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Maj. Gen. Richard Taylor

 

 

 

Born: January 27, 1826

Jefferson County, KY

Son of President Zachary Taylor

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Died: April 12, 1879

New York, NY

 

 

 

 

 

 

1861: Colonel, CSA

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21 October 1861: Brigadier General

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28 July 1862: Major General

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Richard Taylor

1845: Graduated Yale University

Served as his father's military secretary during the Mexican American War

1860: Louisiana delegate at Democratic Convention in Charleston, SC

1861: Commissioned Colonel of 9th Louisiana Infantry

20 July, 1861: Arrived in Richmond and ordered by LeRoy Pope Williams, Confederate States Secretary of War, to report to Manassas. Arrived hours after the battle concluded.

21 October 1861: Promoted to Brigadier General

Commanded Louisiana brigade under Gen. Ewell in Shenandoah Valley Campaign

23 May 1862: Battle of Front Royal

25 May 1861: First Battle of Winchester

9 June 1861: Battle of Fort Republic

Traveled with Gen. Jackson to take part in Seven Days Battle

27 June 1862: Missed the Battle of Gaines Mill due to rheumatoid arthritis attack. His replacement, Col. Isaac Seymour died during the battle.

28 July 1862: Promoted to Major General. President Davis wrote a letter which noted Taylor's capabilities and promise and had been recommended by Gen. Jackson. The letter was required due to superior commanders complaining or favoritism.

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​Ordered to Opelousas, Louisiana to conscript and enroll troops in District of Western Louisiana, part of the Trans-Mississippi Department

1863: Directed an effective series of clashes over central lower Louisiana

12-14 April 1863: Battle of Irish Bend

7 June 1863: Battle of Milliken's Bend and Battle of Young's Point, Louisiana

1864: Red River Campaign

8 April 1864: Battle of Sabine Cross Roads (Mansfield)

12 April 1864: Battle of Blair's Landing (Pleasant Hill)

8 April 1864: Promoted to Lieutenant General

Command of Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and East Louisiana

Briefly given command of the Army of the Tennessee

4 May 1865: Surrendered his department at Citronelle, Alabama. Paroled three days later

April 1879: Author of Destruction and Reconstruction: Personal Experiences of the Late War.

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Boatner, Mark M. III. The Civil War Dictionary. New York: David McKay, 1967. p 824-828

Richard Taylor (general). 6 November 2019. web. 2 January 2020

Warner, Ezra J. Generals in Gray Lives of the Confederate Commanders. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State, 1992. p 299-300

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