James H. McBride
Encyclopedia
James Haggin McBride was an American
businessman, lawyer, banker, judge, legislator, and soldier. He served as a Confederate
general during the American Civil War
, dying in the conflict from pneumonia
in 1864.
, the state's oldest city. Upon reaching adulthood he relocated to Monroe County, Missouri, where he became a merchant and manufacturer in the city of Paris
.
McBride began to study law and was admitted to the bar association
of Missouri, and also married Mildred A. Barnes, a resident of Cooper County
.
McBride then moved his family to Springfield
, where he founded a successful law practice. While there he also became president of the Springfield Bank. In 1850 McBride relocated to California
, and in 1853 he returned to Missouri. He was elected to the Missouri Legislature
, representing Texas County
as a Democrat
. In 1859 McBride moved to Houston
, the county seat of Texas County, and in 1860 he was elected a circuit judge there.
. While still a Texas County judge, McBride was informed he had been appointed a brigadier general in the Missouri State Guard
and given command of its 7th Division
, effective May 18. He had been appointed to the post by Claiborne F. Jackson
, Missouri's governor.
On August 10 McBride and his men first saw action during the Battle of Wilson's Creek
, fought near Springfield, Missouri. Although neither fully trained nor equipped, the 7th Division fought well in the battle and were praised by Maj. Gen. Sterling Price
, the Missouri State Guard's commander. McBride's performance in the Confederate victory has been described as: "His 645 troops were in the thick of the fight on Bloody Hill, suffering 146 casualties. General McBride and his troops were mentioned for their gallant service by General Sterling Price following this action."
McBride next fought during the Siege of Lexington on September 13–20, 1861. His men were positioned along the Missouri River
and attacked the Union Army
garrison on September 18 and 20, where "General McBride and his troops were specifically mentioned for their bravery and gallant service." Early in 1862 much of the Missouri State Guard force was reorganized into two Confederate brigades and commanded by Brig. Gen. Daniel M. Frost
. On January 23 any remaining soldiers where put under McBride's command and renamed Missouri's 3rd Brigade of Volunteers.
On February 16, 1862, McBride was captured by Union soldiers but was quickly exchanged. A week later on February 23 he resigned his commission from the state forces, hoping to become a brigadier general in the Confederate Army. However Price's opinion of McBride had changed because he "found fault with McBride's flouting of regulations and the lax discipline of his state guard division." McBride was then ordered to Arkansas
to organize a new infantry brigade. Based in Izard County, he recruited in southwestern Missouri and northwestern Arkansas. Before he could accomplish this however, he was ordered to join Maj. Gen. Thomas C. Hindman
, who was recruiting soldiers around Little Rock
.
In 1863 McBride's health began to fail, forcing him to remain in Arkansas into 1864 even though the area had fallen under Union control. Although he was appointed a colonel
in the Confederate Army in 1864, McBride was not fit for even recruiting duty and headed south with his family, hoping to recover his health. They left their home near Clarksville
and got as far as Bluffton
in Yell County
before McBride became too ill from pneumonia to continue. He died in March and was buried in the town's cemetery in an unmarked grave.
was named in his honor. In 1958 McBride's family asked the U.S. Government for a headstone and placed it on his grave in Bluffton. Douglas, one of McBride's sons, also served in the Confederate Army as an infantry
captain, and was killed in action at Batesville
in Independence County, Arkansas.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman, lawyer, banker, judge, legislator, and soldier. He served as a Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
general during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, dying in the conflict from pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
in 1864.
Early life and career
James H. McBride was born in 1814 near Harrodsburg, KentuckyHarrodsburg, Kentucky
Harrodsburg is a city in and the county seat of Mercer County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 8,014 at the 2000 census. It is the oldest city in Kentucky.-History:...
, the state's oldest city. Upon reaching adulthood he relocated to Monroe County, Missouri, where he became a merchant and manufacturer in the city of Paris
Paris, Missouri
Paris is a city in Monroe County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,529 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Monroe County.-Geography:Paris is located at...
.
McBride began to study law and was admitted to the bar association
Bar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
of Missouri, and also married Mildred A. Barnes, a resident of Cooper County
Cooper County, Missouri
Cooper County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. In 2010, the population was 17,601. Its county seat is Boonville. The county was organized in 1818 and is named for Sarshall Cooper, a frontier settler who was killed by Indians near Arrow Rock in 1814.-Geography:According to the 2000...
.
McBride then moved his family to Springfield
Springfield, Missouri
Springfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. According to the 2010 census data, the population was 159,498, an increase of 5.2% since the 2000 census. The Springfield Metropolitan Area, population 436,712, includes the counties of...
, where he founded a successful law practice. While there he also became president of the Springfield Bank. In 1850 McBride relocated to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, and in 1853 he returned to Missouri. He was elected to the Missouri Legislature
Missouri General Assembly
The Missouri General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Missouri. The bicameral General Assembly is composed of a 34-member Senate, and a 163-member House of Representatives. Members of both houses of the General Assembly are subject to term limits...
, representing Texas County
Texas County, Missouri
Texas County is a county located in South Central Missouri in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the county's population was 26,008. It's county seat is Houston. The county was organized in 1843 as Ashley County, changing its name in 1845 to Texas, after the Republic of Texas. The 2010 U.S...
as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. In 1859 McBride moved to Houston
Houston, Missouri
Houston is a city in Texas County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,992 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Texas County.-Geography:...
