Major General Daniel S. Donelson, P.A.C.S.
Major-General Daniel S. Donelson was born in Tennessee in 1802. He
entered the United States military academy in 1821, and four years later
was graduated and promoted to second lieutenant of the Third artillery. He
resigned January 22, 1826. From 1827 to 1829 he was brigade major of
the Tennessee militia, and brigadier general from 1829 to 1834. From
1841 to 1843 he was a member of the house of representatives of the
State of Tennessee, and again from 1855 to 1861, being speaker of the
house. He was a planter in Sumter county, 1826 to 1834, and in Florida
territory, 1834 to 1836, then returning to Tennessee and continuing
planting until 1861. When Tennessee resolved to secede from the Union
he offered his services, and in May, 1861, was made a brigadier-general of
the State forces. On July 9th he was commissioned in the same rank in the
army of the Confederate States. He commanded a brigade in West Virginia
under General Loring in 1861, and at the beginning of 1862 was sent to
Charleston, S.C. He was ordered to the western army under Bragg at
Tupelo, and there had command of the First brigade of the Second division
of the First army corps. At the battle of Murfreesboro he commanded the
First brigade of Cheatham's division and was in the celebrated charge which
broke to pieces the whole right wing of the Federal army. On January 17,
1863, he was assigned to command of the department of East Tennessee,
and was succeeded in brigade command by Gen. M. J. Wright. In the
important region which he was given charge as successor of Gen. E. Kirby
Smith, he had under his orders the brigades of General Gracie, Colonel
[John] Palmer, Gen. A. E. Jackson, Gen. John Pegram, Gen. Humphrey
Marshall, and scattered organizations. General Donelson was promoted to
major-general while in command of this department but afterward he died
at Knoxville, April 17, 1863. In general orders, April 24th, General Bragg
said:
The general commanding announces to the army the death of Brig. Gen. D.
S. Donelson. He died in the department of East Tennessee, which he had
commanded. The regret with which his death is announced will be felt by
the army and his country. He was an educated soldier, of great purity of
character, singleness of purpose, and goodness of heart. Conspicuous for
gallantry on the field, after the excitement had passed he was foremost in
providing for the wants of his command, and devoted to the sick and
wounded. His comrades in this army, and those who served under his
orders, will long remember his deeds and virtues.
Source: Evans, Clement, ed. Confederate Military History, Vol.
XII, Confederate Publishing Company, Atlanta, GA, 1899
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