William Henry Carroll
Encyclopedia
William Henry Carroll was a wealthy plantation
owner, a postmaster
, and a General in the Confederate States Army
during the American Civil War
.
to William Carroll, a general during the War of 1812
and the Governor of Tennessee from 1821 to 1827 and again from 1829 to 1835.
in Memphis.
Plantation
A plantation is a long artificially established forest, farm or estate, where crops are grown for sale, often in distant markets rather than for local on-site consumption...
owner, a postmaster
Postmaster
A postmaster is the head of an individual post office. Postmistress is not used anymore in the United States, as the "master" component of the word refers to a person of authority and has no gender quality...
, and a General in the Confederate States Army
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...
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...
.
Early life
Carroll was born in Nashville, TennesseeNashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
to William Carroll, a general during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
and the Governor of Tennessee from 1821 to 1827 and again from 1829 to 1835.
Civil War Time
On 11 December 1861 Carroll, as the Confederate commander at Knoxville, issued a proclamation declaring martial law. He then arrested all those openly opposed to the Confederate States before restoring the civil authority. He commanded the 2nd brigade in George B. Crittenden's force that engaged George H. Thomas's Union forces at Mill Springs, Kentucky on 19 January 1862. Braxton Bragg, the department commander, in his effort to rid his command of political generals had Carroll arrested for drunkenness, incompetence and neglect on 31 March 1862. Bragg brought similar charges against Crittenden the following day. Like Crittenden before him, Carroll, after a court of inquiry, resigned on 1 February 1863. With Nashville in Union hands he moved to Canada.Post Civil War
He never returned to the United States. He died in Montreal on 3 May 1868. He is buried in Elmwood CemeteryElmwood Cemetery (Memphis, Tennessee)
Historic Elmwood Cemetery is the oldest active cemetery in Memphis, Tennessee. It was established in 1852 as one of the first rural garden cemeteries in the South.-Origins:...
in Memphis.
See also
- List of American Civil War generals