Jubal Early Biography (Written and Submitted by Mr. Gabe Weaver) General Jubal Anderson Early was born on November 3, 1816 in Franklin County, Virginia. Early attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and graduated it 1837. He joined the Confederate Army in
1861, and was made colonel of the 24th Virginia Infantry Regiment, and commanded them at Blackburn's Ford and
Manassas. He was promoted to Brigadier General. He was wounded leading a charge of his brigade at Williamsburg on the Federal position. He was promoted to Major General in January of 1863. He was recalled on his way to
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where he participated in the first day's successful fighting. During the beginning of the
Battle of the Wilderness, while temporarily in command of Hill's corps, he defeated the Federal attack on the flank, and while in the same command he defeated Union
General Burnside at Spotsylvania Court House. Early also struck an effective blow at Bethesna Church on his way to Cold Harbor, and after that battle he attacked
Grant's
right flank twice. He earned the rank of Lieutenant General on May 31,
1863, and soon after left to defend the Confederate rear that was
threatened by Hunter and Lynchburg. | 
General Jubal Early
|
He drove Hunter into the mountains and then went down into the
Shenandoah Valley, and then into Maryland where he defeated
Wallace at Monocaly. Then being reduced to 8,000 men, he prepared to attack the defenses of Washington. He then fell back into Virginia, where he was told to injure the Federal communications. Eventually
General
Sheridan was sent with an overwhelming force, against which Early made brilliant resistances at
Winchester, Fisher's Hill, and Cedar Creek. When the Army was surrendered he rode to Texas, looking for a Confederate force still intact. He then went to
Mexico, and then sailed to Canada eventually returning to Virginia. He spent his later years in
New Orleans. He died in Lynchburg, Virginia on March 2, 1894. Many thanks to Mr. Gabe Weaver for Writing and Submitting this Biography. |
