Virginia planter, twice elected to the U.S. House, attends 1861 Peace Conference, then two years as CSA Secretary of War.
Military relatives, local school with pal, AP Hill, Washington College commencement speaker, temperance society, law, joins army in Mex War, but no combat, back to law and politics, Va. House of Delegates ’53 as pro-slavery/states rights Dem, Speaker ’61, advocates military prep, Col-7th Va Cav at start, BG ’62 after 7 Pines gallantry, key role at 2nd Bull Run, grievous wound in Pickett’s Charge on July 3 at Gettysburg, ends field command, post war Va Gov ’74-78
John Goode, Jr. (1829-1909)
Son of wealthy planter, Harvard Law ’50, lawyer in Charleston, US House ’57-61 as Dem, Col-8th Va Cav, member of CSA congress, famous raids up North, burns Chambersburg PA, Gettysburg wound and then dies after left arm amputated at Cloyd’s Mt battle.
John Minor Botts (1802-1869)
Grandson of Geo Mason, Wm & Mary, lawyer, state then US House ’37-41 as AJ Dem, Senate in ’47, reads Calhoun farewell, writes 1850 Fugitive Slave, expelled as South supporter, named envoy to UK, captured by US and released in Trent Affair, serves in UK until end of war.
Photography Book
A descendent of the Randolph family of Virginia, lives as aristocratic planter, an early agronomist/scientist who writes extensively on the benefits of crop rotation to restore soil depleted by constant tobacco growing. Then into politics as a “fire-eater,” defending slavery, demanding states rights, and calling for secession. On hand and fires a cannon round at Ft. Sumter to start the war. Despondent after Lee surrenders, he commits suicide rather than give in to the “malignant Yankee race.”
Early University of VA grad, lawyer, Va House of Delegates ’35, US House ’37-43 as States Rights Whig, youngest Speaker of House ’39, House again ’45-47 as Dem, then US Senate ’47-61, finance expert, declines Sec of State offer from Fillmore ’53, strong defense of slavery as right for society, lost break-away Dem nomination for Prez in 1860 to Breckinridge, favors secession, CSA Sec of State ’61-62, Davis critic, CSA Senate ’62-65, peace commissioner ’65.
Edmund Ruffin (1794-1865)
Journalist, advocate of slavery and secession, US House, fiery adversary of Stevens and John Potter (duel), BG in War, at Sumter, Antietam.
Planter, lawyer and politician who attends the Virginia Secession Convention, Colonel on staff of General Jubal Early, then in CSA Congress.
Politicians/Diplomats
Whig, US House, staunch opponent of secession, Constitutional Union Party, jailed by CSA.
Son of a prominent politician, grows up on vast plantation in northwest Va, South Carolina Coll, law practice in Va then Arkansas, huge financial loss from Ark cotton operation, back to Va ’39 and into politics, state legislature to Governor ’49-52, inept administrator but Buchanan names him Sec of War ’57-60, forced to resign after scandal about Indian Bonds, appears to oppose secession but accused of steering armaments to Southern outposts prior to war, charged with fraud, but charges dropped, Brigadier General for CSA, no military training & inept, dismissed after fleeing Ft. Donelson ’62, then dies ’63.
Robert Hunter (1809-1887)
Virginia -- Statehood Granted: June 25, 1788 State Motto: Thus always to tyrants
James Mason (1798-1871)
James Kemper(1823-1895)
John Floyd (1783-1837)
James Seddon (1815-1880)
Albert Jenkins (1830-1864)
Southeastern States (Continued)
Roger Pryor (1828-1919)