Rufus Barringer

Rufus Clay Barringer(December 2, 1821 – February 3, 1895) was an Americanlawyer,politician,and Confederatebrigadier generalduring theAmerican Civil War.

Rufus Clay Barringer
Born	(1821-12-02)December 2, 1821 Cabarrus County, North Carolina
Died	February 3, 1895(1895-02-03)(aged 73) Charlotte, North Carolina
Place of burial	Elmwood Cemetery in Charlotte
Allegiance	Confederate States of America
Service/ branch	Confederate States Army
Years of service	1861–65
Rank	Brigadier General (CSA)
Battles / wars	American Civil War Peninsula Campaign Seven Days Battles Second Battle of Bull Run Maryland Campaign Gettysburg Campaign Battle of Brandy Station Battle of Namozine Church

Early life

Barringer was born inCabarrus County, North Carolina,the ninth of ten children of Elizabeth Brandon andPaul Barringer.He attended theUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,graduating in 1842. He studied law inConcordwith his older brother,Daniel Moreau Barringer,who would enjoy a successful law practice and serve two terms in theU.S. House of Representatives.Their brother, Victor Clay Barringer, like Rufus later served as officer in the Confederate States Army.

Entering politics as aWhig,Rufus Barringer represented Cabarrus County in the House of Commons in theNorth Carolina General Assemblyfrom 1848 until 1850. A Unionist in his political views, he represented his district as anelectorduring the1860 presidential election.

As a young man before he married, Barringer is known to have had a relationship with Roxanna Coleman, a young enslaved African-American woman held by planter Daniel Coleman, Sr. Barringer fathered twomixed-racesons with her, Thomas Clay and Warren Clay. Their sonWarren Clay Coleman,born into slavery in 1849, after the war became a successful businessman in Cabarrus County, in part aided by his father's influence and expertise as a lawyer. In addition to owning stores and a rental company in Concord, Coleman was a founder in 1895 of the first African-American owned and operated textile mill.

First two marriages

Barringer married Eugenia Morrison in 1854. They had two children,Pauland Anna. Eugenia died oftyphoid feverin 1858. Two of her sisters also married men who became generals during the Civil War,Stonewall JacksonandD. H. Hill.

In 1861, Barringer married again, to Rosalie Chunn ofAsheville,They had a son, Rufus Clay Barringer, Jr. Rosalie died in 1864 during the American Civil War.

Civil War

When North Carolinasecededfrom theUnionin May 1861, Barringer's first loyalty was to his state, even though he had been opposed to secession. He raised a company of 100 horsemen, the "Cabarrus Rangers," who were designated as Company F of the1st North Carolina Cavalry Regimentwith Barringer as theircaptain.The regiment performed picket and scouting duty underJ.E.B. Stuartduring the Peninsula Campaign, the Seven Days Battles, Second Manassas and the Maryland Campaign in 1862. Barringer led his company during the 1863 Gettysburg Campaign, where he was severely wounded in the face at the Battle of Brandy Station, an injury that took five months for his recovery. He was promoted tomajorfor his gallantry and served in theBristoe Campaign,where he was slightly wounded on October 14, 1863. During the winter, he was promoted tolieutenant coloneland assigned temporary command of the 4th North Carolina Cavalry.

Barringer was promoted to brigadier general on June 6, 1864, and assigned command of North Carolina's cavalry brigade until his capture during theBattle of Namozine ChurchinVirginiaon April 3, 1865. After a brief interview with PresidentAbraham Lincolnbehind Union lines atCity Point, Virginia,he was sent toFort Delawareas aprisoner of war.Lincoln, a personal friend and former Congressional colleague of Barringer's brother, provided a note toSecretary of WarEdwin M. Stantonasking for special treatment for Barringer in captivity. Unfortunately, Lincoln's favor backfired. After hisassassination,Barringer fell under suspicion due to his brief meeting with Lincoln less than two weeks prior. He was repeatedly questioned regarding any role he may have played in the conspiracy. He wasn't released from custody until late July, months after most other Confederate prisoners had been freed. During the war, he had fought in seventy-six engagements and had suffered three separate wounds.

Post-war

Barringer returned to North Carolina in August and established a law practice inCharlotte.He also owned a tenant farm and helped expand the state's railroad system.

He married again in 1870, to Margaret Long ofOrange County, North Carolina.They had one son, Osmond L. Barringer (1878–1961). She also helped raise his older children.

While he mostly did not live in Concord, he is believed to have advised his sonWarren Clay Colemanon his businesses and investments. He was able to see the ambitious young man succeed and become very wealthy.

Barringer was a delegate to the 1875 North Carolina Constitutional Convention. He unsuccessfully ran forlieutenant governorin 1880 as a Republican, losing toJames L. Robinson.He retired from his law practice in 1884. He became a writer, completing a history of the 9th North Carolina Cavalry.

He died in 1895 and was buried in the Elmwood Cemetery in Charlotte.

See also

• List of American Civil War generals (Confederate)

References

• Barringer, Sheridan R.,Fighting for General Lee: Confederate General Rufus Barringer and the North Carolina Cavalry Brigade,Savas Beatie, 2016,ISBN978-1-61121-262-4.
• University of North Carolina library
• Richard Owen; James Owen (1997).Generals at Rest: The Grave Sites of the 425 Official Confederate Generals.Shippensburg, PA: White Mane Publishing Co.ISBN1-57249-045-4.
• Warner, Ezra J.,Generals in Gray: Lives of the Confederate Commanders,Louisiana State University Press, 1959,ISBN0-8071-0823-5.
• Marquis Who's Who, Inc.Who Was Who in American History, the Military.Chicago: Marquis Who's Who, 1975.ISBN0837932017OCLC657162692