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Samuel McGowan (general)
Encyclopedia
Samuel McGowan was a general from South Carolina
in the Confederate States Army
during the American Civil War
. He commanded a brigade
in A.P. Hill's famous "Light Division" and was wounded several times. Ezra Warner
's book, Generals in Gray, claims that "McGowan's career and reputation were not excelled by any other brigade commander in the Army of Northern Virginia
."
in 1841. Subsequently, he studied law in Abbeville
and was admitted to the bar. Prior to the Civil War, McGowan practiced law and served in state politics. He also served in the Mexican-American War with the Palmetto Rifles. He was commended for his gallantry near Mexico City
and rose to the rank of staff captain.
At the First Battle of Bull Run
, McGowan served on the staff of General Milledge Bonham. In 1862, McGowan was appointed as Colonel
of the 14th South Carolina Infantry. This regiment
was assigned to Maxcy Gregg
's brigade in A.P. Hill's Light Division. After Gregg was killed in the Battle of Fredericksburg
, McGowan was promoted to brigadier general (to rank from January 17, 1863) and took command of the Light Division's South Carolina brigade. Except for when wounded, McGowan commanded this brigade for the rest of the war, surrendering with it at Appomattox Court House
.
McGowan was wounded four times during the Civil War. The first occurrence was at Cold Harbor during the Seven Days Battles
on June 27, 1862, where he was bruised in the right side by canister
. The second wound happened at Second Manassas when McGowan was hit in the thigh. McGowan suffered his worst wound at Chancellorsville
. A Minié ball
severely injured McGowan's leg below the knee. Although he kept the leg, it was not until February 1864 that he was able to return to field command. McGowan received his final wound at Spotsylvania
where he was hit and suffered a minor wound to the forearm.
Returning to Abbeville after the war ended, McGowan was elected to Congress
as a member of the Conservative Party of South Carolina
, but refused his seat. He became a leader in the fight against "carpetbagger
" rule in the state legislature. In 1879, McGowan was elected to the South Carolina supreme court
as an associate justice. He held the position until 1893.
General McGowan died in Abbeville and was buried there in Long Cane Cemetery.
Hans Holzer
's book Ghosts tells the story of contacting General Samuel McGowan in a story entitled "The Fifth Avenue Ghost." The story is based upon séances Holzer held between 11 July 1953 and 26 November 1953 at 226 Fifth Avenue in New York, and later at the medium's home.
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...
in the Confederate States 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...
. 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...
in A.P. Hill's famous "Light Division" and was wounded several times. Ezra Warner
Ezra Warner
Ezra J. Warner of Waterbury, Connecticut was an American inventor, who patented his design of a can opener in 1858. Crudely shaped bayonet and sickle combo, his design was widely accepted by the U.S...
's book, Generals in Gray, claims that "McGowan's career and reputation were not excelled by any other brigade commander in the Army of Northern Virginia
Army of Northern Virginia
The Army of Northern Virginia was the primary military force of the Confederate States of America in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War, as well as the primary command structure of the Department of Northern Virginia. It was most often arrayed against the Union Army of the Potomac...
."
Biography
Born in the Laurens District of South Carolina, McGowan attended and graduated from South Carolina CollegeUniversity of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
in 1841. Subsequently, he studied law in Abbeville
Abbeville, South Carolina
For other communities of the same name, see Abbeville .Abbeville is a city in Abbeville County, South Carolina, United States, 86 miles west of Columbia. Its population was 5,237 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Abbeville County...
and was admitted to the bar. Prior to the Civil War, McGowan practiced law and served in state politics. He also served in the Mexican-American War with the Palmetto Rifles. He was commended for his gallantry near Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
and rose to the rank of staff captain.
At the First Battle of Bull Run
First Battle of Bull Run
First Battle of Bull Run, also known as First Manassas , was fought on July 21, 1861, in Prince William County, Virginia, near the City of Manassas...
