Ellison Capers

From Dixiepedia: The PC-Free Encyclopedia

Ellison Capers (14 October 1837 - 22 April 1908) was born in Charleston, South Carolina. He graduated the Citadel in 1857 and returned as an instructor the next year. In 1860, he was elected a Major in the 1st Regiment of Rifles in Charleston. Capers remained with that unit through the bombardment and Fort Sumter and resigned his state commission and his professorship in November of 1861 to enter Confederate service.

He became a Lieutenant Colonel (second-in-command) of the 24th SC Volunteer Infantry in April of 1862. The 24th participated in Secessionville and remained in the James Island area until December of 1862 when it was moved to relieve Wilmington, North Carolina.

Capers was wounded around May 14, 1863 near Jackson, Mississippi. Capers was later wounded again during the battles for Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge. He became commander of the 24th in 1864 and led them through the Atlanta and Tennessee campaigns until he was wounded at the battle of Franklin (the same battle that took the life of S.R. Gist.) He was promoted to Brigadier General on March 1, 1865.

In 1866, Capers was elected South Carolina Secretary of State. He entered the ministry in the Protestant Episcopal Church in 1867. He was rector in Greenville for 20 years, Selma, Alabam for one year and Trinity in Columbia for six years. In 1893, Capers was elected and consecrated Bishop of South Carolina. He died in 1908 and is buried in Trinity Churchyard in Columbia.