One of the greatly underrated Confederate generals is Isaac Ridgeway Trimble, a son of Maryland. Apart from being a Confederate general, he had also been a railroad executive.
In 1861, when Maryland was asking herself if she should secede or not, Trimble, a secessionist to the bone, participated in efforts to stop movements of Yankee troops through Maryland by burning bridges. After the Baltimore Riot and the proclamation of martial law by Benjamin F. "Beast" Butler, Trimble went to Virginia, where he could still exercise his rights as a free man.
In early August, 1861, he was appointed Brigadier General in the Confederate States Army.
His first combat service in the war came throughout the brilliant Valley Campaign by the good and great Stonewall Jackson. At the Battle of Cross Keys, Trimble outflanked successive Federal attacks by John C. "the Pathfinder" Fremont. During the Seven Days, he saw little action, distinguishing himself at Gaines' Mill and Malvern Hill.
He again fought valiantly at Cedar Mountain and forced a Yankee brigade back during the skirmishes near Rappahannock Station. During General Jackson's operations at Manassas Junction, he occupied a Federal depot and captured four trains and their passengers, including a US congressman, inflicting 500 casualties to the Yankees and suffering only 4. At the Battle of Second Manassas, he was severely wounded in his leg.
Although his medical condition was severe, he wanted to do his duty in the battlefield and told Stonewall Jackson "Before this war ends, I intend to be a Major General or a corpse!"
In early 1863, he was given the promotion, but was too sick to command his division at Chancellorsville and, when General Lee reorganized the Army of Northern Virginia, his command was given to Edward "Allegheny" Johnson. General Ewell finally took Trimble as a staffer.
At the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg, Trimble suggested General Ewell exploit the advantage he had gained by smashing the Yankees, but Ewell rudely told him: "When I need advice by a junior officer I generally ask it." And the advantage was not pressed, losing a golden opportunity for Lee's army.
On the third day of Gettysburg, Trimble took part in Pickett-Pettigrew-Trimble charge, known as Pickett's Charge in popular culture. He was wounded at the very same leg he had been wounded at Second Manassas and it had to be amputated. Moreover, for fear of infection, he was left behind in the care of a Gettysburg family.
This was the end of his military career. He spent more than one year in Johnson's Island, a harsh Yankee prison. Though he was recommended for exchange, Simon Cameron said he was dangerous due to his knowledge of northern railroads. After the surrender at Appomattox, Trimble was paroled in Lynchburg, Virginia.
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General Isaac Ridgeway Trimble, CSA, I salute you!
Civil War Scholar.