BRIGADIER GENERAL HUMPHREY MARSHALL ~ KENTUCKY
Item #: CWB10826
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Brigadier-General Humphrey Marshall came of one of the most
distinguished families of Kentucky. His father was an eminent
lawyer and jurist, and his grandfather was Humphrey Marshall,
the statesman. He was born in Frankfort, Ky., January 13,
1812, and was graduated at West Point in 1832 with promotion
to brevet third-lieutenant in the mounted rangers.
He served in the Black Hawk expedition, and was made brevet
second-lieutenant of the First dragoons March 4, 1833, but
resigned in April. He then practiced law at Frankfort and at
Louisville and was successively captain, major and lieutenant-
colonel of Kentucky militia.
In the Mexican war he served as colonel of the First Kentucky
cavalry volunteers, and under General Taylor won distinction
at the battle of Buena Vista, where he led the cavalry charge.
The term of service of the regiment expired July 7, 1847.
Colonel Marshall then returned to his farm in Kentucky. He
declined several nominations, both State and National, but at
last consented to run for Congress, was elected as
representative of the Louisville district in 1849, and at the
expiration of his term was re-elected.
President Fillmore nominated him in 1852 as commissioner to
China, which position was raised to a first-class mission, and
his nomination was at once confirmed by the senate. After his
return he was elected on the American ticket to the Thirty-
fourth Congress and then to the Thirty-fifth, in which he
served on the committee on military affairs.
In 1856, as a member of the council of the National American
party, he succeeded in having the pledge of secrecy stricken
from the rules of the society. In the presidential campaign
of 1860 he canvassed his State for the ticket headed by John
C. Breckinridge.
Upon the secession of the Southern States he raised a large
number of volunteers for the Confederate army and was
commissioned brigadier-general October 30, 1861. The district
of Eastern Kentucky was assigned to him with instructions to
operate in the mountain passes on the Virginia border.
On January 10, 1862, he met Federal forces under General
Garfield at Middle creek in Floyd county. A severe combat
ensued in which Marshall repulsed every attack, but many of
his men having been without food for several hours and no
provisions being near at hand, on the next day he began to
retire toward Martin's Mill.
In May he defeated the Federals under J. D. Cox at Princeton,
Va., and saved to Confederate use the Lynchburg & Knoxville
railroad, for which service he received the thanks of General
Lee.
On the 16th of June he resigned his commission, but was
reappointed June 20th, to date from his first commission. He
was subsequently elected to the Confederate Congress as a
representative from Kentucky, and served on the military
committee. His final resignation from the army was sent in on
June 7, 1863, and from this time he served the Confederate
government in a civil capacity.
After the war he returned to Louisville, Ky., and devoted
himself to law, soon acquiring a large practice. He died at
Louisville, Ky., March 28, 1872.
distinguished families of Kentucky. His father was an eminent
lawyer and jurist, and his grandfather was Humphrey Marshall,
the statesman. He was born in Frankfort, Ky., January 13,
1812, and was graduated at West Point in 1832 with promotion
to brevet third-lieutenant in the mounted rangers.
He served in the Black Hawk expedition, and was made brevet
second-lieutenant of the First dragoons March 4, 1833, but
resigned in April. He then practiced law at Frankfort and at
Louisville and was successively captain, major and lieutenant-
colonel of Kentucky militia.
In the Mexican war he served as colonel of the First Kentucky
cavalry volunteers, and under General Taylor won distinction
at the battle of Buena Vista, where he led the cavalry charge.
The term of service of the regiment expired July 7, 1847.
Colonel Marshall then returned to his farm in Kentucky. He
declined several nominations, both State and National, but at
last consented to run for Congress, was elected as
representative of the Louisville district in 1849, and at the
expiration of his term was re-elected.
President Fillmore nominated him in 1852 as commissioner to
China, which position was raised to a first-class mission, and
his nomination was at once confirmed by the senate. After his
return he was elected on the American ticket to the Thirty-
fourth Congress and then to the Thirty-fifth, in which he
served on the committee on military affairs.
In 1856, as a member of the council of the National American
party, he succeeded in having the pledge of secrecy stricken
from the rules of the society. In the presidential campaign
of 1860 he canvassed his State for the ticket headed by John
C. Breckinridge.
Upon the secession of the Southern States he raised a large
number of volunteers for the Confederate army and was
commissioned brigadier-general October 30, 1861. The district
of Eastern Kentucky was assigned to him with instructions to
operate in the mountain passes on the Virginia border.
On January 10, 1862, he met Federal forces under General
Garfield at Middle creek in Floyd county. A severe combat
ensued in which Marshall repulsed every attack, but many of
his men having been without food for several hours and no
provisions being near at hand, on the next day he began to
retire toward Martin's Mill.
In May he defeated the Federals under J. D. Cox at Princeton,
Va., and saved to Confederate use the Lynchburg & Knoxville
railroad, for which service he received the thanks of General
Lee.
On the 16th of June he resigned his commission, but was
reappointed June 20th, to date from his first commission. He
was subsequently elected to the Confederate Congress as a
representative from Kentucky, and served on the military
committee. His final resignation from the army was sent in on
June 7, 1863, and from this time he served the Confederate
government in a civil capacity.
After the war he returned to Louisville, Ky., and devoted
himself to law, soon acquiring a large practice. He died at
Louisville, Ky., March 28, 1872.
Shipping Weight:
0.35 lb
Item # CWB10826
$175.00 USD