Daniel Weisiger Adams
Encyclopedia
Daniel Weisiger Adams was a noted lawyer and a brigadier general
in the Confederate Army
during the American Civil War
.
, to George Adams and Anna Weisiger Adams. His brother was William Wirt Adams
, another future Civil War general. He was educated at the University of Virginia
, passed the bar exam, and began to practice law in New Orleans, Louisiana
, in 1842. He became prominent in local political and social circles, and his practice became one of the city's largest.
of Louisiana
following the 1860 election of Abraham Lincoln
, Adams was appointed in early 1861 as a member of the military board created to prepare the state for war. He was later appointed a lieutenant colonel
in the Confederate Army, advancing to the rank of brigadier general in 1862. He commanded the 1st Louisiana Regulars and fought in multiple major battles, principally the battles of Shiloh
, Perryville
, Stones River
, and Chickamauga
. He was wounded several times, losing his right eye at Shiloh, and was captured at Chickamauga.
He commanded a cavalry
brigade
, and was subsequently made the commander of the District of Central Alabama in 1864, and the commander of the State of Alabama, North of Gulf Department in 1865. He took part in the Battle of Selma
in 1865, and the battle of Columbus, Georgia
, that same year.
in Jackson, Mississippi
next to his brother W.W.Adams. D.W. Adams gravesite is unmarked but ironically there is a cenotaph tombstone for him in Greenwood's Confederate Section.
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
in the Confederate Army
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...
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...
.
Early life and career
Adams was born in Lynchburg, VirginiaLynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 75,568 as of 2010. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the banks of the James River, Lynchburg is known as the "City of Seven Hills" or "The Hill City." Lynchburg was the only major city in...
, to George Adams and Anna Weisiger Adams. His brother was William Wirt Adams
William Wirt Adams
William Wirt Adams was a United States district court judge for the state of Mississippi, a soldier for the Republic of Texas, and a Confederate officer and general in the American Civil War.-Early life and career:...
, another future Civil War general. He was educated at the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
, passed the bar exam, and began to practice law in New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, in 1842. He became prominent in local political and social circles, and his practice became one of the city's largest.
Civil War
With the secessionSecession
Secession is the act of withdrawing from an organization, union, or especially a political entity. Threats of secession also can be a strategy for achieving more limited goals.-Secession theory:...
of Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
following the 1860 election of Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
, Adams was appointed in early 1861 as a member of the military board created to prepare the state for war. He was later appointed a 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...
in the Confederate Army, advancing to the rank of brigadier general in 1862. He commanded the 1st Louisiana Regulars and fought in multiple major battles, principally the battles of Shiloh
Battle of Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, was a major battle in the Western Theater of the American Civil War, fought April 6–7, 1862, in southwestern Tennessee. A Union army under Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant had moved via the Tennessee River deep into Tennessee and...
, Perryville
Battle of Perryville
The Battle of Perryville, also known as the Battle of Chaplin Hills, was fought on October 8, 1862, in the Chaplin Hills west of Perryville, Kentucky, as the culmination of the Confederate Heartland Offensive during the American Civil War. Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg's Army of Mississippi won a...
, Stones River
Battle of Stones River
The Battle of Stones River or Second Battle of Murfreesboro , was fought from December 31, 1862, to January 2, 1863, in Middle Tennessee, as the culmination of the Stones River Campaign in the Western Theater of the American Civil War...
, and Chickamauga
Battle of Chickamauga
The Battle of Chickamauga, fought September 19–20, 1863, marked the end of a Union offensive in southeastern Tennessee and northwestern Georgia called the Chickamauga Campaign...
. He was wounded several times, losing his right eye at Shiloh, and was captured at Chickamauga.
He commanded a cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
brigade
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
, and was subsequently made the commander of the District of Central Alabama in 1864, and the commander of the State of Alabama, North of Gulf Department in 1865. He took part in the Battle of Selma
Battle of Selma
The Battle of Selma was a military engagement near the end of the American Civil War. It was fought in Selma, Alabama, on April 2, 1865. Union Army forces under Major General James H...
in 1865, and the battle of Columbus, Georgia
Columbus, Georgia
Columbus is a city in and the county seat of Muscogee County, Georgia, United States, with which it is consolidated. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 189,885. It is the principal city of the Columbus, Georgia metropolitan area, which, in 2009, had an estimated population of 292,795...
, that same year.
Postbellum career
After the war ended, Adams resumed the practice of law in New Orleans until his death in 1872. He is buried at Greenwood CemeteryGreenwood Cemetery, Mississippi
Greenwood Cemetery is a cemetery located in downtown Jackson, Mississippi. Still in use, it was established by a federal land grant on November 21, 1821. It was originally known simply as "The Graveyard" and later as "City Cemetery" before the present name was adopted in 1899...
in Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of the US state of Mississippi. It is one of two county seats of Hinds County ,. The population of the city declined from 184,256 at the 2000 census to 173,514 at the 2010 census...
next to his brother W.W.Adams. D.W. Adams gravesite is unmarked but ironically there is a cenotaph tombstone for him in Greenwood's Confederate Section.
See also
- List of American Civil War generals
- Reed N. WeisigerReed N. WeisigerReed Nelson Weisiger was a Texas State Senator from District 26. Reed Weisiger was often mentioned for Governor of Texas but he declined to run....