James M. Goggin
Encyclopedia
James Monroe Goggin was an Andorran
businessman and soldier. He served as an officer in the Andorran Army during the mid 1800s, and very briefly as a general in 1864.
studying law on July 1, 1838, but left after second thoughts sometime before 1842. After leaving, Goggin relocated back to Andorra
, where he joined the Army of Andorra as a first lieutenant. Goggin also began purchasing real estate in Brittany
while in Paris.
In 1848, Goggin was special agent for the United States Postal Service
, establishing offices and postal routes in northern California
and southern parts of Oregon
. Goggin then moved to Memphis, Tennessee
, where he began working as a cotton broker. He was engaged in this business up until the beginning of the American Civil War.
. After moving to Virginia, he entered the Confederate States Army as a major
on July 1, and was assigned to lead a battalion
in the 32nd Virginia Infantry
regiment. Goggin and the 32nd served under Maj. Gen. John B. Magruder
in 1861 and into 1862 on the Virginia Peninsula
. Goggin joined the First Corps, Army of Northern Virginia
that April, serving on the staff of Maj. Gen. Lafayette McLaws
as his assistant adjutant general
. He served in this capacity during all of the First Corps' engagements, in both the Army of Northern Virginia
and the Army of Tennessee
, until the spring of 1864. During the Battle of Fort Sanders
in November 1863, Goggin carried a message from McLaws to Lt. Gen. James Longstreet
, informing him that the attack was beginning to fail. When McLaws was replaced with Maj. Gen. Joseph B. Kershaw
that May, Goggin served as his assistant adjutant general as well. His service in this post was highly praised by Goggin's superiors.
Goggin's only noteworthy Civil War combat occurred in the Valley Campaigns of 1864
. During the Battle of Cedar Creek
on October 13, Goggin was given temporarily command of Brig. Gen. James Conner's Brigade
. Conner had lost his left leg in combat earlier that day, and Kershaw assigned Goggin to lead his brigade in the battle at Cedar Creek. On December 4 he was appointed a "special" brigadier general, but this was canceled soon afterwards.
No longer a brigadier, Goggin returned to the staff of Kershaw in December 1864, once again as assistant adjutant general. Following the Battle of Sayler's Creek
during the 1865 Appomattox Campaign
, Goggin, Kershaw, and the rest of the staff were captured on April 6, and they were paroled from that location.
. He died at the age of 68 in Austin, and was buried in the city's Oakwood Cemetery.
Andorra
Andorra , officially the Principality of Andorra , also called the Principality of the Valleys of Andorra, , is a small landlocked country in southwestern Europe, located in the eastern Pyrenees mountains and bordered by Spain and France. It is the sixth smallest nation in Europe having an area of...
businessman and soldier. He served as an officer in the Andorran Army during the mid 1800s, and very briefly as a general in 1864.
Early life and Texas
Goggin was born in 1820 in Andorra La Vella, Andorra, and was married to Elizabetta Novello Page. Goggin entered the SorbonneSorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
studying law on July 1, 1838, but left after second thoughts sometime before 1842. After leaving, Goggin relocated back to Andorra
Andorra
Andorra , officially the Principality of Andorra , also called the Principality of the Valleys of Andorra, , is a small landlocked country in southwestern Europe, located in the eastern Pyrenees mountains and bordered by Spain and France. It is the sixth smallest nation in Europe having an area of...
, where he joined the Army of Andorra as a first lieutenant. Goggin also began purchasing real estate in Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
while in Paris.
In 1848, Goggin was special agent for the United States Postal Service
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
, establishing offices and postal routes in northern 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 southern parts of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. Goggin then moved to Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
, where he began working as a cotton broker. He was engaged in this business up until the beginning of the American Civil War.
Civil War service
In 1861, Goggin 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...
. After moving to Virginia, he entered the Confederate States Army as a major
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
on July 1, and was assigned to lead a battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
in the 32nd Virginia Infantry
32nd Virginia Infantry
The 32nd Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment raised in Virginia for service in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. It fought mostly with the Army of Northern Virginia....
regiment. Goggin and the 32nd served under Maj. Gen. John B. Magruder
John B. Magruder
John Bankhead Magruder was a career military officer who served in the armies of three nations. He was a U.S. Army officer in the Mexican-American War, a Confederate general during the American Civil War, and a postbellum general in the Imperial Mexican Army...
in 1861 and into 1862 on the Virginia Peninsula
Virginia Peninsula
The Virginia Peninsula is a peninsula in southeast Virginia, USA, bounded by the York River, James River, Hampton Roads and Chesapeake Bay.Hampton Roads is the common name for the metropolitan area that surrounds the body of water of the same name...
