Colonel James M. Hawes

[Stryker65]

Hey all,
I'm researching a bit into the background of Confederate Colonel James M. Hawes. It says in this thread that he was either a Colonel of the Second Kentucky Cavalry or a BGen at the time of the battle; however, the Second Kentucky Cavalry didn't exist yet, and he didn't command the brigade it says he did (that of Colonel Robert P. Trabue). Could anybody tell me where Colonel/General Hawes was at the time?
-Stryker

 

[Sheltowee]

Below source showspromoted to BG on March 5 1862 at request of Johnston. Western Dept Cavalry Commander.
Sound right?

James Morrison Hawes

James Morrison Hawes (January 7, 1824 – November 22, 1889) was a brigadier general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. James M. Hawes was born in Lexington, Kentucky, the son of Richard and Hettie Nicholas Hawes. The Hawes family was politically prominent. Hawes' father...

civilwar-history.fandom.com

 

[Stryker65]

Yep, that sounds right ... not sure what he was doing at the time though ... the cavalry at Shiloh was only a couple scattered battalions squadrons and companies; sounds a bit too small for a full BG to command, also the cavalry was divided among the corps, so I don't know where he would be.

 

[SeanMichaelChick]

As I recall Hawes did take over the cavalry after Shiloh.

One issue might be that the cavalry was scattered before Shiloh. They were probing Grant's camp, skirmishing with their Federal foes, while others patrolled north of Pittsburg Landing. Others, such as the 1st Louisiana Cavalry and Forrest, were monitering Buell. Then they were ordered to come to Shiloh.

One major error was the 1st Louisiana was ordered away from watching Buell to come to Shiloh, where they took part but did very little. Buell meanwhile managed to scatter the cavalry to his south and so by April 3-4 the Rebels had lost contact with Buell, with dire consequences at Shiloh.

 

[GELongstreet]

Think the confusing thing is that the unit seems to be the 2nd Kentucky Infantry Regiment. With that unit eventually becoming mounted infantry (after his time in it though), the mounting and/or his main association with cavalry could lead to the error, and once the error is in a book others will copy it then it is everwhere.

As for Shiloh, Hawes was Johnston's Chief of Cavalry at that time (had been named to command all cavalry [not in brigades or divisions] in March). His proper brigade command under Breckinridge was part of the reorganisation in the weeks after the battle. However Kentuckians in Gray says that during the battle he was specifically assigned to lead various cavalry and infantry units in reserve, seeing little to no action, and that in the aftermath when being sent with a brigade he resigned his command and asked to serve under Breckinridge instead. Johnston's death not only let him hang but also us as we obviously lack his report of the battle (like so many other documents).