Jones M . Withers Jones Mitchell Withers ( January 12 , 1814 – March 13 , 1890 ) was a United States Army officer who fought during the Mexican – American War and later served as a Confederate major general during the American Civil War . He also was a lawyer , politician , and businessman from the state of Alabama . Early life and career . Withers was born in 1814 in Huntsville , located in both Madison County and Limestone County , Alabama . He was a son of John Wright Withers , a Virginia planter , and of Mary Herbert Jones . He was of English descent . Withers received his education at Greene Academy in Huntsville . In 1831 he attended the United States Military Academy at West Point , and graduated four years later standing 44th out of 56 cadets . He was appointed a brevet second lieutenant in the 1st U . S . Dragoons on July 1 , 1835 . He was posted to Fort Leavenworth , Kansas , and resigned his commission the following year on December 5 . After resigning , Withers began a law practice in Alabama . In 1836 he entered the state ' s militia forces , and he later became a cotton broker . On January 12 , 1837 , Withers married Rebecca Eloise Forney , and the couple would have ten children together . He was admitted to Alabama ' s bar association in 1838 . During the Mexican – American War , Withers was appointed a lieutenant colonel in the U . S . Army on March 3 , 1847 , and was assigned to the 13th U . S . Infantry . He was promoted to colonel on September 13 in the 9th U . S . Infantry , and resigned on May 23 , 1848 . Withers returned to Alabama following the war with Mexico , and became a merchant there before entering local politics . He served first in Alabama ' s State Legislature , and then in 1855 he was elected to the U . S . House of Representatives . From 1858 to 1861 Withers was the mayor of Mobile , Alabama . Civil War service . During the American Civil War , Withers chose to follow his home state and the Confederate cause , and entered the Confederate States Army in 1861 . He was appointed the colonel of the 3rd Alabama Infantry on April 28 , and served briefly as commander of the Department of Norfolk that May . Withers was promoted to brigadier general on July 10 , and began his Western Theater service in the fall . Withers commanded the District of Alabama from September 12 , 1861 to January 27 , 1862 . His command was re - designated the Army of Mobile on January 27 until February 5 , and became the 2nd Division of the II Corps in the Army of Mississippi on March 29 . Withers fought during the Battle of Shiloh in Tennessee on April 6 , and was promoted to major general from that date . He commanded the Reserve Corps of the Army of Mississippi from June 30 to August 18 , later referred to as Withers ' Division in the " Right Wing " until November 20 . The Army of Mississippi was renamed the Army of Tennessee on November 20 , 1862 , and Withers led his 2nd Division with distinction during the Battle of Stones River on December 31 to January 2 , 1863 . His conduct in the fight was greatly praised by his corps commander , Lt . Gen . Leonidas Polk , as well as by the army ' s commander , Gen . Braxton Bragg . An account of his performance at Stones River ( also called Murfreesboro ) follows : Withers commanded his division until resigning his commission in the Confederate Army on July 13 , 1863 , but was quickly restored to his rank as a major general a week later . He was given command of the District of North Alabama in the Department of Alabama , Mississippi , & East Louisiana from February 6 to July 27 , 1864 . He then commanded the Reserve Forces of Alabama from April 30 to May 4 , 1865 . He was paroled at Meridian , Mississippi on May 11 after the Department had been surrendered and the war came to an end . Postbellum . Withers was pardoned by the U . S . Government on December 28 , 1865 , and returned to his civilian life in Alabama . Withers again took up the law , and then he became a cotton broker and editor of Mobile ' s " Tribune " newspaper . Briefly in 1867 Withers was once again mayor of the city of Mobile , and from 1878 to 1879 he was the treasurer of the city . Withers died in 1890 in Mobile , and he was buried in the city ' s Magnolia Cemetery .