William MacRae
Encyclopedia
William MacRae was a brigadier general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War
.
. MacRae was educated in civil engineering
. He was working in the profession at Monroe, NC when the Civil War broke out.
. During the Peninsula Campaign and at Second Manassas his regiment was a part of Howell Cobb
's brigade. At the Battle of Antietam, MacRae commanded the brigade which had been reduced to 250 men during the fighting over the previous few weeks. MacRae's brigade repulsed three Union assaults but fell back when he had only 50 effectives remaining and his supply of ammunition was exhausted. At the Fredericksburg he fought with his regiment at Marye's Heights. Immediately following the battle the 15th North Carolina was transferred to Brigadier General John Rogers Cooke
's North Carolina brigade. Cooke had been badly wounded at Fredericksburg and would not retun to the brigade until April 1863. In February 1863, MacRae was promoted to colonel
. This brigade served in North Carolina and southeast Virginia until after the Gettysburg Campaign
. in February, 1863, colonel, and in 1864 was commissioned brigadier-general. After rejoining the Army of Northern Virginia
, MacRae was distinguished for valor at the Battle of Bristoe Station
. After Brigadier General William Whedbee Kirkland
was wounded at the Battle of Cold Harbor
MacRae was temporarily promoted to the rank of brigadier general and was assigned to the command of Kirkland's brigade (this was also the former brigade of Brigadier General J. Johnston Pettigrew
). At the Ream's Station
MacRae's, Lane's
, and Cooke's brigades drove John Gibbon
's 2nd Division of Winfield Scott Hancock
's II Corps
from its entrenchments in their front and captured an artillery battery. After meritorious service at the Battle of Boydton Plank Road
MacRae remained with the army through the Appomattox Campaign.
and died at Augusta, Georgia. He is buried in his hometown of Wilmington, NC at Oakdale Cemetery.
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
William MacRae was born September 9, 1834, in Wilmington, NC a son of General Alexander MacRae and Anna Jane Martin MacRae. His family was descended from the clan MacRae, of Rosshire, ScotlandScotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. MacRae was educated in civil engineering
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
. He was working in the profession at Monroe, NC when the Civil War broke out.
Civil War
MacRae enlisted as a private in the Monroe light infantry, and was elected captain when it became Company B, Fifteenth North Carolina infantry regiment. In April 1862, he was promoted to lieutenant colonelLieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
. During the Peninsula Campaign and at Second Manassas his regiment was a part of Howell Cobb
Howell Cobb
Howell Cobb was an American political figure. A Southern Democrat, Cobb was a five-term member of the United States House of Representatives and Speaker of the House from 1849 to 1851...
's brigade. At the Battle of Antietam, MacRae commanded the brigade which had been reduced to 250 men during the fighting over the previous few weeks. MacRae's brigade repulsed three Union assaults but fell back when he had only 50 effectives remaining and his supply of ammunition was exhausted. At the Fredericksburg he fought with his regiment at Marye's Heights. Immediately following the battle the 15th North Carolina was transferred to Brigadier General John Rogers Cooke
John Rogers Cooke
John Rogers Cooke was a Confederate general during the American Civil War. He was the son of Union general Philip St. George Cooke and the brother-in-law of Confederate cavalry leader Jeb Stuart.-Biography:...
's North Carolina brigade. Cooke had been badly wounded at Fredericksburg and would not retun to the brigade until April 1863. In February 1863, MacRae was promoted to 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...
. This brigade served in North Carolina and southeast Virginia until after the Gettysburg Campaign
Gettysburg Campaign
The Gettysburg Campaign was a series of battles fought in June and July 1863, during the American Civil War. After his victory in the Battle of Chancellorsville, Confederate General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia moved north for offensive operations in Maryland and Pennsylvania. The...
. in February, 1863, colonel, and in 1864 was commissioned brigadier-general. After rejoining 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...
, MacRae was distinguished for valor at the Battle of Bristoe Station
Battle of Bristoe Station
The Battle of Bristoe Station was fought on October 14, 1863, at Bristoe Station, Virginia, between Union forces under Maj. Gen. Gouverneur K. Warren and Confederate forces under Lt. Gen. A.P. Hill during the Bristoe Campaign of the American Civil War...
. After Brigadier General William Whedbee Kirkland
William Whedbee Kirkland
William Whedbee Kirkland was a brigadier general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. He was the only former US Marine to serve as a Confederate general.-Early life:...
was wounded at the Battle of Cold Harbor
Battle of Cold Harbor
The Battle of Cold Harbor was fought from May 31 to June 12, 1864 . It was one of the final battles of Union Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's Overland Campaign during the American Civil War, and is remembered as one of American history's bloodiest, most lopsided battles...
MacRae was temporarily promoted to the rank of brigadier general and was assigned to the command of Kirkland's brigade (this was also the former brigade of Brigadier General J. Johnston Pettigrew
J. Johnston Pettigrew
James Johnston Pettigrew was an author, lawyer, linguist, diplomat, and a Confederate general in the American Civil War...
). At the Ream's Station
Second Battle of Ream's Station
The Second Battle of Ream's Station was fought during the Siege of Petersburg in the American Civil War on August 25, 1864, in Dinwiddie County, Virginia. A Union force under Maj. Gen. Winfield S. Hancock began destroying part of the Weldon Railroad, which was a vital supply line for Gen. Robert...
MacRae's, Lane's
James H. Lane (general)
James Henry Lane was a university professor and Confederate general in the American Civil War.He is considered to be the father of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and is the namesake of the University's oldest building, Lane Hall.-Early life:Lane was born in Mathews Court...
, and Cooke's brigades drove John Gibbon
John Gibbon
John Gibbon was a career United States Army officer who fought in the American Civil War and the Indian Wars.-Early life:...
's 2nd Division of Winfield Scott Hancock
Winfield Scott Hancock
Winfield Scott Hancock was a career U.S. Army officer and the Democratic nominee for President of the United States in 1880. He served with distinction in the Army for four decades, including service in the Mexican-American War and as a Union general in the American Civil War...
's II Corps
II Corps (ACW)
There were five corps in the Union Army designated as II Corps during the American Civil War.* Army of the Cumberland, II Corps commanded by Thomas L. Crittenden , later renumbered XX Corps...
from its entrenchments in their front and captured an artillery battery. After meritorious service at the Battle of Boydton Plank Road
Battle of Boydton Plank Road
-References:****...
MacRae remained with the army through the Appomattox Campaign.
Post War life
MacRae returned to North Carolina financially ruined. He became general superintendent of the Wilmington & Manchester Railroad. He took the same position with the Macon & Brunswick Railroad, and finally the Western & Atlantic Railroad.Death
MacRae contracted pneumoniaPneumonia
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...
and died at Augusta, Georgia. He is buried in his hometown of Wilmington, NC at Oakdale Cemetery.