J . Thompson Brown John Thompson Brown ( February 6 , 1835 – May 6 , 1864 ) was a Confederate States Army colonel and artillerist in the American Civil War . He participated in the first exchange of cannon fire , in fact the first shots fired , between a Confederate force and a Union force in Virginia during the Civil War . Brown ' s company of the Virginia ( soon to be Confederate ) Richmond Howitzers artillery regiment , with Brown in command according to some sources , and a Union force , the gunboat USS " Yankee " , had a minor engagement at the Battle of Gloucester Point , Virginia on May 7 , 1861 . Neither side suffered casualties . Brown is credited by some sources with firing the first shot of the Civil War in Virginia at that first , minor engagement in the state . During the war , he advanced from the rank of first lieutenant to the rank of colonel in charge of a division of artillery in the Army of Northern Virginia . He was killed by a sharpshooter at the Battle of the Wilderness , May 6 , 1864 . Early life . John Thompson Brown was born in Virginia on February 6 , 1835 . His parents were John Thompson Brown and Mary ( Willcox ) Brown . He married Mary Southall on April 14 , 1858 . Brown was achieving prominence as a lawyer in Richmond , Virginia before the Civil War . He had two brothers , Henry Peronneau Brown ( 1832 – 1894 ) and John Willcox Brown ( 1833 – 1914 ) , who was a first lieutenant in the 12th Virginia Infantry , received a medical discharge in February 1863 but joined an artillery unit at Richmond later that year , eventually becoming a lieutenant colonel in 1865 . Civil War . The Richmond Howitzers were organized in 1859 in response to John Brown ' s raid on Harpers Ferry , Virginia and expanded from volunteers not added to the First Regiment of Virginia Artillery in 1861 . Captain ( Major as of May 9 , 1861 ) George W . Randolph took charge of the Howitzers Battalion . J . Thompson Brown , although not a trained soldier , was named second lieutenant of the second company . On May 7 , 1861 , Brown ' s second company of the battery fired its first shot from Gloucester Point , Virginia in the minor Battle of Gloucester Point , the first reported military action of the war in Virginia on May 7 , 1861 The Howitzers fired against the Union Navy gunboat USS " Yankee " which was steaming up the York River from Hampton Roads . On May 9 , 1861 , Brown was elected captain of the second company . A month later , on June 10 , 1861 , Brown ' s battery fought at the Battle of Big Bethel , Virginia . Brown became a major in September 1861 and a lieutenant colonel in the spring of 1862 . Brown led the First Virginia Artillery as a battalion in the artillery reserve of the Army of Northern Virginia in the Seven Days Battles . Brown was promoted to the rank of colonel on June 2 , 1862 . He led the battalion at the Battle of Antietam and the Battle of Fredericksburg . In October 1862 , Thompson was assigned to work with Brigadier General William N . Pendleton and Colonel , later Lieutenant General Stephen D . Lee to make recommendations for the reorganization of the army ’ s artillery . Pendleton recommended that Brown retain his battalion . In 1863 , at the Battle of Chancellorsville , Brown ’ s battalion served in the artillery brigade of Stonewall Jackson ’ s corps . Brown distinguished himself by protecting the Confederates involved in Jackson ’ s flanking movement from a probe by the federal III Corps . After the wounding of Colonel Stapleton Crutchfield , Brown became acting chief of artillery of Jackson ’ s corps . During the reorganization of the army after the death of Jackson , Lieutenant General Richard S . Ewell took charge of II Corps . Colonel Brown became the commander of the artillery reserve of the corps . The battalions of Captain Willis J . Dance , formerly Brown ’ s own , and Lieutenant Colonel William Nelson served under him . Dance ' s battalion played a part in the Second Battle of Winchester . Their guns reached the field at the Battle of Gettysburg but too late for the fighting on July 1 . Dance ’ s guns were employed on Seminary Ridge and Nelson ’ s near Benner ’ s Hill on July 2 and 3 . Brown is among those criticized for the failure to get ammunition trains to the front , reducing the number of guns available for the grand bombardment on July 3 . Brown ’ s gunners helped cover the retreat of the army to the Potomac River , reaching Hagerstown , Maryland on July 7 . They were assigned on the left of General Robert E . Lee ' s defensive position near Williamsport , Maryland as the army waited to cross the river . Brown reported on the role of the corps ' artillery in the campaign . Shortly after Gettysburg , Lee named his military secretary , Brigadier General Armistead L . Long , chief of artillery of II Corps . Despite being the senior artillerist of the corps , Brown is not found on record complaining about Long ’ s promotion . Others , however , thought Long was promoted because of his West Point education . Brown returned to command of his battalion for the Bristoe Campaign and the Mine Run Campaign . Before the Overland Campaign began , Long divided his corps artillery into two divisions . Brown took command of one . It contained the battalions of Nelson , Lieutenant Colonel Robert A . Hardaway and Lieutenant Colonel Carter M . Braxton . On May 6 , 1864 , while seeking a position for the guns in his division , Colonel J . Thompson Brown was killed by a sharpshooter . Brigadier Generals Pendleton and Long praised their fallen lieutenant for his character and skill .