William McComb

William McComb
File:WMcComb.jpg
Born	(1828-11-21)November 21, 1828 Mercer County, Pennsylvania
Died	Louisa County, Virginia
Place of burial	Mechanicsville Cemetery, Boswells, Virginia
Allegiance	United States of America Confederate States of America
Service/branch	Confederate States Army
Years of service	1861–65
Rank	Brigadier General
Battles/wars	American Civil War Battle of Gaines' Mill Battle of Antietam Battle of Chancellorsville Overland Campaign Siege of Petersburg

William McComb (November 21, 1828 – July 12, 1918) was a Confederate brigadier general born in Pennsylvania, but is best associated with Tennessee.

Early life

McComb was born in Mercer County, Pennsylvania. He took up residence in Clarksville, Tennessee, in 1854. He erected a flour mill in Cumberland County and was involved in various manufacturing interests.

Civil War

When the Civil War broke out, McComb chose the Confederacy despite his Northern birth and enlisted as a private in the 14th Tennessee Infantry.

Soon after his enlistment, McComb was elected second lieutenant, then major of his regiment. The 14th Tennessee was part of Brig. Gen. James Archer's brigade in A.P. Hill's "Light Division" of the Army of Northern Virginia.

McComb was wounded in several battles, including Gaines' Mill, Antietam, and Chancellorsville. In August 1863, he took command of Brig. Gen. Cadmus M. Wilcox's old Alabama brigade. He commanded this unit through the Overland Campaign and on through the Siege of Petersburg. He was finally promoted to brigadier general on January 20, 1865. He was paroled at Appomattox Court House.

Postbellum career

After the war, McComb lived in Alabama and Mississippi, eventually settling in Gordonsville, Louisa County, Virginia, where he was a farmer for nearly fifty years. McComb died on his plantation. He was buried in Mechanicsville Cemetery in Boswells, Virginia.

See also

• List of American Civil War generals

References

• Warner, Ezra J., Generals in Gray: Lives of the Confederate Commanders, Louisiana State University Press, 1959, ISBN 0-8071-0823-5.