William W. Allen (general): Difference between revisions

William Wirt Allen
William Wirt Allen
	Brig. Gen. William W. Allen
Born	September 11, 1835; New York City, New York
Died	November 21, 1894 (aged 59); Sheffield, Alabama
Place of burial	Elmwood Cemetery, Birmingham, Alabama
Allegiance	Confederate States of America
Service / branch	Confederate States Army
Years of service	1861–1865
Rank	Brigadier General
Unit	Army of Tennessee
Commands	1st Franklin Alabama Volunteer Cavalry
Battles / wars	American Civil War Battle of Shiloh; Battle of Perryville; Battle of Stones River; Atlanta Campaign; Carolinas Campaign;
Other work	Alabama state Adjutant General, farmer, U.S. marshal

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William Wirt Allen (September 11, 1835 – November 21, 1894) was a Confederate military officer during the American Civil War. He rose through the ranks to command a division in the Cavalry Corps of the Army of Tennessee in the last days of the war in 1865.

Early life and career

William W. Allen was born in New York City, New York to Wade Hampton Allen, a successful businessman with agricultural interests in the Southern United States, and Eliza Sayre Allen on September 11, 1835.^[1] Shortly after his birth, the family moved to Montgomery, Alabama, where Allen was educated before entering Princeton College in New Jersey. After graduation in 1854, he studied law but chose instead to return to plantation life. On August 13, 1857, in Montgomery, he married Susan P. Ball (1840–1915), and they raised eleven children.^[2]

American Civil War

After Alabama declared secession, Allen enlisted in the newly raised Confederate States Army and was elected as a lieutenant in Company A, Montgomery Mounted Rifles. The following year, when the state organized the 1st Alabama Cavalry, Allen became its first major on March 18, 1862. He saw action at the Battle of Shiloh in April along the Tennessee River. He was subsequently promoted to colonel of the regiment before the Kentucky Campaign and led the 1st Alabama Cavalry at the Battle of Perryville, where he received a slight wound.^[3] Later that year, he was severely wounded in the Battle of Murfreesboro while in command of a brigade.^[3]^[4]

Out of action for over a year while recuperating from surgery which left him little use of his right hand, Allen returned to field duty in early 1864.^[5] On February 26 of that year, he was promoted to brigadier general and took command of a brigade of cavalry at Dalton, Georgia. His brigade was composed of the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 9th, 12th, and 51st Alabama Cavalry regiments, and they served in the corps of Joseph Wheeler in the Army of Tennessee. Allen led the brigade throughout the Alabama Campaign. In August, a Georgia cavalry brigade was added to Allen's force and, later, Anderson's Brigade. Allen, now in charge of a full division, participated in the Atlanta Campaign in the summer, as well as contesting Sherman's March to the Sea (Savannah Campaign).^[3]

Although Confederate President Jefferson Davis appointed him a major general in February 1865, the Confederate States Congress did not confirm his promotion before it was dissolved. In early 1865, Allen's Division fought in the Carolinas Campaign.^[3] Allen and his men surrendered at Concord, North Carolina, on May 3. He was paroled shortly thereafter as a brigadier general.

Postbellum career

Allen returned home to Alabama and resumed his agricultural pursuits. He was also involved in the railroad industry and later served as the state's Adjutant General during the administration of President Grover Cleveland.^[6] He also was for a time a United States Marshal in Alabama.^[6] Allen helped found and organize the Confederate Survivors Association of Montgomery. His bullet-holed uniform coat and his battle-flag are buried in the cornerstone of the Confederate monument in Montgomery.^[7]

In 1893, William W. Allen moved to Sheffield, Alabama, where he died of heart disease the following year.^[1] He is buried in Birmingham's Elmwood Cemetery.^[6]

The Maj. Gen. William Wirt Allen, Chapter 199, of the Military Order of the Stars and Bars is named in his honor and memory.

