Andrew J. Grigsby
Andrew Jackson Grigsby (November 2, 1819 – December 23, 1895) was a Confederate States Army officer in the famed Stonewall Brigade during the American Civil War. Grigsby was also known as both "A. J. Grigsby" and "Arnold J. Grigsby".
Grigsby was born in Rockbridge County, Virginia. He attended Washington College (later, Washington & Lee University). He became a farmer and served in the Mexican War. When the Civil War erupted, he became a major in the 27th Virginia Infantry in the Stonewall Brigade in 1861, lieutenant colonel later that year, and colonel in 1862. (He succeeded John Echols in these higher ranks.) Grigsby served under Stonewall Jackson in the Valley Campaign, fighting at the First Battle of Winchester. Then, he served under Jackson in the Seven Days Battles and Second Bull Run, being slightly wounded in the latter. Grigsby was wounded on several occasions.
He led the Stonewall Brigade from August 30, 1862, to November 6, 1862, including at the Battle of Antietam, in place of Brig. Gen. Charles S. Winder. He became acting commander of Jackson's Division during the battle when Brig. Gen. John R. Jones was wounded and Brig. Gen. William E. Starke was killed. He was brevetted Brig. Gen. and so served, but was apparently never confirmed. Afterwards Stonewall Jackson decided not to promote Grigsby to permanent command of the Stonewall Brigade, and the colonel resigned his commission in protest when Elisha F. Paxton of Jackson's staff was promoted in his stead. One theory why Grigsby was passed over for promotion was his use of profane language, which displeased the devout and sober Jackson. Grigsby tendered his resignation in protest. Paxton was killed by a minnie ball round, on May 3, 1863 while preparing to attack the Union Army at Chancellorsville.
Grigsby is reported to have had a testy encounter with Jefferson Davis, when he went to Richmond, Virginia, to protest being passed over for promotion. This resulted in his remaining at home, unemployed in further service, for the rest of the war. After his resignation on November 14, 1862, he served in the CSA House of Representatives for the Kentucky delegation. He died in Stony Point, Virginia, and is buried there in the Gross family cemetery.
References
- Freeman, Douglas S., Lee's Lieutenants: A Study in Command (3 volumes), Scribners, 1946, vol. 1 & 2. ISBN 0-684-85979-3.
- Apperson, John Samuel, Repairing the "March of Mars": the Civil War diaries of John Samuel Apperson, Mercer University Press, November 2001, ISBN 978-0-86554-779-7.
- Sifakis, Stewart, Who Was Who in the Civil War (New York: Facts on File, 1988).
- Antietam on the Web biography
- Civil War Interactive Bio
- Reference to Colonel Arnold J Grigsby
- Battles of the war, Civil War Home
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