{⋆★⋆} BG Govan, Daniel C.

Daniel Chevillette Govan​

Born: July 4, 1829

Birth Place: Northampton County North Carolina

Father: Andrew Robison Govan 1794 – 1841

(Buried: Govan Family Cemetery, Hudsonville, Mississippi)​

Mother: Mary Pugh Jones 1802 – 1888

(Buried: Hill Crest Cemetery, Holly Springs, Mississippi)​

Wife: Mary Fogg Otey 1832 – 1897

(Buried: Lake View Cemetery, Seattle, Washington)​

Children:

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Benjamin McCullogh Govan 1854 – 1943​

(Buried: Cedar Heights Cemetery, Marianna, Arkansas)​

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Eliza Pannill Govan 1856 – 1863​

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James Hervey Govan 1857 – 1863​

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Julia Govan 1862 –​

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Donna Govan 1862 –​

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Louisa Govan 1862 –​

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Danica Govan 1863 –​

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Henrietta Govan 1869 –​

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Daniel Chevillette Govan Jr. 1870 –​

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William Mercer Govan 1872 – 1872​

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Helen F. Govan Sample 1877 – 1924​

(Buried: Woodlawn Cemetery, Summit, Mississippi)​

Education:

1848: Graduated from South Carolina College​

Occupation before War:

Participated in the 1849 California Gold Rush​

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Deputy Sheriff of Sacramento, California​

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Planter in Mississippi​

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1860 – 1861: Planter in Helena, Arkansas​

Civil War Career:

1861: Captain of Arkansas State Troops​

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1861 – 1862: Lt. Colonel of 2nd​ Arkansas Infantry Regiment​

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1862 – 1863: Colonel of 2nd​ Arkansas Infantry Regiment​

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1862: Participated in the Battle of Shiloh​

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1862: Participated in the Battle of Perryville​

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1862 – 1863: Participated in the Battle of Stones River​

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1863: Participated in the Battle of Chickamauga​

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1863: Participated in the Battle of Ringgold Gap​

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1863 – 1865: Brigadier General of Confederate Army Infantry​

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1864: Captured during the Battle of Jonesborough, Georgia​

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1864: Exchanged for Union General George Stoneman​

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1864: Wounded during the Battle of Nashville, Tennessee​

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1865: Surrendered at Greensboro, North Carolina​

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1865: Pardoned by the United States Government

Occupation after War:

Farmer in Helena, Arkansas​

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U.S. Indian Agent for Tulalip Agency in State of Washington​

Died: March 12, 1911

Place of Death: Memphis, Tennessee

Cause of Death: Fluid in the tissue of the lungs, Old Age

Age at time of Death: 81 years old

Burial Place: Hill Crest Cemetery, Holly Springs, Mississippi

 

[Pollaco]

The brigade he led through tbe Atlanta Campaign until his capture was General Liddell's old brigade.

 

[Luke Freet]

A good while back, I found a good article on Govan, and his actions during the war.

 

[Luke Freet]

Govan led the Arkansas Brigade at Chickamauga, as part of St. John Liddell's Division of Walker's Reserve Corps. According to David Powell, the brigade went into battle with 1975 men. They suffered 50% casualties in the battle, one of the highest of that engagement. At Bald Hill (aka the Battle of Atlanta), his brigade numbered 1221 men, and lost 86 killed, 322 wounded, and 91 captured, leaving around 722 men unharmed in the ranks.
The brigade then suffered a humiliating defeat at Jonesboro. After the first day's failure to turn the Federal line, the brigade was at the center of the Union assault, and Govan and 600 of his men were captured. In a shocking move at this stage of the war, he and his men were exchanged immediately, in return for George Stoneman and his men. The brigade then saw service in the Franklin-Nashville Campaign, seeing action at Spring Hill and Franklin, where Govan recorded some of Cleburne's final words before the fateful attack.
Following the devastating battle, he continued in command of the depleted Arkansan brigade until after Bentonville, when it was consolidated into a single regiment and he took command of it and the consolidated regiment of Granbury's old Brigade.

 

[gentlemanrob]

Happy Birthday Brig. General Daniel C. Govan! Salutes remembering General Govan on his birthday.

 

[Luke Freet]

Happy Birthday to one of Cleburne's Own.

 

[Pollaco]

That wounding at Nashville was a serious wound to the throat.

 

[Pollaco]

Him and General Ben McCulloch were cousins. That would have made him cousin to Gen. Henry McCulloch as well. Govan and Ben participated in the California Gold Rush together.

 

[Pollaco]

After his promotion to brigadier his command consisted of the 5th, 6th, 7th, and the 8th Arkansas Infantry Regiments.

 

[ErnieMac]

Govan was the last to speak to Cleburne prior to the assault [at Franklin], remarking to him: "Well General, there will not be many of us that will get back to Arkansas." Cleburne, who Govan felt appeared despondent, replied: "Well Govan, if we are to die, let us die like men".
https://irishamericancivilwar.com/2010/11/30/the-death-of-major-general-patrick-cleburne/

 

[Luke Freet]

After his promotion to brigadier his command consisted of the 5th, 6th, 7th, and the 8th Arkansas Infantry Regiments.

Note quite. Left out his old 2nd Arkansas and 3rd Confederate...as well as all the consolidated units.
His brigade at the time of his promotion would have consisted of the 2nd/24th, 5th/13th, 6th/7th, and 8th/19th Arkansas and 3rd Confederate Infantry Regiments.

 

[gentlemanrob]

Happy (Monday) Birthday Brig. General Daniel C. Govan! Salutes remembering General Govan on his birthday.

 

[Pollaco]

I guess being held captive for only 20-21 days makes sense when you're being being used for the exchange of another general (Stoneman)

 

[Nathan Stuart]

Govan was a solid enough brigade leader in the western theater.

Think he was a fitting subordinate for Cleburne's command.

Govan's brigade, as part of Cleburne's division, was in the thick of the fighting when it attacked the Federal center at Franklin.

The Confederate officer corps was decimated at Franklin. Think that Govan, leading his men on foot, was lucky to survive the carnage that day, when so many other Southern officers were lost. Fourteen field generals were casualties (five were killed; eight wounded; and one captured), not to mention the fifty five regimental commanders that were listed as killed, wounded, captured or missing.

 

[Luke Freet]

Govan was a solid enough brigade leader in the western theater.

Think he was a fitting subordinate for Cleburne's command.

Govan's brigade, as part of Cleburne's division, was in the thick of the fighting when it attacked the Federal center at Franklin.

The Confederate officer corps was decimated at Franklin. Think that Govan, leading his men on foot, was lucky to survive the carnage that day, when so many other Southern officers were lost. Fourteen field generals were casualties (five were killed; eight wounded; and one captured), not to mention the fifty five regimental commanders that were listed as killed, wounded, captured or missing.

Govan's luck ran out at Nashville, where he was wounded on the second day. He thus would not be present at Bentonville, but would command a consolidated brigade of his Arkansans and Granbury's Texans at the surrender.

 

[C. Cash]

Recommend Old Enough to Die by Ridley Wills. Good stuff on Govan and Cleburne's commands on Atlanta Campaign.