Victor Girardey
Encyclopedia
Victor Jean Baptiste Girardey (June 26, 1837 – August 16, 1864) was a Confederate States Army
staff officer during the American Civil War
. He was promoted from captain to temporary brigadier general less than a month before his death in battle. Girardey had served as a staff officer from the beginning of the war until August 3, 1864. Then, he was promoted to temporary brigadier general, to rank from July 30, 1864, and assumed command of Ambrose R. Wright's
former brigade on the Darbytown Road on the eastern end of the defenses of Richmond, Virginia. On August 16, 1864, during the Second Battle of Deep Bottom, Girardey was killed in action near Fussell's Mill in Henrico County, Virginia
.
, France
. His family emigrated to Georgia in 1842. By the age of 16, he was an orphan. He completed his education in New Orleans, Louisiana
, where he married a Louisiana woman of French descent.
.
On June 21, 1862, Girardey became a captain and assistant adjutant general for Brigadier General Ambrose Wright's brigade. Girardey received several commendations for skill, bravery and efficiency, having fought in the Seven Days Battles
, Battle of Chancellorsville
and Battle of Gettysburg
. He took command of a regiment during the Battle of Manassas Gap
when the regiment's colonel was wounded. During the Siege of Petersburg
, Girardey was transferred to the divisional staff of Major General William Mahone
. During the Battle of the Crater
, Girardey distinguished himself by his performance in organizing and timing Mahone's counterattack after the Union Army's mine exploded under the Confederate line. He led two brigades from behind the Confederate line in order to fill the gap in the line caused by the mine explosion.
On August 3, 1864, Girardey was promoted several grades from captain to temporary brigadier general, to rank from July 30, 1864. Historian Mark Boatner says that General Lee made the promotion in the field. Unlike Ezra Warner, historians John and David Eicher do not list Girardey as a brigadier general because his appointment was never confirmed by the Confederate Senate.
On August 16, 1864, Girardey was in command of Wright's former brigade, of which he had been assistant adjutant general, near Fussell's Mill on the Darbytown Road on the east end of the defenses of Richmond in Henrico County, Virginia. On that date, during the Second Battle of Deep Bottom, Girardey was shot in the head and killed while directing a defense against the Union Army assault on the Confederate position near Fussell's Mill.
at Augusta, Georgia
.
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
staff officer 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...
. He was promoted from captain to temporary brigadier general less than a month before his death in battle. Girardey had served as a staff officer from the beginning of the war until August 3, 1864. Then, he was promoted to temporary brigadier general, to rank from July 30, 1864, and assumed command of Ambrose R. Wright's
Ambrose R. Wright
Ambrose Ransom Wright was a lawyer, Georgia politician, and Confederate general in the American Civil War.-Early life:...
former brigade on the Darbytown Road on the eastern end of the defenses of Richmond, Virginia. On August 16, 1864, during the Second Battle of Deep Bottom, Girardey was killed in action near Fussell's Mill in Henrico County, Virginia
Henrico County, Virginia
Henrico is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a state of the United States. As of 2010, Henrico was home to 306,935 people. It is located in the Richmond-Petersburg region and is a portion of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area...
.
Early life
Victor Jean Baptiste Girardey was born on June 26, 1837 at LauwLauw
Lauw is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.-References:*...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. His family emigrated to Georgia in 1842. By the age of 16, he was an orphan. He completed his education in New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, where he married a Louisiana woman of French descent.
American Civil War
Although historian Ezra Warner wrote that Girardey was living in Georgia at the outbreak of the Civil War, and he was later nominated to the Confederate Senate as an assistant adjutant general as from that state, his first Confederate service was as a second lieutenant of Louisiana militia, then as a second lieutenant of the 1st Louisiana Infantry Battalion. He resigned from that position on October 12, 1861 and on the same day was appointed aide-de-camp to Brigadier General Albert G. BlanchardAlbert G. Blanchard
Albert Gallatin Blanchard was a general in the Confederate army during the American Civil War. He was among the small number of high ranking Confederates to have been born in the North. He served on the Atlantic Coast early in the war, commanding a brigade in Virginia before being reassigned to...
.
On June 21, 1862, Girardey became a captain and assistant adjutant general for Brigadier General Ambrose Wright's brigade. Girardey received several commendations for skill, bravery and efficiency, having fought in the Seven Days Battles
Seven Days Battles
The Seven Days Battles was a series of six major battles over the seven days from June 25 to July 1, 1862, near Richmond, Virginia during the American Civil War. Confederate General Robert E. Lee drove the invading Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan, away from...
, Battle of Chancellorsville
Battle of Chancellorsville
The Battle of Chancellorsville was a major battle of the American Civil War, and the principal engagement of the Chancellorsville Campaign. It was fought from April 30 to May 6, 1863, in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, near the village of Chancellorsville. Two related battles were fought nearby on...
and Battle of Gettysburg
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg , was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle with the largest number of casualties in the American Civil War, it is often described as the war's turning point. Union Maj. Gen. George Gordon Meade's Army of the Potomac...
. He took command of a regiment during the Battle of Manassas Gap
Battle of Manassas Gap
The Battle of Manassas Gap, also known as the Battle of Wapping Heights, took place on July 23, 1863, in Warren County, Virginia, at the conclusion of General Robert E. Lee's retreat back to Virginia in the final days of the Gettysburg Campaign of the American Civil War...
when the regiment's colonel was wounded. During the Siege of Petersburg
Siege of Petersburg
The Richmond–Petersburg Campaign was a series of battles around Petersburg, Virginia, fought from June 9, 1864, to March 25, 1865, during the American Civil War...
, Girardey was transferred to the divisional staff of Major General William Mahone
William Mahone
William Mahone was a civil engineer, teacher, soldier, railroad executive, and a member of the Virginia General Assembly and U.S. Congress. Small of stature, he was nicknamed "Little Billy"....
. During the Battle of the Crater
Battle of the Crater
The Battle of the Crater was a battle of the American Civil War, part of the Siege of Petersburg. It took place on July 30, 1864, between the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, commanded by General Robert E. Lee and the Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by Major General George G. Meade The...
, Girardey distinguished himself by his performance in organizing and timing Mahone's counterattack after the Union Army's mine exploded under the Confederate line. He led two brigades from behind the Confederate line in order to fill the gap in the line caused by the mine explosion.
On August 3, 1864, Girardey was promoted several grades from captain to temporary brigadier general, to rank from July 30, 1864. Historian Mark Boatner says that General Lee made the promotion in the field. Unlike Ezra Warner, historians John and David Eicher do not list Girardey as a brigadier general because his appointment was never confirmed by the Confederate Senate.
On August 16, 1864, Girardey was in command of Wright's former brigade, of which he had been assistant adjutant general, near Fussell's Mill on the Darbytown Road on the east end of the defenses of Richmond in Henrico County, Virginia. On that date, during the Second Battle of Deep Bottom, Girardey was shot in the head and killed while directing a defense against the Union Army assault on the Confederate position near Fussell's Mill.
Aftermath
Victor Jean Baptiste Girardey is buried in Magnolia CemeteryMagnolia Cemetery
Magnolia Cemetery is the name of at least eight cemeteries in the United States:*Magnolia Cemetery , listed on the NRHP in Alabama, also known as Magnolia Cemetery including Mobile National Cemetery*Magnolia Cemetery , in Georgia...
at Augusta, Georgia
Augusta, Georgia
Augusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...
.