- William H. Tebbs
William Henry Tebbs (1821-November, 1866) was a
Confederate Army lieutenant colonel during theAmerican Civil War , best known for having been a driving force behind the recruitment and organization of the 3rd Arkansas Infantry Regiment, which would become one of the most distinguished and respected Confederate regiments of the war.Early life
Tebbs was born in
Prince William County, Virginia , and upon reaching adulthood began studying medicine. He began practicing as adoctor , and later moved toMason County, Kentucky , where he married Martha Anderson. The couple moved toPlatte County, Missouri , where he again opened a private doctor practice. In 1854, he and his brother Obidiah opened a hotel inJefferson County, Kansas , in the rapidly expanding town ofOzawkie, Kansas . Tebbs entered into politics, serving on the stateLegislature , and initially was successful in having the town of Ozawkie named as thecounty seat . However, not long afterward the decision was made to name Oskaloosa as the county seat. Tebbs became a member of the National Democratic Party, and an active member of the pro-slavery movement, and following theKansas free-state victory in 1857, Tebbs and his family moved toHamburg, Arkansas , where he again opened a medical practice.Civil War service
In May of 1861, following the outbreak of the Civil War, Tebbs joined with
Van H. Manning in the recruitment and organization of the 3rd Arkansas Infantry Regiment, in which Tebbs was initially elected as acaptain . His brother Obidiah also joined the regiment, assigned to "A" Company, which was commanded by Tebbs. The regiment was then marched toVicksburg, Mississippi and presented for service in the Confederate Army. Initially, they were turned down. However, Manning appealed toArkansas politicianAlbert Rust , whose two brothers were serving in the regiment, and with persistence the 3rd Arkansas became a part of the Confederate Army, being sent toLynchburg, Virginia for training. The regiment was then assigned toGeneral Robert E. Lee 'sArmy of Northern Virginia , and soon after attached to theTexas Brigade . Tebbs was promoted to lieutenant colonel following Manning's promotion tocolonel in early 1862. Tebbs would serve with the regiment in theBattle of Cheat Mountain ,Battle of Seven Pines ,Battle of Harpers Ferry ,Battle of Antietam , and theBattle of Fredericksburg , in addition to several smaller battles and skirmishes in between. In bad health, he would resign his commission and leave the army onJanuary 11 ,1863 . He died in November, 1866, inSt. Louis, Missouri , and was buried in "Bellefontaine Cemetery".References
* [http://kansasboguslegislature.org/members/tebbs_w_h.html William H. Tebbs]
* [http://members.cox.net/preston1863/history.html 3rd Arkansas]
* [http://asms.k12.ar.us/armem/welch/ar_infy.htm Arkansas Confederate Regimental Histories]
* [http://www.couchgenweb.com/civilwar/3rd-his.html 3rd Arkansas History]
* [http://www.texas-brigade.com/3arkf&s.htm Officers of the 3rd Arkansas, CSA]
* [http://www.researchonline.net/arcw/index/index188.htm Arkansas Civil War Soldiers Index]
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