William Henry Carroll

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Brigadier General William H. Carroll was born in the year 1820. He was the son of William Carroll, former governor of Tennessee. When Tennessee decided to join with the Confederate States of America, he was appointed a brigadier-general in the provisional army of the State of Tennessee. On the 21st of October, 1861, he was commissioned a brigadier-general in the army of the Confederate States. His brigade was assigned to the army on duty at Memphis. General Johnston, becoming apprehensive about affairs in east Tennessee, ordered Carroll to that section of the State. On December 11, 1861, he issued the following proclamation:

The exigencies of the times requiring, as is believed, the adoption of the sternest measures of military policy, the commanding general feels called upon to suspend for a time the functions of the civil tribunals. Now, therefore, be it known that I, William H. Carroll, brigadier-general in the Confederate army and commander of the post of Knoxville, do hereby proclaim martial law to exist in the city of Knoxville and the surrounding country to the distance of one mile from the corporate limits of said city.

Shortly therafter, he revoked the proclamation of martial law and restored the civil authority. His brigade was part of the force with which General Crittenden made an attack on General Thomas not far from Mill Spring, Ky., January, 1862, and in the report of the affair by Crittenden, General Carroll was commended for "his dispositions and conduct during the engagement," [and] his "military skill and personal valor." Carroll's brigade brought up the rear on the retreat and retired from the field in order. On February 1, 1863, General Carroll resigned his commission in the Confederate army.