Archibald Gracie III Archibald Gracie III ( December 1 , 1832 – December 2 , 1864 ) was a career United States Army officer , businessman , and a graduate of West Point . He is well known for being a Confederate brigadier general during the American Civil War and for his death during the Siege of Petersburg . Early life and career . Archibald was born into a wealthy New York family with interests in exporting cotton from Mobile , Alabama . After his elementary education , Gracie traveled to Germany for five years of further studying at the University of Heidelberg . After arriving back in the United States Archibald started his education at West Point , at the time of Robert E . Lee ' s superintendency . Gracie came to Lee ' s attention when , after intentionally stepping on fellow cadet Wharton J . Green ' s heels while marching , he was challenged to a fight on the parade grounds . When a teacher broke up the fight , which Gracie was losing badly , Green fled , and Gracie refused to tell who he ' d been fighting . Days later , Green went into Lee ' s office to admit his role and demand an equal punishment . Lee decided to punish neither of them , and Gracie and Green became fast friends . After graduating in 1854 , he was appointed a second lieutenant and set off as an escort to Governor Isaac Stevens , who was on the way to the Walla Walla Council of 1855 . In 1857 Gracie resigned his post to join his father ' s firm , established during the 1840s in Mobile , Alabama , as agents of the London banking firm of Baring brothers . Later Gracie became the President of the Barings Bank of Mobile . It was here in Mobile that he joined the Washington Light Infantry and became its captain . By the orders of Governor Andrew B . Moore , Archibald and his men took the Mount Vernon Arsenal . Civil War service . When Alabama seceded in 1861 Gracie enlisted in the Confederate States Army . In June 1861 he was created a Major of the 11th Alabama Regiment . From March to April 1862 he commanded a small company of sharpshooters , who were some of the first to reinforce General Magruder during the Battle of Yorktown . In July of that year Gracie was put in command of a brigade near Chattanooga , Tennessee , consisting of the 43rd Alabama infantry , 55th Georgia infantry , 12th Georgia infantry , 1st Georgia Artillery , and the 1st Florida dismounted regiment . Through his successes in Huntsville , Tennessee , he was promoted to brigadier general on November 4 , 1862 , at the age of 29 . His company was the guard of the rear of General Bragg ' s Army in Harrodsburg during his retreat from the Battle of Perryville , and during his retreat after the Tullahoma Campaign . General Gracie ' s command took an active role during the Battle of Chickamauga , where he lost over 700 men . Gracie and his unit then joined General Longstreet ' s army at the Battle of Bean ' s Station . During this battle Gracie was shot in the arm causing temporary paralysis of his little and ring fingers . After his recovery he was sent to Richmond to join General Beauregard . While there he had a horse shot out from under him , but went away relatively unscathed . During the Siege of Petersburg Gracie is credited with possibly saving General Lee ' s life . Lee was at " Gracie ' s Mortar Hell " inspecting Gracie ' s defenses when he rose his head over the wall to glance at the Union position , seeing this Gracie climbed the wall in front of Lee . Lee then stated " Why , Gracie , you will certainly be killed , " Gracie then replied , " It is better , General , that I be killed than you . When you get down , I will . " Death . Between July and December 1864 Gracie served in the trenches of Petersburg , Virginia , during the Siege of Petersburg . On December 1 , Gracie ' s 32nd birthday , his second child , a girl , was born , and he was to take a leave to see the baby on December 3 . On December 2 , 1864 , the day after his 32nd birthday Archibald Gracie was looking out at the Union lines through his telescope when an artillery shell exploded in front of him breaking his neck ; it killed him instantly . Because of his actions at the Battle of Chickamauga Gracie ' s name was put into consideration for a promotion to a Major General , but his death caused the consideration to be suspended . Frank O . Ticknor eulogized Gracie ' s Death in the poem " Gracie , of Alabama " , which he sent to General Robert Chilton : < poem > Gracie , of Alabama ! ' Twas on that dreadful day When howling hounds were fiercest , With Petersburg at bay . Gracie , of Alabama , Walked down the lines with Lee , Marking through mists of gunshot The clouds of enemy ; Scanning the Anaconda At every scale and joint ; And halting , glasses levelled At gaze on " Dead Man ' s Point . " Thrice , Alabama ' s warning Fell on a heedless ear , While the relentless lead - storm , Converging , hurtled near ; Till straight before his chieftain , Without or sound or sign , He stood , a shield the grandest , Against the Union line : And then the glass was lowered , And voice that faltered not Said , in its measured cadence , " Why , Gracie , you ' ll be shot ! " And Alabama answered : " The South will pardon me If the ball that goes through Gracie Comes short of Robert Lee ! " Swept a swift flash of crimson Athwart the chieftain ' s cheek , And the eyes whose glance was " knighthood " Spake as no king could speak . And side by side with Gracie He turned from shot and flame ; Side by side with Gracie Up the grand aisle of Fame . < / poem > Family . On November 19 , 1856 Archibald Gracie married Josephine Mayo , a niece of General Winfield Scott . He was also the father of Archibald Gracie IV , the famous survivor of the " Titanic " and a daughter who was born the day before his death . Gracie is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in New York . Commemorations . New York City ' s historic Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp , Archibald Gracie Camp # 985 , is named in his honor .