William Brickly Stokes
Encyclopedia
William Brickly Stokes (September 9, 1814-March 14, 1897) was an American
politician and a member of the United States House of Representatives
from Tennessee
. He also served as colonel
of the 5th Tennessee Cavalry
(Union) during the American Civil War
.
, North Carolina
. He attended the common schools, moved to Tennessee, and engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives
from 1849 to 1852. He served in the Tennessee Senate
in 1855 and 1856.
He was elected as a member of the Opposition Party
to the Thirty-sixth Congress by Tennessee's 4th congressional district
, serving from March 4, 1859 to March 3, 1861. He entered the Union Army
on May 15, 1862 as a major
of the Tennessee Volunteers. He served as colonel
of the 5th Tennessee Cavalry
until he resigned on March 10, 1865. He briefly served in temporary brigade command in the Army of the Ohio between June 17, 1863 and August 6, 1863. On December 24, 1866, President
Andrew Johnson
nominated Stokes for the award of the honorary grade of brevet
brigadier general
to rank from March 13, 1865. The U.S. Senate confirmed the award on February 21, 1867. He studied law, was admitted to the bar
in 1867, and commenced practice in Alexandria, Tennessee
in DeKalb County, Tennessee.
Upon the readmission of Tennessee to representation, he was elected as an Unconditional Unionist
to the Thirty-ninth Congress by Tennessee's 3rd congressional district
. He was re-elected as a Republican
to the Fortieth and Forty-first Congresses. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives from July 24, 1866 to March 3, 1871. He was an unsuccessful candidate for re-election in 1870 to the Forty-second Congress. He also was the supervisor of internal revenue for Tennessee. He resumed the practice of law and died in Alexandria, Tennessee
on March 14, 1897. He was interred
in East View Cemetery at Alexandria.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician and a member of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
. He also served as colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
of the 5th Tennessee Cavalry
5th Regiment Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry
The 5th Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry Regiment was a cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. This regiment was originally recruited as the 1st Middle Tennessee Cavalry.-Service:...
(Union) 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...
.
Biography
He was born on September 9, 1814 in Chatham CountyChatham County, North Carolina
Chatham County is a county located in the Piedmont area of the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2000, the population was 49,329. Its county seat is Pittsboro.-History:...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. He attended the common schools, moved to Tennessee, and engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives
Tennessee House of Representatives
The Tennessee House of Representatives is the lower house of the Tennessee General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Tennessee.-Constitutional requirements:...
from 1849 to 1852. He served in the Tennessee Senate
Tennessee Senate
The Tennessee Senate is the upper house of the Tennessee state legislature, which is known formally as the Tennessee General Assembly.The Tennessee Senate, according to the state constitution of 1870, is composed of 33 members, one-third the size of the Tennessee House of Representatives. Senators...
in 1855 and 1856.
He was elected as a member of the Opposition Party
Opposition Party (United States)
The Opposition Party in the United States is a label with two different applications in Congressional history, as a majority party in Congress 1854-58, and as a Third Party in the South 1858-1860....
to the Thirty-sixth Congress by Tennessee's 4th congressional district
Tennessee's 4th congressional district
The 4th Congressional District of Tennessee is a congressional district in Middle and East Tennessee. It is the state's largest district in terms of area, and one of the largest east of the Mississippi River, because of low population density and rural character...
, serving from March 4, 1859 to March 3, 1861. He entered 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...
on May 15, 1862 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...
of the Tennessee Volunteers. He served as colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
of the 5th Tennessee Cavalry
5th Regiment Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry
The 5th Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry Regiment was a cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. This regiment was originally recruited as the 1st Middle Tennessee Cavalry.-Service:...
until he resigned on March 10, 1865. He briefly served in temporary brigade command in the Army of the Ohio between June 17, 1863 and August 6, 1863. On December 24, 1866, President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson was the 17th President of the United States . As Vice-President of the United States in 1865, he succeeded Abraham Lincoln following the latter's assassination. Johnson then presided over the initial and contentious Reconstruction era of the United States following the American...
nominated Stokes for the award of the honorary grade of brevet
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
brigadier general
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
to rank from March 13, 1865. The U.S. Senate confirmed the award on February 21, 1867. He studied law, was admitted to the bar
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...
in 1867, and commenced practice in Alexandria, Tennessee
Alexandria, Tennessee
Alexandria is a town in DeKalb County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 814 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...
in DeKalb County, Tennessee.
Upon the readmission of Tennessee to representation, he was elected as an Unconditional Unionist
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
to the Thirty-ninth Congress by Tennessee's 3rd congressional district
Tennessee's 3rd congressional district
The 3rd Congressional District of Tennessee is a congressional district in Tennessee. It currently includes a north-south strip in the eastern part of the state. Current Republican Representative Chuck Fleischmann has served since 2011....
. He was re-elected as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to the Fortieth and Forty-first Congresses. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives from July 24, 1866 to March 3, 1871. He was an unsuccessful candidate for re-election in 1870 to the Forty-second Congress. He also was the supervisor of internal revenue for Tennessee. He resumed the practice of law and died in Alexandria, Tennessee
Alexandria, Tennessee
Alexandria is a town in DeKalb County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 814 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...
on March 14, 1897. He was interred
Burial
Burial is the act of placing a person or object into the ground. This is accomplished by excavating a pit or trench, placing an object in it, and covering it over.-History:...
in East View Cemetery at Alexandria.
See also
- List of American Civil War generals
- List of American Civil War brevet Generals (Union)