{⋆★⋆} BG Jenkins, Micah

Micah Jenkins​

Born: December 1, 1835

Birthplace: Edisto Island, South Carolina

Father: John Jenkins 1794 – 1854

Mother: Elizabeth Clark 1808 – 1864

(Buried: Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston, South Carolina)​

Wife: Caroline H. Jamison 1837 – 1902

(Buried: Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston, South Carolina)​

Children:

Micah John Jenkins 1857 – 1912​

(Buried: Saint Paul's Episcopal Church, Charleston, South Carolina)​

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Robert Flavel Jenkins 1858 – 1936​

(Buried: Saint Paul's Episcopal Church, Charleston, South Carolina)​

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William Edward Jenkins 1860 – 1930​

(Buried: Willow Dale Cemetery, Goldsboro, North Carolina)​

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Whitemarsh LaRoche Jenkins 1861 – 1863​

(Buried: Saint Paul's Episcopal Church, Summerville, South Carolina)

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John Murray Jenkins 1863 – 1958​

(Buried: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia)​

Education:

1854: Graduated from South Carolina, Military, Academy​

Occupation before War:

1855 – 1861: Organizer of King's Mountain Military School​

Civil War Background:

1861 – 1862: Colonel of 5th​ South Carolina Infantry​

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1861: Participated in the Battle of First Bull Run​

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1862: Participated in the Battle of Seven Pines Wounded twice in knee

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1862: Colonel of Palmetto Sharpshooters​

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1862 – 1864: Brigadier General in the Confederate Army​

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1862: Wounded in Shoulder and Chest during 2nd​ Battle of Bull Run​

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1862 – 1863: Served in the Division of Major General George Pickett​

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1863: Participated in the campaign against Suffolk, Virginia​

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1863: Retained in Richmond Virginia Missing Battle of Gettysburg​

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1863: Participated with first army Corps in Tennessee​

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1863: Participated in Second day's fighting at Battle of Chickamauga​

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1864: Led his brigade in victory at Battle of Kimbrough's Crossroads​

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1864: Mortally wounded in the head when a mini ball lodged in his brain however, he urged his men to press forward.​

Died: May 6, 1864

Place of Death: Spotsylvania County, Virginia

Cause of Death: Wounds to his head and brain caused by mini ball

Age at time of Death: 28 years old

Original Burial Place: Summerville, South Carolina

Burial Place: In the year of 1881 General Micah Jenkins was moved to Magnolia Cemetery in Charleston, South Carolina

 

[Pollaco]

I can help but notice there were two General Jenkins. Were they related?

 

[gentlemanrob]

Happy Birthday Brig. General Micah Jenkins! Salutes remembering General Jenkins on his birthday.

 

[danny]

In summer of 1863 Jenkins' Bgde was detached from Longstreet's Corps in the Army of Northern Virginia & left to guard Richmond, therefore missing the Gettysburg Campaign. He was assigned to D.H. Hill's command in the Dept of NC during this time. Lee had petitioned for Jenkins' return to the army prior to the Gettysburg Campaign, sending letters to Hill & President Davis; however, Davis turned down his requests. Jenkins & his men also wished for their return to their old place in Longstreet's Corps; he also made multiple requests but to no avail.

Just when Jenkins was beginning to believe he would never return to Lee's army & expected an eventual transfer to SC despite the fall of Morris Island, his Bgde was returned to Longstreet's Corps & placed in Hood's Div in Sept 1863, just prior to the Corps' transfer to the Western Theater to reinforce the Army of Tenn. Longstreet had sent Tige Anderson's Ga Bgde to Charleston in exchange for Jenkins', one reason being that Jenkins was a good friend & favorite of Longstreet's. It was also thought the Georgians might desert while in their home state without Anderson's leadership, he having been wounded at Gettysburg. Davis had then preferred Jenkins' transfer to Charleston; however, it was too late before that could be countermanded.

Jenkins & his men were glad to be back in their old Corps & on campaign again, though they would still be separated from Lee's army & now a long way from home, having just thought they would be sent back to SC. Unfortunately for Jenkins, shortly after being sent west his youngest son died at home - he not able to be there to console his pregnant wife & children. His Bgde arrived too late to participate at Chickamauga & they would suffer heavy losses in the battle of Wauhatchie at Chattanooga.

There was an unfortunate rivalry between Micah Jenkins & his fellow South Carolinian Evander Law as to who should command Hood's Div (Jenkins had seniority but Law had been with the Div a lot longer) & that created a poisonous atmosphere in Hood's Div to which Jenkins' Bgde was assigned to after Gettysburg.


The Knoxville Campaign was a harsh & bitter one for Longstreet's command - lots of squabbling among Longstreet & his subordinates, especially between Jenkins & Evander Law over promotion & command of Hood's former Div, only to have Charles Field promoted to Maj Gen & assigned command of the Div by Feb 1864. The campaign took a toll on Jenkins' health & on his return to Virginia he was suffering from carbuncles. Finally, back in the ANV in spring of 1864, Jenkins would unfortunately be killed by friendly fire at the Wilderness on May 6 in the same incident that wounded Longstreet.

To Mrs. M. Jenkins-LT-GEN D. H. HILL'S TRIBUTE

Gen Hill, slow to praise, said of Gen Micah Jenkins:

Gen Cooper: In leaving the district of NC I feel it due to Brig-Gen Jenkins that attention should be called to his extraordinary merit. At Seven Pines his Bgde was under my immediate notice, & by his skillful handling rendered more service than any two
engaged. His dispositions on the Blackwater & around Richmond always excited my admiration.

"I know no brigadier in the service more worthy of promotion. He has all the qualities necessary to make him a most efficient
Div cdr.


Gen Wade Hampton said: "Micah Jenkins was the finest soldier I ever saw."

 

[Nathan Stuart]

Despite his relative youthfulness, Micah Jenkins was a capable and reliable Brigade commander.

 

[Pollaco]

He temporarily (off and on)led R.H.Anderson's brigade in Longstreets Division during from May 5 to June 1 then June 29, through July 1, 1862 . Then again from July 14 through August 1862.I think this was while Anderson was commanding Huger's old command.Jenkins was then wounded at 2nd Manassas.