Jones M. Withers

Infobox Military Person
name= Jones Mitchell Withers
born= birth date|1814|1|12
died= death date and age|1890|3|13|1814|1|12


caption= Jones Mitchell Withers
nickname=
placeofbirth= Madison County, Alabama
placeofdeath= Mobile, Alabama
allegiance= United States of America Confederate States of America
branch= United States Army Confederate States Army
branch=
serviceyears= 1835–36, 1847–48 (USA) 1861–65 (CSA)
rank= Colonel (USA) Major General (CSA)
unit=
commands=
battles= Mexican–American War
American Civil War
awards=
relations= Bryan M. Thomas (son-in-law)
laterwork= cotton broker, newspaper editor, mayor

Jones Mitchell Withers (January 12, 1814–March 13, 1890) was a United States Army officer who fought during the Mexican–American War and later served as a Confederate general during the American Civil War. He also was a lawyer, politician, and businessman from the state of Alabama.

Early life and career

Withers was born in 1814 in Madison County, Alabama. In 1831 he attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, and graduated four years later standing 44th out of 56 cadets. He was brevetted a second lieutenant in the 1st U.S. Dragoons on July 1, 1835, and resigned his commission the following year on December 5.Eicher, p. 577.]

After resigning Withers began a law practice in Alabama, and in 1836 entered the state's militia forces. He later became a cotton broker. Withers was appointed a lieutenant colonel on March 3, 1847, during the Mexican–American War and was assigned to the 13th U.S. Infantry. He was promoted to colonel on September 13 in the 9th U.S. Infantry, and resigned on May 23, 1484.Eicher, p. 578.]

Withers returned to Alabama following the war with Mexico, and became a merchant there before entering politics. He served in Alabama's State Legislature and later as the mayor of Mobile from 1858 to 1861.

Civil War service

During the American Civil War, Withers chose to follow his home state and the Confederate cause, and entered the Confederate States Army in 1861. He was appointed the colonel of the 3rd Alabama Infantry on April 28, and served briefly as commander of the Department of Norfolk that May. Withers was promoted to brigadier general on July 10, and began his Western Theater service in the fall.

Withers commanded the District of Alabama from September 12, 1861 to January 27, 1862. [Eicher, p. 578. Dist. of Alabama, in Department No. 2 (Sept. 12-Oct. 14) and in Dept. of Alabama & West Florida (Oct. 14-Jan. 27, 1862)] His command was re-designated the Army of Mobile on January 27 until February 5, and became the 2nd Division of the II Corps in the Army of Mississippi on March 29. Withers was promoted to major general on April 6 and commanded the Reserve Corps of the Army of Mississippi from June 30 to August 18, later referred to as Withers' Division in the "Right Wing" until November 20. The Army of Mississippi was soon renamed the Army of Tennessee, and Withers commanded the 2nd Division in its I Corps until resigning on July 13, 1863.

Withers was restored to his rank on July 21, 1863, and given command of the District of North Alabama in the Department of Alabama, Mississippi, & East Louisiana from February 6 to July 27, 1864. He then commanded the Reserve Forces of Alabama from April 30 to May 4, 1865, and was paroled at Meridian, Mississippi on May 11 after the Department was surrendered.

Postbellum

Withers was pardoned by the U.S. Government on December 28, 1865, and returned to his civilian life in Alabama. He became a cotton broker and an editor of Mobile's "Tribune" newspaper. Briefly in 1867 Withers was once again mayor of the city of Mobile. He died there in 1890 and was buried in Mobile's Magnolia Cemetery.

References

* Eicher, John H., and Eicher, David J., "Civil War High Commands", Stanford University Press, 2001, ISBN 0-8047-3641-3.

Notes

External links

* [http://www.civilwarhome.com/withersshilohor.htm www.civilwarhome.com] Withers' report on the Battle of Shiloh, text from the Official Records, Series I, Vol. X, Chapter 1.