Notes

^ ^a ^b Warner, Ezra J. Generals in Gray: Lives of the Confederate Commanders. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1959. ISBN 978-0-8071-0823-9. p. 5.
^ Banta, Theodore M., Sayre Family: Lineage of Thomas Sayre, a Founder of Southampton. New York: De Vinne Press, 1901. p. 502.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Sifakis, Stewart. Who Was Who in the Civil War. New York: Facts On File, 1988. ISBN 978-0-8160-1055-4. p. 8.
^ Evans, Clement A., "Alabama & Mississippi by General Joseph Wheeler," Confederate Military History: Vol. XII. Atlanta: Confederate Publishing Company, 1899. pp. 385, 86.
^ Welsh, Jack D. Medical Histories of Confederate Generals^{[dead link‍]}. Kent, OH: Kent State University Press, 1995. ISBN 978-0-87338-505-3. Retrieved June 20, 2015. p. 5.}
^ ^a ^b ^c Eicher, John H., and David J. Eicher, Civil War High Commands. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2001. ISBN 978-0-8047-3641-1. p. 102.
^ Banta, 1901, 503.

References

Banta, Theodore M., Sayre Family: Lineage of Thomas Sayre, a Founder of Southampton. New York: De Vinne Press, 1901.
Eicher, John H., and David J. Eicher, Civil War High Commands. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2001. ISBN 978-0-8047-3641-1.
Evans, Clement A., "Alabama & Mississippi by General Joseph Wheeler," Confederate Military History: Vol. XII. Atlanta: Confederate Publishing Company, 1899.
Sifakis, Stewart. Who Was Who in the Civil War. New York: Facts On File, 1988. ISBN 978-0-8160-1055-4.
Warner, Ezra J. Generals in Gray: Lives of the Confederate Commanders. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1959. ISBN 978-0-8071-0823-9.

External links

MOS&B biographical page on General Allen
Photo of Allen at generalsandbrevets.com at the Wayback Machine (archived February 8, 2008)
William W. Allen at Find a Grave

[Warner5-1] Warner, Ezra J. Generals in Gray: Lives of the Confederate Commanders. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1959. ISBN 978-0-8071-0823-9. p. 5.

[2] Banta, Theodore M., Sayre Family: Lineage of Thomas Sayre, a Founder of Southampton. New York: De Vinne Press, 1901. p. 502.

[Sifakis8-3] Sifakis, Stewart. Who Was Who in the Civil War. New York: Facts On File, 1988. ISBN 978-0-8160-1055-4. p. 8.

[4] Evans, Clement A., "Alabama & Mississippi by General Joseph Wheeler," Confederate Military History: Vol. XII. Atlanta: Confederate Publishing Company, 1899. pp. 385, 86.

[Welsh-5] Welsh, Jack D. Medical Histories of Confederate Generals^{[dead link‍]}. Kent, OH: Kent State University Press, 1995. ISBN 978-0-87338-505-3. Retrieved June 20, 2015. p. 5.}

[Eicher102-6] Eicher, John H., and David J. Eicher, Civil War High Commands. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2001. ISBN 978-0-8047-3641-1. p. 102.

[7] Banta, 1901, 503.