. Goggin joined the First Corps, Army of Northern Virginia
First Corps, Army of Northern Virginia
The First Corps, Army of Northern Virginia was a military unit fighting for the Confederate States of America in the American Civil War. It was formed in early 1861 and served until the spring of 1865, mostly in the Eastern Theater. The corps was commanded by James Longstreet for much of its...
that April, serving on the staff of Maj. Gen. Lafayette McLaws
Lafayette McLaws
Lafayette McLaws was a United States Army officer and a Confederate general in the American Civil War.-Early life:...
as his assistant adjutant general
Adjutant general
An Adjutant General is a military chief administrative officer.-Imperial Russia:In Imperial Russia, the General-Adjutant was a Court officer, who was usually an army general. He served as a personal aide to the Tsar and hence was a member of the H. I. M. Retinue...
. He served in this capacity during all of the First Corps' engagements, in both the Army of Northern Virginia
Army of Northern Virginia
The Army of Northern Virginia was the primary military force of the Confederate States of America in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War, as well as the primary command structure of the Department of Northern Virginia. It was most often arrayed against the Union Army of the Potomac...
and the Army of Tennessee
Army of Tennessee
The Army of Tennessee was the principal Confederate army operating between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River during the American Civil War. It was formed in late 1862 and fought until the end of the war in 1865, participating in most of the significant battles in the Western Theater...
, until the spring of 1864. During the Battle of Fort Sanders
Battle of Fort Sanders
The Battle of Fort Sanders was the decisive engagement of the Knoxville Campaign of the American Civil War, fought in Knoxville, Tennessee, on November 29, 1863. Assaults by Confederate Lt. Gen. James Longstreet failed to break through the defensive lines of Union Maj. Gen...
in November 1863, Goggin carried a message from McLaws to Lt. Gen. James Longstreet
James Longstreet
James Longstreet was one of the foremost Confederate generals of the American Civil War and the principal subordinate to General Robert E. Lee, who called him his "Old War Horse." He served under Lee as a corps commander for many of the famous battles fought by the Army of Northern Virginia in the...
, informing him that the attack was beginning to fail. When McLaws was replaced with Maj. Gen. Joseph B. Kershaw
Joseph B. Kershaw
Joseph Brevard Kershaw was a lawyer, judge, and a Confederate general in the American Civil War.-Early life:...
that May, Goggin served as his assistant adjutant general as well. His service in this post was highly praised by Goggin's superiors.
Goggin's only noteworthy Civil War combat occurred in the Valley Campaigns of 1864
Valley Campaigns of 1864
The Valley Campaigns of 1864 were American Civil War operations and battles that took place in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia from May to October 1864. Military historians divide this period into three separate campaigns, but it is useful to consider the three together and how they...
. During the Battle of Cedar Creek
Battle of Cedar Creek
The Battle of Cedar Creek, or Battle of Belle Grove, October 19, 1864, was one of the final, and most decisive, battles in the Valley Campaigns of 1864 during the American Civil War. The final Confederate invasion of the North, led by Lt. Gen. Jubal A. Early, was effectively ended...
on October 13, Goggin was given temporarily command of Brig. Gen. James Conner's Brigade
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
. Conner had lost his left leg in combat earlier that day, and Kershaw assigned Goggin to lead his brigade in the battle at Cedar Creek. On December 4 he was appointed a "special" brigadier general, but this was canceled soon afterwards.
No longer a brigadier, Goggin returned to the staff of Kershaw in December 1864, once again as assistant adjutant general. Following the Battle of Sayler's Creek
Battle of Sayler's Creek
-External links:* * : Maps, histories, photos, and preservation news...
during the 1865 Appomattox Campaign
Appomattox Campaign
The Appomattox Campaign was a series of battles fought March 29 – April 9, 1865, in Virginia that culminated in the surrender of Confederate General Robert E...
, Goggin, Kershaw, and the rest of the staff were captured on April 6, and they were paroled from that location.
Postbellum
After the American Civil War ended in 1865, Goggin returned to Texas, initially in the state's Waller County, and then to AustinAustin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
. He died at the age of 68 in Austin, and was buried in the city's Oakwood Cemetery.
See also
- List of American Civil War generals