William Edwin Baldwin

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William Edwin Baldwin (July 28, 1827 – February 19, 1864) was a Confederate Army officer during the American Civil War.

A bookstore owner and member of the local militia in Columbus, Mississippi, Baldwin enlisted in the Confederate Army soon after Mississippi announced its secession from the Union, accepting a commission as Colonel of the 17th Mississippi Infantry. Stationed briefly in Pensacola, Florida, he was transferred with his unit to East Tennessee and later central Kentucky, where he fought and later captured at the Battle of Fort Donelson.

After being released in a prisoner exchange, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier general and sent to West Tennessee, where he assumed command of a mixed brigade of Mississippi and Tennessee soldiers. Winning distinction at the Battle of Coffeeville, Baldwin would later participate in the battles of Fort Gibson and Champion's Hill, as well as taking part in the Vicksburg Campaign. Captured once again, Baldwin was able to secure his release and assigned to the District of Mobile where he was killed in a freak accident, after a broken stirrup caused him to fall off his horse, near Dog River Factory, Alabama.

[edit] References

• Linedecker, Clifford L., ed., Civil War, A-Z: The Complete Handbook of America's Bloodiest Conflict. New York: Ballentine Books, 2002. ISBN 0-9141-878-4