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@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 |nickname=
 |birth_place= [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]]
-|death_place= [[Sheffield, Alabama|Sheffield]], [[Alabama]]
+|death_place= [[Sheffield, Alabama]]
 |placeofburial= [[Elmwood Cemetery (Birmingham, Alabama)|Elmwood Cemetery]], [[Birmingham, Alabama]]
 |placeofburial_label= Place of burial
-|allegiance= [[Confederate States of America]]
+|allegiance= {{flag|Confederate States of America}}
-|branch= [[Confederate States Army]]
+|branch= {{flagicon|CSA|army}} [[Confederate States Army]]
 |serviceyears= 1861&ndash;1865
-|rank=[[File:Confederate States of America General.png|35px]] [[Brigadier General (CSA)|Brigadier General]]
+|rank=[[File:Confederate States of America General-collar.svg|35px]] [[Brigadier General (CSA)|Brigadier General]]
 |unit= [[Army of Tennessee]]
 |commands= [[1st Regiment Alabama Volunteer Cavalry (Confederate)|1st Franklin Alabama Volunteer Cavalry]]
@@ Line 27: / Line 27: @@
 |laterwork= Alabama state Adjutant General, farmer, U.S. marshal
 }}
-'''William Wirt Allen''' (September 11, 1835 &ndash; November 21, 1894) was a [[Brigadier general]] in the [[Confederate States Army]] during the [[American Civil War]]. He rose through the ranks to command a division in the Cavalry Corps of the [[Army of Tennessee]] in the last days of the war.
+'''William Wirt Allen''' (September 11, 1835 &ndash; November 21, 1894) was a [[Confederate States Army|Confederate]] military officer during the [[American Civil War]]. He rose through the ranks to command a division in the Cavalry Corps of the [[Army of Tennessee]] in the last days of the war in 1865.
 ==Early life and career==
-William W. Allen was born in [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]] to Wade Hampton Allen, a successful businessman with agricultural interests in the South, and Eliza Sayre Allen on September 11, 1835.<ref name=Warner5>[[Ezra J. Warner (historian)|Warner, Ezra J.]] ''Generals in Gray: Lives of the Confederate Commanders.'' Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1959. ISBN 978-0-8071-0823-9. p. 5.</ref> Shortly after his birth, the family moved to Montgomery, Alabama, where he was educated before entering [[Princeton College]] in [[New Jersey]]. After graduation in 1854, he studied law, but chose instead to return to plantation life. On August 13, 1857, in Montgomery, he married Susan P. Ball (1840–1915), and they raised eleven children.<ref>Banta, Theodore M., ''Sayre Family: Lineage of Thomas Sayre, a Founder of Southampton''. New York: De Vinne Press, 1901. p. 502.</ref>
+William W. Allen was born in [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]] to Wade Hampton Allen, a successful businessman with agricultural interests in the [[Southern United States]], and Eliza Sayre Allen on September 11, 1835.<ref name=Warner5>[[Ezra J. Warner (historian)|Warner, Ezra J.]] ''Generals in Gray: Lives of the Confederate Commanders.'' Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1959. {{ISBN|978-0-8071-0823-9}}. p. 5.</ref> Shortly after his birth, the family moved to Montgomery, Alabama, where Allen was educated before entering [[Princeton College]] in [[New Jersey]]. After graduation in 1854, he studied law but chose instead to return to plantation life. On August 13, 1857, in Montgomery, he married Susan P. Ball (1840–1915), and they raised eleven children.<ref>Banta, Theodore M., ''Sayre Family: Lineage of Thomas Sayre, a Founder of Southampton''. New York: De Vinne Press, 1901. p. 502.</ref>
-==Civil War service==
+==American Civil War==
-After Alabama passed its [[Ordinance of Secession]] and [[Fort Sumter]] was fired upon, Allen enlisted in the newly raised Confederate army and was elected as a [[lieutenant]] in Company A, Montgomery Mounted Rifles. The following year, when the state organized the 1st Alabama Cavalry, Allen became its first [[Major (United States)|major]] on March 18, 1862, and saw action at the [[Battle of Shiloh]] in April along the [[Tennessee River]]. He was subsequently promoted to [[Colonel (United States)|colonel]] of the [[regiment]] before the [[Kentucky Campaign]], and led the 1st Alabama Cavalry at the [[Battle of Perryville]], where he received a slight wound.<ref name=Sifakis8>Sifakis, Stewart. ''Who Was Who in the Civil War.'' New York: Facts On File, 1988. ISBN 978-0-8160-1055-4. p. 8.</ref> Later that year, he was severely wounded in the [[Battle of Stones River|Battle of Murfreesboro]] while in command of a [[brigade]].<ref name=Sifakis8/><ref>[[Clement A. Evans|Evans, Clement A.]], "Alabama & Mississippi by General Joseph Wheeler," ''Confederate Military History'': Vol. XII. Atlanta: Confederate Publishing Company, 1899. pp. 385, 86.</ref>