, the county seat of Texas County, and in 1860 he was elected a circuit judge there.
Civil War service and death
When the American Civil War began in 1861 McBride chose to follow the Confederate causeConfederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
. While still a Texas County judge, McBride was informed he had been appointed a brigadier general in the Missouri State Guard
Missouri State Guard
The Missouri State Guard was a state militia organized in the state of Missouri during the early days of the American Civil War. While not initially a formal part of the Confederate States Army, the State Guard fought alongside Confederate troops and, at times, under regular Confederate...
and given command of its 7th Division
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
, effective May 18. He had been appointed to the post by Claiborne F. Jackson
Claiborne Fox Jackson
Claiborne Fox Jackson was a lawyer, soldier, and Democratic politician from Missouri. He was the 15th Governor of Missouri in 1861, then governor-in-exile for the Confederacy during the American Civil War.-Early life:...
, Missouri's governor.
Battle of Wilson's Creek
The Battle of Wilson's Creek, also known as the Battle of Oak Hills, was fought on August 10, 1861, near Springfield, Missouri, between Union forces and the Missouri State Guard, early in the American Civil War. It was the first major battle of the war west of the Mississippi River and is sometimes...
, fought near Springfield, Missouri. Although neither fully trained nor equipped, the 7th Division fought well in the battle and were praised by Maj. Gen. Sterling Price
Sterling Price
Sterling Price was a lawyer, planter, and politician from the U.S. state of Missouri, who served as the 11th Governor of the state from 1853 to 1857. He also served as a United States Army brigadier general during the Mexican-American War, and a Confederate Army major general in the American Civil...
, the Missouri State Guard's commander. McBride's performance in the Confederate victory has been described as: "His 645 troops were in the thick of the fight on Bloody Hill, suffering 146 casualties. General McBride and his troops were mentioned for their gallant service by General Sterling Price following this action."
McBride next fought during the Siege of Lexington on September 13–20, 1861. His men were positioned along the Missouri River
Missouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
and attacked the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
garrison on September 18 and 20, where "General McBride and his troops were specifically mentioned for their bravery and gallant service." Early in 1862 much of the Missouri State Guard force was reorganized into two Confederate brigades and commanded by Brig. Gen. Daniel M. Frost
Daniel M. Frost
Daniel Marsh Frost was an antebellum officer in the United States Army and then a brigadier general in the Missouri Volunteer Militia and the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War...
. On January 23 any remaining soldiers where put under McBride's command and renamed Missouri's 3rd Brigade of Volunteers.
On February 16, 1862, McBride was captured by Union soldiers but was quickly exchanged. A week later on February 23 he resigned his commission from the state forces, hoping to become a brigadier general in the Confederate Army. However Price's opinion of McBride had changed because he "found fault with McBride's flouting of regulations and the lax discipline of his state guard division." McBride was then ordered to Arkansas
Arkansas in the American Civil War
The state of Arkansas was a part of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War, and provided a source of troops, supplies, and military and political leaders for the fledgling country. Arkansas had become the 25th state of the United States, on June 15, 1836, entering as a...
to organize a new infantry brigade. Based in Izard County, he recruited in southwestern Missouri and northwestern Arkansas. Before he could accomplish this however, he was ordered to join Maj. Gen. Thomas C. Hindman
Thomas C. Hindman
Thomas Carmichael Hindman, Jr. was a lawyer, United States Representative from the 1st Congressional District of Arkansas, and a Major General in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War....
, who was recruiting soldiers around Little Rock
Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock is the capital and the largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 699,757 people in the 2010 census...
.
In 1863 McBride's health began to fail, forcing him to remain in Arkansas into 1864 even though the area had fallen under Union control. Although he was appointed a colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
in the Confederate Army in 1864, McBride was not fit for even recruiting duty and headed south with his family, hoping to recover his health. They left their home near Clarksville
Clarksville, Arkansas
Clarksville is a city in Johnson County, Arkansas, United States. The population was approximately 9,300 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Johnson County.. Clarksville is nestled between the Arkansas River and the foot hills of the Ozark Mountains and Interstate 40 and US Hwy 64...
and got as far as Bluffton
Bluffton, Arkansas
Bluffton is an unincorporated community in Yell County, Arkansas, United States. Bluffton is located on Arkansas Highway 28 west-southwest of Plainview. Bluffton has a post office with ZIP code 72827....
in Yell County
Yell County, Arkansas
Yell County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of 2010, the population was 22,185. The county has two county seats, Dardanelle and Danville...
before McBride became too ill from pneumonia to continue. He died in March and was buried in the town's cemetery in an unmarked grave.
Legacy
The J.H. McBride Camp #632 of the Sons of Confederate VeteransSons of Confederate Veterans
Sons of Confederate Veterans is an American national heritage organization with members in all fifty states and in almost a dozen countries in Europe, Australia and South America...
was named in his honor. In 1958 McBride's family asked the U.S. Government for a headstone and placed it on his grave in Bluffton. Douglas, one of McBride's sons, also served in the Confederate Army as an infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
captain, and was killed in action at Batesville
Batesville, Arkansas
Batesville is the county seat and largest city of Independence County, Arkansas, United States, 80 miles northeast of Little Rock, the state capital. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city was 9,556...
in Independence County, Arkansas.
See also
- List of American Civil War generals
Further reading
- Brooksher, William Riley, Bloody Hill: The Civil War Battle of Wilson’s Creek, Brassey’s, 1995, ISBN 1-574-88018-7.