Maj. Gen. Lafayette McLaws
Born: January 15, 1821
Augusta, Georgia
Died: July 24, 1897
Savannah, Georgia
1842: West Point Graduate
1861: Resigned commission as Captain, USA
1861: Commissioned as Colonel
September 21, 1861: Brig. General
May 23, 1862: Major General
Maj. Gen. Lafayette McLaws Seated
1842: West Point Graduate - 48th out of 56
Mexican/American War: Served as an Infantry Officer
Utah War: Suppressing the Mormon uprising
March 23, 1861: Resigned his commission as a captain USA with the start of the war
Commissioned as Colonel in Confederate States Army of the 10th Georgia Infantry
September 21, 1861: Appointed Brigadier General
May 23, 1862: Appointed Major General
During Northern Virginia Campaign, remained near Virginia to observe McClellan's retreat
September 1862: Maryland Campaign
September 14, 1862: Captured Maryland Heights at Harper's Ferry
September 14, 1862: Battle of South Mountain
September 17, 1862: Battle of Antietam, West Woods
December 13, 1862: Battle of Fredericksburg
July 1-3, 1863: Battle of Gettysburg - Wheatfield, Peach Orchard and Cemetery Ridge
Accompanied Gen. Longstreet to Tennessee, but was to late for Chickamuaga
October-November 1863: Chattanooga Campaign
17 November-5 December 1863: Knoxville Campaign -- Longstreet relieved McLaws for failing to attack Fort Sanders, citing "a want of confidence in the efforts and plans which the Commanding General has thought proper to adopt." Longstreet submitted these charges of "neglect of duty" but did not request a court-martial as he could be used elsewhere. Found guilty of one charge, but was overturned by Inspector General Cooper.
Assigned to Savannah, Georgia where he was unable to stop Maj. Gen. Sherman's March to the Sea.
February 3, 1865: Battle of River's Bridge
March 16, 1865: Battle of Averasboro
March 19-21, 1865: Battle of Bentonville
Boatner, Mark M. III. The Civil War Dictionary. New York: David McKay, 1967. p 536
Lafayette McLaws. 22 February 2020. web. 23 April 2020.
Warner, Ezra J. Generals in Gray Lives of the Confederate Commanders. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State, 1959. p 204-205