, McGowan served on the staff of General Milledge Bonham. In 1862, McGowan was appointed as 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...
of the 14th South Carolina Infantry. This 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...
was assigned to Maxcy Gregg
Maxcy Gregg
Maxcy Gregg was a lawyer, soldier in the United States Army during the Mexican-American War, and a Confederate brigadier general during the American Civil War who was killed at the Battle of Fredericksburg....
's brigade in A.P. Hill's Light Division. After Gregg was killed in the Battle of Fredericksburg
Battle of Fredericksburg
The Battle of Fredericksburg was fought December 11–15, 1862, in and around Fredericksburg, Virginia, between General Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army of Northern Virginia and the Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside...
, McGowan was promoted to brigadier general (to rank from January 17, 1863) and took command of the Light Division's South Carolina brigade. Except for when wounded, McGowan commanded this brigade for the rest of the war, surrendering with it at Appomattox Court House
Appomattox Court House
The Appomattox Courthouse is the current courthouse in Appomattox, Virginia built in 1892. It is located in the middle of the state about three miles northwest of the Appomattox Court House National Historical Park, once known as Clover Hill - home of the original Old Appomattox Court House...
.
McGowan was wounded four times during the Civil War. The first occurrence was at Cold Harbor during 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...
on June 27, 1862, where he was bruised in the right side by canister
Canister shot
Canister shot is a kind of anti-personnel ammunition used in cannons. It was similar to the naval grapeshot, but fired smaller and more numerous balls, which did not have to punch through the wooden hull of a ship...
. The second wound happened at Second Manassas when McGowan was hit in the thigh. McGowan suffered his worst wound at Chancellorsville
Battle of Chancellorsville
The Battle of Chancellorsville was a major battle of the American Civil War, and the principal engagement of the Chancellorsville Campaign. It was fought from April 30 to May 6, 1863, in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, near the village of Chancellorsville. Two related battles were fought nearby on...
. A Minié ball
Minié ball
The Minié ball is a type of muzzle-loading spin-stabilising rifle bullet named after its co-developer, Claude-Étienne Minié, inventor of the Minié rifle...
severely injured McGowan's leg below the knee. Although he kept the leg, it was not until February 1864 that he was able to return to field command. McGowan received his final wound at Spotsylvania
Battle of Spotsylvania Court House
The Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, sometimes simply referred to as the Battle of Spotsylvania , was the second major battle in Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's 1864 Overland Campaign of the American Civil War. Following the bloody but inconclusive Battle of the Wilderness, Grant's army disengaged...
where he was hit and suffered a minor wound to the forearm.
Returning to Abbeville after the war ended, McGowan was elected to Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
as a member of the Conservative Party of South Carolina
Conservative Party of South Carolina
The Conservative Party of South Carolina was a political party of South Carolina during Reconstruction. It was founded in 1874 by James Chestnut from the State Tax Union to provide an organization for the mobilization of white voters. The absence of an active and statewide Democratic Party led many...
, but refused his seat. He became a leader in the fight against "carpetbagger
Carpetbagger
Carpetbaggers was a pejorative term Southerners gave to Northerners who moved to the South during the Reconstruction era, between 1865 and 1877....
" rule in the state legislature. In 1879, McGowan was elected to the South Carolina supreme court
Supreme court
A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of many legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, instance court, judgment court, high court, or apex court...
as an associate justice. He held the position until 1893.
General McGowan died in Abbeville and was buried there in Long Cane Cemetery.
Hans Holzer
Hans Holzer
Hans Holzer was an Austrian-born, American pioneering paranormal researcher and author. He wrote well over 100 books on supernatural and occult subjects for the popular market as well as several plays, musicals, films, and documentaries, and hosted a television show, "Ghost Hunter".- Career...
's book Ghosts tells the story of contacting General Samuel McGowan in a story entitled "The Fifth Avenue Ghost." The story is based upon séances Holzer held between 11 July 1953 and 26 November 1953 at 226 Fifth Avenue in New York, and later at the medium's home.
See also
- List of American Civil War generals