Ellison Capers
Encyclopedia
Ellison Capers was a school teacher, Confederate
general in the American Civil War
, theologian, and college administrator from South Carolina
.
, and educated in local schools. He graduated from South Carolina Military Academy, later known as The Citadel, in 1857, and then worked as a teacher at the academy.
. He served on coastal defense duties until 1863, having been promoted to lieutenant colonel
of the 24th South Carolina Infantry. In May 1863 the regiment
joined the army of General Joseph E. Johnston
for the Vicksburg Campaign
. Capers was wounded but promoted to colonel
.
Capers returned to field service in time for the Chickamauga Campaign
with the Army of Tennessee
. He fought in the disastrous Battle of Franklin. After the campaign he commanded a brigade
, replacing States Rights Gist
, who had been killed in action. Capers was promoted to brigadier general on March 1, 1865, shortly before the end of hostilities. He was captured at Bentonville, North Carolina
, but there is no record of parole.
Capers returned home after the Civil War. In December 1865, he was elected Secretary of State
for South Carolina. He was rector of Christ Church (Episcopal)
in Greenville. He served as the Episcopal Bishop of South Carolina from 1894 to his death. He also served as chancellor of Sewanee: The University of the South from 1904 to 1908. He died in Columbia, South Carolina
, and is buried there at Trinity Episcopal Churchyard.
was named in his honor.
Capers Hall at The Citadel is named in his honour.
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...
general in 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...
, theologian, and college administrator from South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
.
Early life
Capers was the son of a Methodist bishop. He was born in Charleston, South CarolinaCharleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, and educated in local schools. He graduated from South Carolina Military Academy, later known as The Citadel, in 1857, and then worked as a teacher at the academy.
Civil War
At the outbreak of the Civil War, Capers joined the Confederate Army with the rank of majorMajor
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
. He served on coastal defense duties until 1863, having been promoted to lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
of the 24th South Carolina Infantry. In May 1863 the regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
joined the army of General Joseph E. Johnston
Joseph E. Johnston
Joseph Eggleston Johnston was a career U.S. Army officer, serving with distinction in the Mexican-American War and Seminole Wars, and was also one of the most senior general officers in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War...
for the Vicksburg Campaign
Vicksburg Campaign
The Vicksburg Campaign was a series of maneuvers and battles in the Western Theater of the American Civil War directed against Vicksburg, Mississippi, a fortress city that dominated the last Confederate-controlled section of the Mississippi River. The Union Army of the Tennessee under Maj. Gen....
. Capers was wounded but promoted to colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
.
Capers returned to field service in time for the Chickamauga Campaign
Chickamauga Campaign
The Chickamauga Campaign was a series of battles fought in northwestern Georgia from August 21 to September 20, 1863, between the Union Army of the Cumberland and Confederate Army of Tennessee.-Background:...
with the Army of Tennessee
Army of Tennessee
The Army of Tennessee was the principal Confederate army operating between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River during the American Civil War. It was formed in late 1862 and fought until the end of the war in 1865, participating in most of the significant battles in the Western Theater...
. He fought in the disastrous Battle of Franklin. After the campaign he commanded a 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...
, replacing States Rights Gist
States Rights Gist
States Rights Gist was a lawyer, a militia general in South Carolina, and a Confederate Army brigadier general who served during the American Civil War. A relative of several prominent South Carolinians, Gist rose to fame during the war but was killed before its end at the Battle of Franklin on...
, who had been killed in action. Capers was promoted to brigadier general on March 1, 1865, shortly before the end of hostilities. He was captured at Bentonville, North Carolina
Battle of Bentonville
At 3 p.m., Confederate infantry from the Army of Tennessee launched an attack and drove the Union left flank back in confusion, nearly capturing Carlin in the process and overrunning the XIV Corps field hospital. Confederates under Maj. Gen. D.H. Hill filled the vacuum left by the retreating...
, but there is no record of parole.
Postbellum career
Secretary of State
Secretary of State or State Secretary is a commonly used title for a senior or mid-level post in governments around the world. The role varies between countries, and in some cases there are multiple Secretaries of State in the Government....
for South Carolina. He was rector of Christ Church (Episcopal)
Christ Church (Greenville, South Carolina)
Christ Church is an Episcopal church in Greenville, South Carolina, United States. which was consecrated in 1854. The church and its courtyard are listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Christ Church and Churchyard...
in Greenville. He served as the Episcopal Bishop of South Carolina from 1894 to his death. He also served as chancellor of Sewanee: The University of the South from 1904 to 1908. He died in Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
, and is buried there at Trinity Episcopal Churchyard.
Honors
The General Ellison Capers Camp #1212 of the Sons of Confederate VeteransSons of Confederate Veterans
Sons of Confederate Veterans is an American national heritage organization with members in all fifty states and in almost a dozen countries in Europe, Australia and South America...
was named in his honor.
Capers Hall at The Citadel is named in his honour.