeal was made for donations of iron to build the Merrimack, Allen pulled up his railroad tracks [he owned a private railway] and sent the rails to Richmond to be rolled into iron plates for the vessel.” Major, 10th Va. Heavy Artillery Bn.: 4th April 1862. Gnl. Magruder’s report on Yorktown: “I should fail in my duty….if I neglected to record the self-sacrificing conduct of Capt. William Allen, of the artillery. At the very commencement of the war this gentleman erected at his own expense on Jamestown Island extensive fortifications for the defense of the river, and from that time until he was driven from his home he continued to apply the resources of his large estate to the benefit of the country, and so great and disinterested were his zeal and devotion as an officer, that he lost almost the whole of his immense possessions in endeavoring the remove the public property committed to his charge and that of the commanding officers. I cannot commend his conduct as an officer too highly to the Government, nor his patriotism as a citizen too warmly to the love and respect of his countrymen.” Resigned on 19th August 1862, to look after his property. Drowned in the James River on 19th November 1876.
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