+After Alabama [[Ordinance of Secession|declared secession]], Allen enlisted in the newly raised Confederate States Army and was elected as a [[lieutenant]] in Company A, Montgomery Mounted Rifles. The following year, when the state organized the 1st Alabama Cavalry, Allen became its first major on March 18, 1862. He saw action at the [[Battle of Shiloh]] in April along the [[Tennessee River]]. He was subsequently promoted to colonel of the [[regiment]] before the [[Kentucky Campaign]] and led the 1st Alabama Cavalry at the [[Battle of Perryville]], where he received a slight wound.<ref name=Sifakis8>Sifakis, Stewart. ''Who Was Who in the Civil War.'' New York: Facts On File, 1988. {{ISBN|978-0-8160-1055-4}}. p. 8.</ref> Later that year, he was severely wounded in the [[Battle of Stones River|Battle of Murfreesboro]] while in command of a [[brigade]].<ref name=Sifakis8/><ref>[[Clement A. Evans|Evans, Clement A.]], "Alabama & Mississippi by General Joseph Wheeler," ''Confederate Military History'': Vol. XII. Atlanta: Confederate Publishing Company, 1899. pp. 385, 86.</ref>
-Out of action for over a year while recuperating from surgery which left him little use of his right hand, Allen returned to field duty in early 1864.<ref name="Welsh">Welsh, Jack D. [https://www.questia.com/read/102735069/medical-histories-of-confederate-generals ''Medical Histories of Confederate Generals'']. Kent, OH: Kent State University Press, 1995. ISBN 978-0-87338-505-3. Retrieved June 20, 2015. p. 5. {{Subscription required|via=[[Questia]]}}</ref> On February 26 of that year, he was promoted to [[Brigadier General (CSA)|brigadier general]] and took command of a brigade of cavalry at [[Dalton, Georgia]]. His brigade was composed of the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 9th, 12th, and 51st Alabama Cavalry regiments, and they served in the [[corps]] of [[Joseph Wheeler]] in the Army of Tennessee. Allen led the brigade throughout the Alabama Campaign. In August, a Georgia cavalry brigade was added to Allen's force, and later, Anderson's Brigade. Allen, now in charge of a full [[division (military)|division]], participated in the [[Atlanta Campaign]] in the summer, as well as contesting [[Sherman's March to the Sea]] (Savannah Campaign).<ref name=Sifakis8/>
+Out of action for over a year while recuperating from surgery which left him little use of his right hand, Allen returned to field duty in early 1864.<ref name="Welsh">Welsh, Jack D. [https://www.questia.com/read/102735069/medical-histories-of-confederate-generals ''Medical Histories of Confederate Generals'']{{dl|date=July 2021}}. Kent, OH: Kent State University Press, 1995. {{ISBN|978-0-87338-505-3}}. Retrieved June 20, 2015. p. 5.}</ref> On February 26 of that year, he was promoted to [[Brigadier General (CSA)|brigadier general]] and took command of a brigade of cavalry at [[Dalton, Georgia]]. His brigade was composed of the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 9th, 12th, and 51st Alabama Cavalry regiments, and they served in the [[corps]] of [[Joseph Wheeler]] in the Army of Tennessee. Allen led the brigade throughout the Alabama Campaign. In August, a Georgia cavalry brigade was added to Allen's force and, later, Anderson's Brigade. Allen, now in charge of a full [[division (military)|division]], participated in the [[Atlanta Campaign]] in the summer, as well as contesting [[Sherman's March to the Sea]] (Savannah Campaign).<ref name=Sifakis8/>
-Although [[Confederate President]] [[Jefferson Davis]] appointed him a [[Major General (CSA)|major general]] in February, 1865, the [[Congress of the Confederate States|Confederate Senate]] did not confirm his promotion before that body met for the last time. In early 1865, Allen's Division fought in the [[Carolinas Campaign]].<ref name=Sifakis8/> Allen and his men surrendered at [[Concord, North Carolina]], on May 3. He was paroled shortly thereafter as a brigadier general.
