Tag: Withers (Jones M.)

Wikipedia says: Jones Mitchell Withers (January 12, 1814 – March 13, 1890) was a United States Army officer who fought during the Mexican–American War and later served as a Confederate major general during the American Civil War. He also was a lawyer, politician, and businessman from the state of Alabama.

…During the American Civil War, Withers chose to follow his home state and the Confederate cause, and entered the Confederate States Army in 1861. He was appointed the colonel of the 3rd Alabama Infantry on April 28, and served briefly as commander of the Department of Norfolk that May. Withers was promoted to brigadier general on July 10, and began his Western Theater service in the fall.

Withers commanded the District of Alabama from September 12, 1861, to January 27, 1862. His command was re-designated the Army of Mobile on January 27 until February 5, and became the 2nd Division of the II Corps in the Army of Mississippi on March 29. Withers fought during the Battle of Shiloh in Tennessee on April 6, and was promoted to major general from that date. He commanded the reserve corps of the Army of Mississippi from June 30 to August 18, later referred to as “Withers’ Division” in the “Right Wing” until November 20.

The Army of Mississippi was renamed the Army of Tennessee on November 20, 1862, and Withers led his 2nd Division with distinction during the Battle of Stones River from December 31 to January 2, 1863. His conduct in the fight was praised by his corps commander, Lt. Gen. Leonidas Polk, as well as by the army’s commander, General Braxton Bragg. An account of his performance at Stones River (also called Murfreesboro) follows:

At the battle of Murfreesboro his division was posted west of the river, and was the front center division of the army, its right being the pivot on which the successful wheel of the army was made on December 29. His skill and gallantry in the battle were highly commended by Polk and Bragg. His division had the most dangerous, difficult work of the day to perform, and they fought nobly, but with terrible loss, 2,500 out of 7,700 engaged.

Withers commanded his division until resigning his commission in the Confederate Army on July 13, 1863, but was quickly restored to his rank as a major general a week later. He was given command of the District of North Alabama in the Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and East Louisiana from February 6 to July 27, 1864. He then commanded the reserve forces of Alabama from April 30 to May 4, 1865. He was paroled at Meridian, Mississippi on May 11, after the department had been surrendered and the war came to an end.