Oldest Colonel in the AoNV

Luke Freet

2nd Lieutenant
Forum Host
Joined
Nov 8, 2018
Location
Palm Coast, Florida
I remember reading in a book, I believe it was called "Lee's Colonels", that the oldest Colonel who had served in the vaunted AoNV was 77 years old. I do not remember the man's name, or which unit he commanded. If someone could help with this, that would be wonderful.
 
Perhaps Lewis De Russy? He was oldest Confederate colonel, born 1795 and graduated USMA 1813. He was oldest USMA graduate to serve in the South, he was 70 years old when the war began.
 
Perhaps Lewis De Russy? He was oldest Confederate colonel, born 1795 and graduated USMA 1813. He was oldest USMA graduate to serve in the South, he was 70 years old when the war began.
Close, but I don't think so. This book dealt with Colonels through Major in the AoNV specifically. From what I can tell, De Russy served most if not all the war in Louisiana.
Plus, Wikipedia says he was born 1795, died 1864 aged 69 (not even 70). The guy I remember was 77. Maybe not a West Point graduate, that might extend the criteria.
 
This man is not from the state of Arkansas.

Maj. William N. Bronaugh (29) (Killed)
Col Albert Rust (47)
Ltc Seth M. Barton (36)
Col Vannoy H. Manning (26)
Ltc William H. Tebbs (44)
Maj. James H. Capers ?
Ltc Robert S. Taylor ?
Maj. John W. Reedy (33) (Killed)
Maj. William K. Wilkins (33) (Killed)
Maj. Samuel W. Smith ?
 
Have you checked into the Virginia State Militia rosters? might could possibly find your answer there, as there are a lot of often overlooked names that were around at the beginning of the war. Like Major General Walter Gwynn (promoted to MG April 61 in Virginia State Militia, took command of Norfolk area and was instrumental in setting up many of the defenses in the area, then became Brigadier General in Provisional Army of Virginia, and Brigadier General in North Carolina Militia and was in command of all North Carolina coastal defenses through 1861). I would check there. I would also agree it would have to be an officer from either VA or NC, more and likely VA, I know for certain no officer from GA or SC would fit that criteria.
 
Have you checked into the Virginia State Militia rosters? might could possibly find your answer there, as there are a lot of often overlooked names that were around at the beginning of the war. Like Major General Walter Gwynn (promoted to MG April 61 in Virginia State Militia, took command of Norfolk area and was instrumental in setting up many of the defenses in the area, then became Brigadier General in Provisional Army of Virginia, and Brigadier General in North Carolina Militia and was in command of all North Carolina coastal defenses through 1861). I would check there. I would also agree it would have to be an officer from either VA or NC, more and likely VA, I know for certain no officer from GA or SC would fit that criteria.
Yes. I remember it being NC, but I feel that may be a mistake. But I think its most likely those 2 states. I imagine the strain of travel would have been too much if they were from a more Western or Southern unit.
 
Yes. I remember it being NC, but I feel that may be a mistake. But I think its most likely those 2 states. I imagine the strain of travel would have been too much if they were from a more Western or Southern unit.

It could be this man.

48th North Carolina: Col Robert C Hill ?-1863
 
Well, not necessarily that, but the units from other states like GA, SC, AL, MS, and etc that were arriving in Virginia in 1861 and entering service were Confederate organizations from the beginning, as opposed to being militia or state troop regiments that already existed there before being adopted into the Confederate army. Also, there were around 50 VA regiments in the state by the end of 1861.

As to what you said about the advanced age and travel and such, the North had quite a few men of advanced age in high positions. Like General John Wool, fought in War of 1812, Mexican American war, born 1784. He was 77 years old in 1861 when the war began, was in command at Fort Monroe of the Department of Virginia, wasin command and captured Norfolk, which Lincoln promotedhim to Major General in the Regular Army on the spot. He remained on active duty until age 79, in 1863, and only then because Lincoln insisted. Held slot of other important commands, and his age never seemed to affect him..another is George Cadwalader, another general from Mexican American War, not quite as old as Wool.
 
Lewis DeRussy, born 1795, was colonel of the 2nd LA Infantry, a unit of what later became the ANV, in 1861. The ANV wasn't formally named as such until 1862, but if you count the 1861 army as the ANV, then De Russy was the oldest ANV colonel.
Robert C. Hill was born in 1833.
 
Back
Top