+Although [[Confederate President]] [[Jefferson Davis]] appointed him a [[Major General (CSA)|major general]] in February 1865, the [[Confederate States Congress]] did not confirm his promotion before it was dissolved. In early 1865, Allen's Division fought in the [[Carolinas Campaign]].<ref name=Sifakis8/> Allen and his men surrendered at [[Concord, North Carolina]], on May 3. He was paroled shortly thereafter as a brigadier general.
 ==Postbellum career==
-Allen returned home to Alabama and resumed his agricultural pursuits. He was also involved in the railroad industry and later served as the state's [[Adjutant General]] during the administration of President [[Grover Cleveland]].<ref name=Eicher102>Eicher, John H., and [[David J. Eicher]], ''Civil War High Commands.'' Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2001. ISBN 978-0-8047-3641-1. p. 102.</ref> He also was for a time a [[United States Marshal]] in Alabama.<ref name=Eicher102/> Allen helped found and organize the [[Confederate Survivors Association]] of Montgomery. His bullet-holed uniform coat and his battle-flag are buried in the cornerstone of the Confederate monument in Montgomery.<ref>Banta, 1901, 503.</ref>
+Allen returned home to Alabama and resumed his agricultural pursuits. He was also involved in the railroad industry and later served as the state's [[Adjutant General]] during the administration of President [[Grover Cleveland]].<ref name=Eicher102>Eicher, John H., and [[David J. Eicher]], ''Civil War High Commands.'' Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2001. {{ISBN|978-0-8047-3641-1}}. p. 102.</ref> He also was for a time a [[United States Marshal]] in Alabama.<ref name=Eicher102/> Allen helped found and organize the [[Confederate Survivors Association]] of Montgomery. His bullet-holed uniform coat and his battle-flag are buried in the cornerstone of the Confederate monument in Montgomery.<ref>Banta, 1901, 503.</ref>
 In 1893, William W. Allen moved to [[Sheffield, Alabama]], where he died of heart disease the following year.<ref name=Warner5/> He is buried in Birmingham's [[Elmwood Cemetery (Birmingham, Alabama)|Elmwood Cemetery]].<ref name=Eicher102/>
@@ Line 55: / Line 55: @@
 ==References==
 * Banta, Theodore M., ''Sayre Family: Lineage of Thomas Sayre, a Founder of Southampton''. New York: De Vinne Press, 1901.
-* Eicher, John H., and [[David J. Eicher]], ''Civil War High Commands.'' Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2001. ISBN 978-0-8047-3641-1.
+* Eicher, John H., and [[David J. Eicher]], ''Civil War High Commands.'' Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2001. {{ISBN|978-0-8047-3641-1}}.
 * [[Clement A. Evans|Evans, Clement A.]], "Alabama & Mississippi by General Joseph Wheeler," ''Confederate Military History'': Vol. XII. Atlanta: Confederate Publishing Company, 1899.
-* Sifakis, Stewart. ''Who Was Who in the Civil War.'' New York: Facts On File, 1988. ISBN 978-0-8160-1055-4.
+* Sifakis, Stewart. ''Who Was Who in the Civil War.'' New York: Facts On File, 1988. {{ISBN|978-0-8160-1055-4}}.
-* [[Ezra J. Warner (historian)|Warner, Ezra J.]] ''Generals in Gray: Lives of the Confederate Commanders.'' Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1959. ISBN 978-0-8071-0823-9.
+* [[Ezra J. Warner (historian)|Warner, Ezra J.]] ''Generals in Gray: Lives of the Confederate Commanders.'' Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1959. {{ISBN|978-0-8071-0823-9}}.
-* Welsh, Jack D. [https://www.questia.com/read/102735069/medical-histories-of-confederate-generals ''Medical Histories of Confederate Generals'']. Kent, OH: Kent State University Press, 1995. ISBN 978-0-87338-505-3. Retrieved June 20, 2015. {{Subscription required|via=[[Questia]]}}
 ==External links==
@@ Line 72: / Line 71: @@
 [[Category:1835 births]]
 [[Category:1894 deaths]]
-[[Category:People from Montgomery, Alabama]]
+[[Category:19th-century American planters]]
+[[Category:American slave owners]]
+[[Category:Burials at Elmwood Cemetery (Birmingham, Alabama)]]
 [[Category:Confederate States Army major generals]]
+[[Category:Military personnel from Montgomery, Alabama]]
 [[Category:People of Alabama in the American Civil War]]
 [[Category:Princeton University alumni]]

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