William Barksdale Biography (Written and Submitted by Mr. Gabe Weaver) General
William Barksdale was born on April 21, 1821 in Smyrna, Tennessee. Barksdale resigned his seat as a Mississippi Congressmen when the South seceded, and became Quartermaster General of Mississippi's forces. He was made Colonel of the 13th Mississippi in May of
1861. Barksdale and his men began training, and then moved his regiment to the Peninsula. Barksdale took control of the brigade when Brigadier General Richard Griffith was killed, at Savage Station on June 29, 1862. He then took the brigade to Malvern Hill. He was awarded the rank of Brigadier General in August 1862. General Barksdale made the "grandest charge ever made by mortal man," on July 2, 1863. He crushed the Federal front of U.S. General Graham's brigade at the Peach Orchid. Barksdale had broken the Union line and had captured one mile. He was then wounded near Plum River, his brigade could not hold because Generals Wofford
and Semmes did not reinforce them. General Barksdale was wounded above
the left knee but stayed in command, he was then hit by a cannon ball
that nearly took his foot off. | 
General William Barksdale
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He was finally hit in the left chest, and that knocked him off his horse. A Union litter picked him up and took him to a field hospital where he died on July 3, 1863. He is buried in Jackson, Mississippi. Many thanks to Mr. Gabe Weaver for Writing and Submitting this Biography. |
