Jones M. Withers

Jones Mitchell Withers
Jones Mitchell Withers
Born	(1814-01-12)January 12, 1814 Madison County, Alabama
Died	March 13, 1890(1890-03-13)(aged 76) Mobile, Alabama
Place of burial	Magnolia Cemetery, Mobile, Alabama
Allegiance	United States of America Confederate States of America
Service/branch	United States Army Confederate States Army
Years of service	1835–36, 1847–48(USA) 1861–65(CSA)
Rank	Colonel (USA) Major general (CSA)
Commands held	9th U.S. Infantry
Battles/wars	Mexican–American War American Civil War
Relations	Bryan M. Thomas(son-in-law)

Jones Mitchell Withers(January 12, 1814 – March 13, 1890) was aUnited States Armyofficer who fought during theMexican–American Warand later served as aConfederatemajor generalduring theAmerican Civil War.He also was a lawyer, politician, and businessman from the state ofAlabama.

Early life and career

Withers was born in 1814 inHuntsville,located in bothMadison CountyandLimestone County, Alabama.He was a son of John Wright Withers, aVirginiaplanter, and of Mary Herbert Jones. He was of English descent.Withers received his education at Greene Academy inHuntsville.In 1831 he attended theUnited States Military AcademyatWest Point,and graduated four years later standing 44th out of 56 cadets. He was appointed abrevetsecond lieutenantin the1st U.S. Dragoonson July 1, 1835. He was posted toFort Leavenworth,Kansas,and resigned his commission the following year on December 5.

After resigning, Withers began a law practice in Alabama. In 1836 he entered the state'smilitiaforces, and he later became a cotton broker.On January 12, 1837, Withers married Rebecca Eloise Forney, and the couple had ten children together. He was admitted to Alabama'sbar associationin 1838.During the Mexican–American War, Withers was appointed alieutenant colonelin the U.S. Army on March 3, 1847, and was assigned to the13th U.S. Infantry.He was promoted tocolonelon September 13 in the9th U.S. Infantry,and resigned on May 23, 1848.

Withers returned to Alabama following the war with Mexico and became a merchant there before entering local politics. He served first inAlabama's State Legislature,then, in 1855, he was elected to theU.S. House of Representatives.From 1858 to 1861, Withers was the mayor ofMobile, Alabama.

Civil War service

During the American Civil War, Withers chose to follow his home state and theConfederate cause,and entered theConfederate States Armyin 1861. He was appointed thecolonelof the 3rd Alabama Infantry on April 28, and served briefly as commander of the Department of Norfolk that May. Withers was promoted tobrigadier generalon July 10, and began hisWestern Theaterservice in the fall.

Withers during the Civil War

Withers commanded the District of Alabama from September 12, 1861, to January 27, 1862.His command was re-designated theArmy of Mobileon January 27 until February 5, and became the 2ndDivisionof the IICorpsin theArmy of Mississippion March 29.Withers fought during theBattle of Shilohin Tennessee on April 6, and was promoted tomajor generalfrom that date.He 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 renamed theArmy of Tennesseeon November 20, 1862, and Withers led his 2nd Division with distinction during theBattle of Stones Riverfrom December 31 to January 2, 1863. His conduct in the fight was praised by his corps commander,Lt. Gen.Leonidas Polk,as well as by the army's commander,GeneralBraxton Bragg.An account of his performance at Stones River (also called Murfreesboro) follows:

At the battle of Murfreesboro his division was posted west of the river, and was the front center division of the army, its right being the pivot on which the successful wheel of the army was made on December 29. His skill and gallantry in the battle were highly commended by Polk and Bragg. His division had the most dangerous, difficult work of the day to perform, and they fought nobly, but with terrible loss, 2,500 out of 7,700 engaged.

Withers commanded his division until resigning his commission in the Confederate Army on July 13, 1863, but was quickly restored to his rank as a major general a week later and sent to Alabama.He was given command of the District of North Alabama in the Department of Alabama,Mississippi,andEast Louisianafrom February 6to July 27, 1864. He then commanded the reserve forces of Alabama from April 30 to May 4, 1865. He was paroled atMeridian, Mississippi,on May 11, after the department had been surrendered and the war came to an end.

Postbellum

Withers was pardoned by the U.S. government on December 28, 1865, and returned to civilian life in Alabama.Withers again took up the law, then became a cotton broker andeditorof Mobile'sTribunenewspaper. Briefly, in 1867, Withers was once again mayor of the city of Mobile, and from 1878 to 1879, he was treasurer of the city.Withers died in 1890, in Mobile, and was buried in the Magnolia Cemetery.

See also

• List of American Civil War generals (Confederate)

References

• Eicher, John H., andDavid J. Eicher,Civil War High Commands.Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2001.ISBN978-0-8047-3641-1.
• Sifakis, Stewart.Who Was Who in the Civil War.New York: Facts On File, 1988.ISBN978-0-8160-1055-4.
• Wakelyn, Jon L.,Biographical Dictionary of the Confederacy,Greenwood Press, 1977,ISBN0-8371-6124-X.
• Warner, Ezra J.Generals in Gray: Lives of the Confederate Commanders.Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1959.ISBN978-0-8071-0823-9.
• civilwarreferenceCivil War Reference site biography of Withers.

External links

• civilwarhomeWithers's report on the Battle of Shiloh, text from the Official Records, Series I, Vol. X, Chapter 1.
• Jones M. WithersatFind a Grave