Andrew J. Grigsby
Encyclopedia
Andrew Jackson Grigsby was a Confederate States Army
officer in the famed Stonewall Brigade
during the American Civil War
. Grigsby was also known as both "A. J. Grigsby" and "Arnold J. Grigsby".
Grigsby was born in Rockbridge County, Virginia
. He attended Washington College (later, Washington & Lee University). He became a farmer and served in the Mexican War. When the Civil War erupted, he became a major
in the 27th Virginia Infantry
in the Stonewall Brigade in 1861, lieutenant colonel
later that year, and colonel
in 1862. (He succeeded John Echols
in these higher ranks.) Grigsby served under Stonewall Jackson
in the Valley Campaign
, fighting at the First Battle of Winchester
. Then, he served under Jackson in the Seven Days Battles
and Second Bull Run, being slightly wounded in the latter. Grigsby was wounded on several occasions.
He led the Stonewall Brigade from August 30, 1862, to November 6, 1862, including at the Battle of Antietam
, in place of Brig. Gen. Charles S. Winder. He became acting commander of Jackson's Division during the battle when Brig. Gen. John R. Jones
was wounded and Brig. Gen. William E. Starke
was killed. He was brevetted Brig. Gen. and so served, but was apparently never confirmed. Afterwards Stonewall Jackson
decided not to promote Grigsby to permanent command of the Stonewall Brigade, and the colonel resigned his commission in protest when Elisha F. Paxton
of Jackson's staff was promoted in his stead. One theory why Grigsby was passed over for promotion was his use of profane language, which displeased the devout and sober Jackson. Grigsby tendered his resignation in protest. Paxton was killed by a minnie ball round, on May 3, 1863 while preparing to attack the Union Army at Chancellorsville.
Grigsby is reported to have had a testy encounter with Jefferson Davis
, when he went to Richmond, Virginia
, to protest being passed over for promotion. This resulted in his remaining at home, unemployed in further service, for the rest of the war. After his resignation on November 14, 1862, he served in the CSA House of Representatives for the Kentucky delegation. He died in Stony Point, Virginia, and is buried there in the Gross family cemetery.
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
officer in the famed Stonewall Brigade
Stonewall Brigade
The Stonewall Brigade of the Confederate Army during the American Civil War, was a famous combat unit in United States military history. It was trained and first led by General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson, a professor from Virginia Military Institute...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. Grigsby was also known as both "A. J. Grigsby" and "Arnold J. Grigsby".
Grigsby was born in Rockbridge County, Virginia
Rockbridge County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 20,808 people, 8,486 households, and 6,075 families residing in the county. The population density was 35 people per square mile . There were 9,550 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile...
. He attended Washington College (later, Washington & Lee University). He became a farmer and served in the Mexican War. When the Civil War erupted, he became a major
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
in the 27th Virginia Infantry
27th Virginia Infantry
The 27th Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment raised in Virginia for service in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. It fought mostly with the Stonewall Brigade of the Army of Northern Virginia....
in the Stonewall Brigade in 1861, lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
later that year, and colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
in 1862. (He succeeded John Echols
John Echols
John Echols was a general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.-Biography:Echols was born in Lynchburg, Virginia, and was educated at the Virginia Military Institute, Washington College and Harvard College. A tall imposing man, standing 6 feet 4 inches tall, Echols...
in these higher ranks.) Grigsby served under Stonewall Jackson
Stonewall Jackson
ຄຽשת״ׇׂׂׂׂ֣|birth_place= Clarksburg, Virginia |death_place=Guinea Station, Virginia|placeofburial=Stonewall Jackson Memorial CemeteryLexington, Virginia|placeofburial_label= Place of burial|image=...
in the Valley Campaign
Valley Campaign
Jackson's Valley Campaign was Confederate Maj. Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's famous spring 1862 campaign through the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia during the American Civil War...
, fighting at the First Battle of Winchester
First Battle of Winchester
The First Battle of Winchester, fought on May 25, 1862, in and around Frederick County, Virginia, and Winchester, Virginia, was a major victory in Confederate Army Maj. Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's Campaign through the Shenandoah Valley during the American Civil War. Jackson enveloped the...
. Then, he served under Jackson in the Seven Days Battles
Seven Days Battles
The Seven Days Battles was a series of six major battles over the seven days from June 25 to July 1, 1862, near Richmond, Virginia during the American Civil War. Confederate General Robert E. Lee drove the invading Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan, away from...
and Second Bull Run, being slightly wounded in the latter. Grigsby was wounded on several occasions.
He led the Stonewall Brigade from August 30, 1862, to November 6, 1862, including at the Battle of Antietam
Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam , fought on September 17, 1862, near Sharpsburg, Maryland, and Antietam Creek, as part of the Maryland Campaign, was the first major battle in the American Civil War to take place on Northern soil. It was the bloodiest single-day battle in American history, with about 23,000...
, in place of Brig. Gen. Charles S. Winder. He became acting commander of Jackson's Division during the battle when Brig. Gen. John R. Jones
John R. Jones
John Robert Jones was a Virginia businessman and soldier who was a controversial brigadier general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.Jones was a native Virginian and a graduate of the Virginia Military Institute...
was wounded and Brig. Gen. William E. Starke
William E. Starke
William Edwin Starke was a wealthy Gulf Coast businessman and a brigadier general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War...
was killed. He was brevetted Brig. Gen. and so served, but was apparently never confirmed. Afterwards Stonewall Jackson
Stonewall Jackson
ຄຽשת״ׇׂׂׂׂ֣|birth_place= Clarksburg, Virginia |death_place=Guinea Station, Virginia|placeofburial=Stonewall Jackson Memorial CemeteryLexington, Virginia|placeofburial_label= Place of burial|image=...
decided not to promote Grigsby to permanent command of the Stonewall Brigade, and the colonel resigned his commission in protest when Elisha F. Paxton
Elisha F. Paxton
Elisha Franklin Paxton was an American lawyer and soldier who served as a general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. He died in combat leading the famed Stonewall Brigade during the Battle of Chancellorsville.-Early life and career:Paxton was born in Rockbridge County,...
of Jackson's staff was promoted in his stead. One theory why Grigsby was passed over for promotion was his use of profane language, which displeased the devout and sober Jackson. Grigsby tendered his resignation in protest. Paxton was killed by a minnie ball round, on May 3, 1863 while preparing to attack the Union Army at Chancellorsville.
Grigsby is reported to have had a testy encounter with Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Finis Davis , also known as Jeff Davis, was an American statesman and leader of the Confederacy during the American Civil War, serving as President for its entire history. He was born in Kentucky to Samuel and Jane Davis...
, when he went to Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
, to protest being passed over for promotion. This resulted in his remaining at home, unemployed in further service, for the rest of the war. After his resignation on November 14, 1862, he served in the CSA House of Representatives for the Kentucky delegation. He died in Stony Point, Virginia, and is buried there in the Gross family cemetery.