Jubal Anderson Early

From Dixiepedia: The PC-Free Encyclopedia

Jubal Anderson Early (3 November 1816 - 2 March 1894) was born in Franklin County, Virginia. Early attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and graduated in 1837. He joined the Confederate Army in 1861, and was made colonel of the 24th Virginia Infantry Regiment, commanding them at Blackburn's Ford and Manassas. He was promoted to Brigadier General. He was wounded leading a charge of his brigade at Williamsburg on the Federal position. He was promoted to Major General in January of 1863. He was recalled on his way to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where he participated in the first day's successful fighting.

During the beginning of the Battle of the Wilderness, while temporarily in command of Hill's corps, he defeated the Federal attack on the flank, and while in the same command he defeated Union General Burnside at Spotsylvania Court House. Early also struck an effective blow at Bethesna Church on his way to Cold Harbor, and after that battle he attacked Grant's right flank twice. He earned the rank of Lieutenant General on May 31, 1863, and soon after left to defend the Confederate rear that was threatened by Hunter and Lynchburg. He drove Hunter into the mountains and then went down into the Shenandoah Valley, and then into Maryland where he defeated Wallace at Monocaly. Then being reduced to 8,000 men, he prepared to attack the defenses of Washington. He then fell back into Virginia, where he was told to injure the Federal communications. Eventually General Sheridan was sent with an overwhelming force, against which Early made brilliant resistances at Winchester, Fisher's Hill, and Cedar Creek. When the Army was surrendered he rode to Texas, looking for a Confederate force still intact. He then went to Mexico, and then sailed to Canada eventually returning to Virginia. He spent his later years in New Orleans. He died in Lynchburg, Virginia.