| William L. Brandon | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | William Lindsay Brandon |
| Born | 1801 Adams County, Mississippi |
| Died | October 8, 1890 Wilkinson County, Mississippi |
| Buried at | Arcole Plantation[1] |
| Allegiance | Confederate States of America |
| Service/branch | Confederate States Army |
| Years of service | 1861 – 1864 |
| Rank | Brigadier General |
| Commands held | 21st Mississippi Infantry Regiment 1st Mississippi Infantry Battalion (Brandon) |
| Battles/wars | Malvern Hill Gettysburg Chickamauga |
William Lindsay Brandon (born 1800 or 1802 in Adams County, MS; died October 8, 1890 in Wilkinson County, MS) was a physician, state legislator, planter and military officer best known for having served as a General in the Confederacy during the American Civil War.
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Brandon was born in either 1800 or 1802 in Adams County, Mississippi. His exact birth date cannot be determined as his family records were destroyed in an 1836 fire. He settled in Wilkinson County, MS near Pinckneyville. Brandon was educated at Washington College and the then College of New Jersey (now Princeton) studying medicine. In his antebellum career, he became a planter very interested in horses and hunting. In 1826, Brandon served in the Mississippi State Legislature.[2]
Despite his age, Brandon was allowed to serve with the Confederate army in 1861 as lieutenant colonel of the 21st Mississippi Infantry Regiment. Brandon went to Virginia but not in time for the Battle of First Manassas. About 10 days after the end of the battle in June 1861, Brandon awoke with a chill. This illness prompted Brandon to take a leave from active service, which lasted until the end of August. Other men in his regiment did not think he would be fit for duty again and he did not receive the appointment to colonel.[3] The regiment was therefore unable to fight in First Manassas which, at that time, was described as the greatest pitched battle ever to be fought on American soil.[4] Brandon and his regiment were placed in the Potomac division of the Confederate army in Virginia. During the summer and fall of 1861, Brandon's unit was on duty in the northeastern part of the state.[4] During the Yorktown siege, Confederate forces, under the command of General Joseph E. Johnston, were spread out across eastern Virginia in Culpeper, Fredricksburg, and Norfolk, forming the Warwick Line. The Battle of Williamsburg followed the end of the siege.[5] During the Battle of Seven Pines, Johnston suffered a severe wound when an artillery shell hit him in the right shoulder and chest. This incident led to command being turned over to Robert E. Lee, who soon led an aggressive campaign.[6]
During the Battle of Malvern Hill on 1 July 1862, a ball passed through Brandon's ankle joint.[7] As he fell, his hand hit a rolling shell which did not explode. Oblivious that he had been wounded, Brand sprang back up; unable to stand on his feet, he fell once more and had to stay on the field until men were told to pick him up and carry him to the rear. Because there was no bleeding seen, Brandon thought that his injuries were not serious but was taken on horse-back to a hospital. Brandon refused to drink whiskey without water and sugar but after others convinced him that it was necessary, he finally drank it. A tourniquet was put in place and an amputation was performed rapidly.[7][8] The procedure was very painful as there was not enough chloroform to provide full anesthesia when the arteries were sewn.[7]
Because of Brandon's age, the doctors thought his chances of survival were slight. After being transferred to Richmond, he was taken care of by friends and his servant. Confederate President Jefferson Davis even offered the hospitality of the William T. Sutherlin Mansion, Davis' temporary residence.[7] There were complications during this time[7] including various treatments of the day.[9]
During Brandon's recovery, his regiment fought in the Battle of Seven Pines, during which his second in command, Lieutenant-Colonel Benjamin G. Humphreys, was also absent. The uncoordinated 21st Mississippi lost many officers and men during the engagement.[9] Brandon later returned to active service, commanding his regiment until after the Battle of Gettysburg.[4] General William Barksdale was killed in the battle; Colonel Humphreys became brigadier general to replace him, and Brandon was in turn promoted to full colonel.[10]
Brandon led his regiment through the campaigns of Chattanooga and Knoxville, returning to Virginia with Lt. Gen. James Longstreet. In June 1864, Brandon was promoted to brigadier general and sent to Mississippi where, on 23 July, he was placed in command of the Reserve Corps of Mississippi.[7] He was later placed in charge of the Confederate Bureau of Conscription on 8 October 1864. In his own state of Mississippi, he labored to bring out every man needed for the service of the Confederacy.[11] Brandon returned to his plantation in Wilkinsons, after the war, where, despite his age and physical disability, he worked until his death.