James Green Martin James Green Martin ( February 14 , 1819 – October 4 , 1878 ) was a brigadier general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War . Early life . Martin was born in Elizabeth City , North Carolina , the son of Dr . William Martin and Sophia Dange Martin . He attended the United States Military Academy at West Point and graduated in 1840 , fourteenth in the class , directly behind future Confederate general Richard S . Ewell . On July 12 , 1844 , Martin married Mary Ann Murray Read , great granddaughter of Declaration of Independence signer George Read and General William Thompson . Military career . Martin was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the First Regiment of the United States Artillery . He served mainly on the northern coast , on the frontier of Maine , in the Aroostock War , and in the coastal survey . He served in the Mexican War and took part in the battles of Monterey , Vera Cruz , Cerro Gordo , Contreras and Churubusco , where he lost his right arm after it was shattered by grapeshot . After the wounding , Martin left the field with his sleeve clenched between his teeth and relinquished command of the battery to Stonewall Jackson . Due to the loss of his arm , Martin became known by the nickname " Old One Wing . " Martin was brevet ted as a major for his performance at Churubusco and Contreras . After the Mexican War , Martin transferred to staff and was appointed assistant quartermaster and was stationed at Fortress Monroe , Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , and Governor ' s Island . Martin then went to Fort Snelling in Minnesota . While there , his wife Mary Ann died . On February 8 , 1858 , he married Hetty King , sister of General Rufus King . Martin next took part in the Utah War under Albert Sidney Johnston and at the outbreak of the Civil War , he was on staff duty at Fort Riley , Kansas . Civil War . Resigning his commission on June 14 , 1861 , Martin offered his services to North Carolina , and was commissioned as a captain in the cavalry . Martin was later appointed adjutant general of North Carolina . At his suggestion , blockade - running ships were first employed to bring supplies to the Confederacy from Europe . On September 28 , 1861 , he was appointed commander - in - chief of the state forces , with the rank of major general of militia . Martin was able to raise 12 , 000 more men than the state quota . After Martin had completed this work , he applied for duty in the field , and in May 1862 , he was promoted to brigadier general in the provisional army . In August 1862 , he was given command of the district of North Carolina , with headquarters at Kinston , North Carolina . In the fall of 1863 , he was directed to organize a brigade from the troops at his disposal and take the field . With this brigade , he went into camp near Wilmington , North Carolina . When Major General George E . Pickett made his demonstration against New Bern in February 1864 , Martin successfully attacked and drove the Union troops from Newport . When the Overland Campaign opened , Martin was called to Petersburg . He was the first in the field under Major General William Henry Chase Whiting . Major General Daniel Harvey Hill took command of the division on May 20 , and Martin ' s brigade won distinction for their charge , driving the enemy from the works in their front . Afterwards his men carried him around on their shoulders , shouting , " Three cheers for Old One Wing . " The brigade was then assigned to Robert Hoke ' s division , and reinforced Robert E . Lee at Turkey Hill during the Battle of Cold Harbor , where they repulsed the Union assaults on June 3 , and afterward were engaged in a sharpshooting fight along the line . Lee , believing Ulysses S . Grant would make another attack , informed Martin that he held the key to the Confederate position , and asked if his troops , comparatively new , could be relied upon . Martin promptly responded that his men were as good as veterans , but that he thought he should be transferred to the south of the James River , as he believed Grant would attack Richmond from the rear . Lee then sent Martin ' s brigade to Petersburg . During the siege , Martin ' s health gave way under the strain and exposure , and he was transferred to the command of the district of Western North Carolina , with headquarters at Asheville . After he had left the Army of Northern Virginia , Lee stated that " General Martin is one to whom North Carolina owes a debt she can never repay . " Martin surrendered the Army of Western North Carolina in Waynesville , North Carolina on May 6 , 1865 . This was the last organized Confederate force remaining in the state . Post - war life . After the war ended , Martin was financially ruined . He studied law and practiced it in Asheville for the remainder of his life . Martin died on October 4 , 1878 and is buried in Asheville ' s Riverside Cemetery .