{⋆★⋆} BG Simms, James Phillip

James Phillip Simms

Born: January 16, 1837

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Birthplace: Covington, Georgia

Father: Richard Lee Simms 1795 – 1856
(Buried: Oxford Historical Cemetery, Oxford, Georgia)​

Mother: Jerusha Bonner 1809 – 1866
(Buried: Oxford Historical Cemetery, Oxford, Georgia)​

Wife: Mary Lucy Bates 1839 – 1894 (Married: April 20, 1860)
(Buried: Southview Cemetery, Covington, Georgia)​

Children:

James Phillip “Jimmie” Simms Jr.​
Alice Lee Simms​

Education:

Studied law in Covington, Georgia​

Occupation:

Attorney in Covington, Georgia​

Civil War Career:

1861: 2nd Lt of Company H, 6th Georgia State Troops​
1861: 1st Lt. Of Company H, 6th Georgia State Troops​
1862: Mustered out of 6th Georgia State Troops​
1862: Major of 53rd Georgia Infantry​
1862 – 1863: Colonel of 53rd Georgia Infantry​
1862: Participated in the Battle of Fredericksburg​
1863: Participated in the Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania​
1864 – 1865: Brigadier General of Confederate Army Infantry
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1864: Participated in the Battle of Cedar Creek​
1865: Captured during the Battle of Saylor's Creek, Virginia​
1865: Released from Prison​

Occupation after War:

1865 – 1887: Attorney in Covington, Georgia​
1865 – 1866: Georgia State Representative​
1877: Georgia State Representative​

Died: May 30, 1887

Place of Death: Covington, Georgia

Cause of Death: Unspecified Disease

Age at time of Death: 50 years old

Burial Place: Southview Cemetery, Covington, Georgia

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1865: Captured during the Battle of Saylor's Creek, Virginia
James P. Simms was the final commander of Paul J. Semmes/ Goode Bryan's brigade of Georgians. Of course Semmes was mortally wounded at Gettysburg and Goode Bryan (formerly Colonel of the 16th GA Wofford's brigade) was appointed BG of the brigade formerly known as Semmes. Goode Bryan served as BG until he was furloughed for illness June 9, 1864 and resigned Sept 20, 1864. James P. Simms was promoted, to rank, December 8, 1864, but had probably been commanding the brigade long before that.

On April 6, 1865, at the conclusion of the Battle of Sailor's Creek, Simms was captured with the remnants of McLaws'/Kershaw's division, then assigned to Ewell's corps. According to JB Kershaw, these four officers of McLaws'/Kershaw's division were captured together, as a group:
Maj Gen Joseph B Kershaw commanding division
Brig Gen Dudley M DuBose, commanding William T Wofford's old brigade
Brig Gen James P Simms, commanding Paul J Semmes / Goode Bryan's old brigade
Maj. E L Costin of Kershaw's staff

In all NINE generals were captured at Sailor's Creek:
Generals Richard S. Ewell, G W Custis Lee, Joseph B. Kershaw, Eppa Hunton, Meriwether L. Clark, Montgomery Corse, James P. Simms (commanding Semmes/Bryan's old brigade), Seth Barton, and Dudley M. DuBose (commanding Wofford's old brigade.) Commodore John Randolph Tucker, CS Navy, commanding the "naval brigade" fighting as infantry, was also taken prisoner.
 
When Brigadier Semmes was killed at Gettysburg, Simms was passed over for command of the brigade by and outside, Goode Bryan from Wofford's Brigade. However, due to his ill health, it seems that Simms would take command of the brigade sometime after the Overland Campaign, leading it at Cedar Creek.
What exactly was the "ill health" that caused Bryan to resign? Simms took over command on June 2, 1864 but was not present at the whole time at the trenches around Petersburg,him and his brigade left to reinforce Early in the Shenandoah Valley, then later returned.
 
What exactly was the "ill health" that caused Bryan to resign? Simms took over command on June 2, 1864 but was not present at the whole time at the trenches around Petersburg,him and his brigade left to reinforce Early in the Shenandoah Valley, then later returned.
Brigadier General Goode Bryan was hospitalized for dysentery; furloughed for illness June 9, 1864; and his resignation was approved Sept 20, 1864. According to the surgeon's statement, dated August 18, 1864, his need to resign was due to "gouty diathesis" and "great derangement of the kidneys"
 
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