Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-06-16
MICAH JENKINS
Famous General Founded School
with Col. Coward in YOfkVille.
HELPED RAISE COMPANY HERE
Killed BY Bullets of His Own Men
Through Error-Body Lies Buried In
Magnolia Cemetery In Charleston.


The subject of this sketch was one
of South Carolina's most gifted sons,
and as brave soldier as ever led a
body of soldiers into action.
General Longstreet has written or
him: He was one of the most estima-
BILE characters of the army. His taste
and talents were for the military
service. He was intelligent, quick, un-
tiring, attentive, Jealous in discharge
of his duty, truly faithful to official OBJ
legations, abreast with the foremost IN
battle, and withal, an humble, noble
Christian" Truly this is high praise
from high authority.
The Jenkinses claim descent from
Llewcllyn, the Welsh king. They first
appeared in this country in 100. Two
brothers, John and Joseph, settled on
St. Helena's island, in Beaufort coun-
ty. and their descendants spread along
the coast of South Carolina.
Joseph, the grandfather of Micah
Jenkins, became lieutenant in the
Continental army. He married Eliza
beth Evans, moved to Edisto island,
and bought "Brick House Plantation"
which has never been out of the fam
lily.
General Micah Jenkins was the third
son of Capt. John jenkins. He entered
the South Carolina Military Academy
in 1851 at the age of 10 and graduated
three years later with first honor. with
the cooperation OF his clasGmate, AS
bury Coward, he founded the Kings
Mountain Military Academy at York
Vile in 1859.
Though a strict disciplinarian, he
was cordial in manner with n ready
sympathy for those who sought his aid
and advice, and so obtained strong
hold upon his pupils, winning their re-
spect and admiration.
He raised a volunteer military COM
panv at Yorkville under the name or
the Jasper Guards" and after war
was declared these became the Soutl
Carolina Volunteers.
Military Training invaluable.
Micah jenkins was one of the first to
offer his services to his country and
was elected colonel Of the Fifth South
Carolina regiment. His military genius
and training were invaluable in the
first organization of troops in 1861.
He went to Virginia III the brigade
of Gen. D. r. Jones. In the latter part
of 1862 he was in command of the bri-
gade and stood high in favor with his
commander, General Longstreet, who.
said during the organization that he
could hold every man if Jenkins was
elected brigadier general. Longstreet
wrote of him: "BcSGes being liked by
his men, he is one of the finest officers
in the army" And Beauregard added
his approval. Still in the rank of col
onel of Palmetto SharpshootGrs, NE
commanded r. H. Anderson's brigade
at Williamsburg and at Seven Pines.
OF the latter fight jenkins wrote:
I'VE never fought twice in the same
place nor five minutes in one place, and
were under fire from 3 to 7:40 p. m
Gen. G.. w. Smith makes the following
comment: ut is believed that the an
nails of war show few, if any, instances
of more persistent, skillful and effect
i've battlefield fighting than was done
by the South Carolina regiment under
Col. Jenkins on the afternoon of May
81, 1862"
This is of special interest and
source of pride to us, because many Of
the Palmetto Sharpshooters and Fifth
South Carolina were men from Union
county, among others the late Captain
A. H. Foster. Capt. Dick Johnson OF
the Johnson Rifles, which company
was a part of the Palmetto Sharp
shooters, said jenkins was the best
fighter he ever saw.
Speaking of his losses Jenkins
wrote: "In my two color companies,
out of eighty men who entered forty
were killed or wounded, and out Of
eleven in the color guard ten were shot
down Ny colors, pierced by nine balls
passed through four hands without
touching the ground"
At Fraser's Farm the South Carroll
ma brigade was the first to be engaged.
Jenkins was told to silence the battery
in front with his sharpshooters. He
led his brigade forward, charged,
drove back the enemy and seized the
battery.
Made Brigadier General.
Jenkins was promoted to be a briga-
dier general July %, 1862. He was Sc
verely wounded at Second Manassas,
but was again on duty at Fredericks-
burg. He went with LOngstreet and
took a conspicuous part in the Tennes-
see campaign, returning to Virginia in
1864.
At the battle of the Wilderness he
led his famous old brigade into the
fight on May 6.
Longstrcct and Kershaw were riding
with Jenkins, arranging the details OF
their combined attack. Jenkins said:
Il am happy. | have felt despair for