BRIGADIER GENERAL GIDEON JOHNSON PILLOW ~ JONES & VANERSON / RICHMOND
Item #: CWB9807
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Brigadier-General Gideon Johnson Pillow was born in Williamson
county, Tenn., June 8, 1806. In 1827 he was graduated at the
university of Nashville, after which he commenced the practice
of law at Columbia and rapidly rose to prominence.
He was a delegate to the National Democratic convention of
1844, and aided largely in securing the nomination of his
neighbor, James K. Polk, for the presidency. In July, 1846,
he abandoned peaceful pursuits to accept a commission as
brigadier-general of Tennessee volunteers in the Mexican war.
At first he served with Taylor in northern Mexico, but was
transferred to Scott's command at the beginning of the siege
of Vera Cruz. In this siege he took an active part, and was
appointed one of the American commissioners to receive the
surrender of the city. At Cerro Gordo he commanded the right
wing, and in the impetuous charge received a severe wound.
On April 30, 1847, he was commissioned major-general. He
fought with great gallantry at Churubusco, Molino del Rey and
Chapultepec, in which last affair he was a second time
wounded. A sharp difference between General Scott and himself
led to a court-martial, requested by himself. By the decision
of this court he was fully acquitted of the charge of
insubordination which Scott had brought against him.
After the close of the Mexican war he resumed the practice of
law, and also engaged in planting. In the great Southern
convention held in Nashville in 1850, he took a conservative
course and opposed extreme measures.
At the beginning of the war for Southern independence he was
appointed, by Governor Harris, major-general in the
provisional army of Tennessee, in which capacity he aided
largely in the organization of the State forces. On July 9,
1861, he was commissioned brigadier-general of the provisional
army of the Confederate States. Being assigned to General
Polk's department as second in command to that officer, he
fought the battle of Belmont successfully against General
Grant.
At Fort Donelson he was second in command to Brigadier-General
Floyd, and handled his troops with skill and ability. The
gallant fighting of the Confederates was all in vain, for they
found themselves hemmed in by superior numbers and had to
surrender. Floyd and Pillow turned over the command to
Buckner, who surrendered the fort and garrison to General
Grant. Before the surrender, Floyd embarked his Virginia
troops upon steamers and carried them off. General Pillow and
a portion of his staff crossed to the opposite side of the
Cumberland and made their way to Clarksville.
At Decatur, Ala., General Pillow was relieved from duty. He
subsequently led a detachment of cavalry in the Southwest
under Beauregard, and still later was made chief of conscripts
in the Western department.
At the close of the war he found himself ruined in fortune and
left, in advanced age, without other means of support than the
earnings of his professional labors.
During the war he had ordered the seizure of the coal of a
Pittsburg company. The coal had been sold and the proceeds
turned over to the State, and everything else received for the
property of the company had been applied to military purposes.
The general was sued by the Pittsburg company for $125,000
damages, which resulted in a judgment against him for $38,500.
Although a new trial was granted, the general's claims
as a belligerent were not allowed. His State could not come
to his relief. He was compelled to go into bankruptcy.
General Pillow said that the loss of his property gave him
"less anguish than the humiliation of bankruptcy."
He attempted the cultivation of his farm in Maury county and
of his plantation in Arkansas, but labored under many
discouraging circumstances. He died in Lee county, Ark.,
October 6, 1878.
Shipping Weight:
0.35 lb
Item # CWB9807
$900.00 USD