Richard Stoddert Ewell Biography (Written and Submitted by Mr. Gabe Weaver) General Richard Soddert Ewell was born on February 8, 1817 in Georgetown,
Washington D.C. He lived there until he was nine years old, and then the family moved to Prince William county, Virginia. He went to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point where he graduated thirteenth in the class of 1840. He resigned from the U.S. military on May 7, 1861 while in Virginia. Ewell then joined the
Confederacy, first serving as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Virginia forces. He then became a Colonel in the Confederate Army. He was promoted to Brigadier General as a cavalry instructor on June 17, 1861 and he then earned the rank of Major General on January 24, 1862. General Ewell was an important asset at the
First Battle of Bull Run and Cedar Mountain as well as in the
Shenandoah Valley and Seven Day's Battles. General Ewell lost his leg at Groveton in August of 1862 but was given a wooden leg and was back on active duty May 23, 1863. Ewell, now a Lieutenant General, replaced
General Stonewall Jackson as commander
of the second Corps. |
Richard Ewell
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Even though riding his horse was difficult, Ewell served in the campaigns from
Gettysburg to
Spotsylvania Court House, being wounded twice. During the Battle of "Bloody Angle," General Ewell fell off his horse, causing an injury disabling him from further active field duty. General Ewell was captured at Sayler's Creek on April 6, 1865, and was imprisoned at
Fort Warren, Massachusetts, and was released on August 19, 1865. Ewell then lived out the remainder of his life on his farm outside of Springhill, Tennessee. General Ewell died on January 25,1872 on his farm. Many thanks to Mr. Gabe Weaver for Writing and Submitting this Biography. |
