- Joined
- Feb 27, 2017
- Location
- Ohio
Dixon Barnes was born on October was born on October 9, 1816. I could not find much about his life prior to the war except that his wife Charlotte died in 1846 at the age of 27. They had a daughter Mary, who was 6 at the time of her mother's death.
Barnes raised what became Company I of the 12th South Carolina at Lancaster. The regiment was mustered into service on September 1 under the command of Colonel Richard G.M. Dunovant. Barnes was elected Lieutenant Colonel.
The 12th served in the South Carolina coastal defenses that fall, then transfered to Virginia in April 1862 where they were assigned to Maxcy Gregg's brigade. Colonel Dunovant resigned on April 2 and Barnes was promoted to command the regiment. Barnes led the South Carolinians into battle at Gaines's Mill, where he was wounded. He was wounded again at Second Manassas.
According to Robertson's biography of A. P. Hill (footnote 6, p. 340): "On the day after Hill's release [from arrest], the white-haired and courtly Col. Dixon Barnes of the 12th South Carolina permitted his hungry men to take apples from trees adjacent to the road on which they were marching. Paxton saw this violation of orders and, with Jackson's approval, placed Barnes under arrest." As Hill's division prepared to go into action at Harper's Ferry Barnes begged to be allowed to go into battle with his men as a private. Maxcy Gregg refused the request, but then A. P. Hill intervened: "General Gregg, I order you to give Colonel Barnes his sword and put him in command of his regiment." (Robertson, p. 137).
Barnes led his regiment to Sharpsburg. According to the text of The History of a brigade of South Carolinians, known first as "Gregg's" and subsequently as "McGowan's brigade" (p. 48-49):
Col. Dixon Barnes, of the Twelfth regiment, was wounded by a Minie ball, in the thigh, and died two or three days subsequent to the battle. He was a native of Lancaster District, South Carolina, and perhaps forty-five
years of age. He was of large fortune, and until the war devoted himself to agriculture. Elected major of the Second South Carolina infantry (Kershaw's) in the winter of 1861, he served with that regiment until the summer of the same year, when he was elected to the lieutenant-colonelcy of the Twelfth South Carolina. He succeeded Col. Dunnovant in the command of the regiment in the spring of 1862.
Of all our losses in the summer campaign, he was certainly the greatest. In camp he drilled his regiment with remarkable care and exactness, and governed it with admirable discipline, while on the field of battle he led it with a gallantry and coolness unsurpassed in this army. I think that all who have witnessed his conduct will bear me out in saying, that no officer in the brigade executed so many
brilliant and successful charges as he. He was the head and heart of his splendid regiment, commanding the attention and admiration of all by his handsome form and martial bearing, and animating and fortifying them with his clear, ringing voice. No appearances staggered him, no obstacles stayed him. When he was ordered against a line of the enemy, he invariably broke it, and with slaughter. Indeed, so fierce and impetuous were his charges, that it was sometimes necessary to recall him. Nor was he less cool and obstinate in defence than gallant in attack.
In unofficial life he was equally noteworthy. A clear, quick apprehension marked all his writings and conversations, his manners were full of courtesy and refinement, and through the whole ran a most pleasant vein of cheerfulness and humor.
A skilful officer, a brave soldier, an honest man, his name deserves to be recorded in the first list of those who gave their lives for the Southern Confederacy.
Barnes died on September 27.
Barnes raised what became Company I of the 12th South Carolina at Lancaster. The regiment was mustered into service on September 1 under the command of Colonel Richard G.M. Dunovant. Barnes was elected Lieutenant Colonel.
The 12th served in the South Carolina coastal defenses that fall, then transfered to Virginia in April 1862 where they were assigned to Maxcy Gregg's brigade. Colonel Dunovant resigned on April 2 and Barnes was promoted to command the regiment. Barnes led the South Carolinians into battle at Gaines's Mill, where he was wounded. He was wounded again at Second Manassas.
According to Robertson's biography of A. P. Hill (footnote 6, p. 340): "On the day after Hill's release [from arrest], the white-haired and courtly Col. Dixon Barnes of the 12th South Carolina permitted his hungry men to take apples from trees adjacent to the road on which they were marching. Paxton saw this violation of orders and, with Jackson's approval, placed Barnes under arrest." As Hill's division prepared to go into action at Harper's Ferry Barnes begged to be allowed to go into battle with his men as a private. Maxcy Gregg refused the request, but then A. P. Hill intervened: "General Gregg, I order you to give Colonel Barnes his sword and put him in command of his regiment." (Robertson, p. 137).
Barnes led his regiment to Sharpsburg. According to the text of The History of a brigade of South Carolinians, known first as "Gregg's" and subsequently as "McGowan's brigade" (p. 48-49):
Col. Dixon Barnes, of the Twelfth regiment, was wounded by a Minie ball, in the thigh, and died two or three days subsequent to the battle. He was a native of Lancaster District, South Carolina, and perhaps forty-five
years of age. He was of large fortune, and until the war devoted himself to agriculture. Elected major of the Second South Carolina infantry (Kershaw's) in the winter of 1861, he served with that regiment until the summer of the same year, when he was elected to the lieutenant-colonelcy of the Twelfth South Carolina. He succeeded Col. Dunnovant in the command of the regiment in the spring of 1862.
Of all our losses in the summer campaign, he was certainly the greatest. In camp he drilled his regiment with remarkable care and exactness, and governed it with admirable discipline, while on the field of battle he led it with a gallantry and coolness unsurpassed in this army. I think that all who have witnessed his conduct will bear me out in saying, that no officer in the brigade executed so many
brilliant and successful charges as he. He was the head and heart of his splendid regiment, commanding the attention and admiration of all by his handsome form and martial bearing, and animating and fortifying them with his clear, ringing voice. No appearances staggered him, no obstacles stayed him. When he was ordered against a line of the enemy, he invariably broke it, and with slaughter. Indeed, so fierce and impetuous were his charges, that it was sometimes necessary to recall him. Nor was he less cool and obstinate in defence than gallant in attack.
In unofficial life he was equally noteworthy. A clear, quick apprehension marked all his writings and conversations, his manners were full of courtesy and refinement, and through the whole ran a most pleasant vein of cheerfulness and humor.
A skilful officer, a brave soldier, an honest man, his name deserves to be recorded in the first list of those who gave their lives for the Southern Confederacy.
Barnes died on September 27.