The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-09-17
General A. P. Stewart.

Figures Among Military
Leaders of the Confederacy
in War Between the States.
The ;d.tt! of Gen. Alexander P.
Stewart. nn account of which was
published last week, removes the last,
save one. of the Acknowledgements
of the Confederate States army. So
quietly had his life been spent since
the war that he had in measure
been lost to public notice, and we
doubt if many OF the younger
generation especially. know if his
military ability and achievements
as they deserve. The following brief
sketch of Gen. Stewards life and
services to the Confederacy will
prove interesting and informing:
SKETCH OF GENERAL STEWART
General Stewart was born in Rog-
ersville, Hawkins county. Tennessee,
on October 2, 1921. His parents
were William and Elizabeth (Dech-
erd) Stewart.
His family removed from Rogers
vile to Winchester. in Franklin cOun-
ty, middle Tennessee, during Stew
arts youth. From there he was ap-
pointed to the United States military
academy by the Hon. Hopkins l..
Turner. He entered West Point and
graduated from that institution in
1912, before he was p years old.
Ranking third in his class, he was at
once appointed Il second lieutenant in
the United States artillery. He served
but one year in the artillery when he
was recalled to the Point. to be as
sistant professor of mathematics.
Many of Young Stewards class
mates were destined to occupy dis
tlnguished positions in the coming
struggle between the North and
South, and it is nova great pleasure
given old friends of the General to
hear of the boyhood college scrapes
as such men us Pope and Longstreet,
William S. ROsecrans, John Newton,
Beanregard, George H. Thomas,
Halleck. Buell., George B. Mcclellan.
Z. S. Grant. w. B. Franklin and
Stonewall Jackson. though the last
named had not then obtained his
famous sObriquet.
ENLISTED FOR SOUTH.
He resigned his position as instruc-
tor at West Point on account of deli
cate health and returned to his native
Tennessee, assuming the duties of a
prOfessOrship in the Cumberland uni
versity at Lebanon. Tennessee, and
also in the Nashville university. 1t
was at this period of his life the civil
war broke out. Stewart was one of
the earliest volunteers in the Con-
federate army. He offered his ser
vice to lsham G. Harris, then gov
ernor OF the State, who placed him
on detail work. Later Governor
Harris made Stewart a major in the
artillery corps.
He was ordered to Memphis, to
Fort Pillow and Columbus, KY. At
the latter place on November 7, 1861,
he participated in the battle now
famous in history. He voted for
secession during the summer oil 1861,
and the State army was turned over
to the Confederacy. Stewart retain
ed his rank of major of artillery.
On the 7th day of November, SOL,
he participated in the battle of Bel
mont. A few days later, upon the
recommendation of General Albert
Sidney Johnson, Alexander P. Stew
art was appointed Il brigadier gen.
eral in the Confederate army. In
the spring of 1862 he was ordered to
COrmth, Miss. and assigned to the
command of the brigade in the divis-
ion of Folks corps, which had for
merly been commanded by General
Charles Clark. of Mississippi. Gener-
al Stewart WAS desperately engaged
in the famous battle of ShilO, and
commanded the division after Cen
eral Clark was wounded.
WITH THE ARMY OF TENNESSEE
General Stewart remained with the
army OF Tennessee, and accompanied
it in the Kentucky campaign. At
the battle Of Perrvsville he command-
ed brigade in General Cheatham' s
division. Also in the battle of Muir
freesbOro he commanded a brigade
in the same brave division of Frank
Chatham.
In the year 1868 Alexander P.
Stewart was made a major general,
his brilliant achievements at last at
tanning deserved recognition. He
commanded Il division of Hardee's
corps throughout the operations in
middle Tennessee and during the re-
treat to Chattanooga. In Septem-
Der, 1868, in the bloody battle of
Chicamauga, General Stewards di-
vision was distinguished by con-
spicious service. His division served
In Hoods corps, and on Saturday,
the first day of the battle, pierced
the center of the Federal army.
An amusing story is told by Cap
tain r. l.. Bromfield, of Memphis. in
regard to the engagements of this first
morning. Captain Bromfield was
member OF General Stewards staff,
and his account of Il most unexpect-