William B . Taliaferro William Booth Taliaferro ( December 28 , 1822 – February 27 , 1898 ) , was a United States Army officer , a lawyer , legislator , and Confederate general in the American Civil War . Early life . William Booth Taliaferro ( who pronounced his Italian surname as " tah ' - liver " ) was born in Gloucester County , Virginia , to a prominent family of English - Italian origin who settled in Virginia in the 17th century . He was the nephew of James A . Seddon , who would become Secretary of War for the Confederate States of America under Jefferson Davis . Taliaferro attended Harvard University and William and Mary College , graduating from the latter in 1841 . Taliaferro joined the U . S . Army during the Mexican - American War , fighting in both the 11th and 9th U . S . Infantry regiments . After the war , Taliaferro entered public life , serving as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates and as a prominent backer of James Buchanan ' s presidential campaign in 1856 . He also continued his military service as commander of a division of the Virginia state militia ; he commanded at Harpers Ferry following the raid of that town ' s arsenal by John Brown . Civil War . Taliaferro became commander of Virginia ' s state militia following Virginia ' s secession in 1861 ; he later took command of the 23rd Virginia Infantry as a colonel . He fought several engagements in 1861 and by the end of the year had ascended to brigade command , where he led Confederate forces at the Battle of Greenbrier River , in what is now West Virginia . Taliaferro ' s Brigade came under Maj . Gen . Thomas J . " Stonewall " Jackson ' s command at the end of 1861 . He remained with Jackson for some months , rising to division command in 1862 . Taliaferro was seriously injured at the Battle of Second Bull Run ( Second Manassas ) , but returned to the field in the time for the Battle of Fredericksburg , his last battle under Jackson . Taliaferro was a strict and aloof commander who alienated many of his troops . There is at least one known circumstance when one of his troops actually assaulted him , though Taliaferro was unscathed . Taliaferro chafed under the command of General Jackson , complaining to his political colleagues in Virginia about Jackson ' s tactics and treatment of the men . Jackson later protested Taliaferro ' s promotion to brigadier general , while Taliaferro was still under Jackson ' s command ; however , Jackson respected Taliaferro ' s leadership and military ability and did not continue to stand in his way . Jackson later would select Taliaferro for temporary divisional command in specific engagements . After Fredericksburg , Taliaferro was given command of the District of Savannah . In this capacity he led troops at the Battle of Fort Wagner on Morris Island , a battle that has since been depicted in the movie " Glory " . Taliaferro was commended for his service in that battle . In 1864 , Taliaferro was given command of all forces in the Eastern district of Florida , which made him the overall commander at the Battle of Olustee that February . He subsequently returned to South Carolina , where he was made commander of all forces in that state . Taliaferro was still in command when Maj . Gen . William T . Sherman entered the state from Savannah . Taliaferro returned to Virginia when the Army of South Carolina , Georgia , and Florida surrendered later that year . Postbellum career . After the war , Taliaferro lived in Gloucester County . He served again in the state legislature and as a judge and sat on the board of the College of William and Mary and the Virginia Military Institute . He died at his home , " Dunham Massie " , aged 75 , and is buried in Ware Church Cemetery , Gloucester County , Virginia . His collected papers are located at the Special Collections Research Center at the College of William and Mary . Family tree . Bartholomew Taliaferro ( 1530 Venice , Italy - September 1601 , London , England ) married Joane Lane , January 1 , 1583 , at St . Michael ' s , Cornhill , London , England . The couple are the common ancestors of cousins Brig . Gen . William Booth Taliaferro and Maj . Gen Dabney H . Maury ( May 21 , 1822 – January 11 , 1900 ) . Both generals are descendants of Francis Taliaferro , b . c . 1589 , London , England .