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Samuel McGowan (general)
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Samuel McGowan (general)
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{{Infobox military person |name= Samuel McGowan |born= {{birth date|1819|10|19}} |died= {{death date and age|1897|8|9|1819|10|19}} |image= [[File:SMcGowan.jpg|200px]] |caption= |nickname= |placeofbirth= [[Laurens County, South Carolina]] |placeofdeath= [[Abbeville, South Carolina]] |placeofburial= |placeofburial_label= Place of burial |allegiance= [[United States|United States of America]]<br/>[[Confederate States of America]] |branch= [[Confederate States Army]] |serviceyears= 1861–64 |rank= [[Brigadier general (United States)|Brigadier General]] |unit= |commands= |battles= [[American Civil War]]<br/>- [[First Battle of Bull Run]]<br/>- [[Seven Days Battles]]<br/>- [[Second Battle of Bull Run]]<br/>- [[Battle of Chancellorsville]]<br/>- [[Battle of Spotsylvania Court House]] |awards= |relations= |laterwork= }} '''Samuel McGowan''' (October 19, 1819 – August 9, 1897) was a general from [[South Carolina]] in the [[Confederate States Army]] during the [[American Civil War]]. He commanded a [[brigade]] in [[A.P. Hill]]'s famous "Light Division" and was wounded several times. [[Ezra Warner]]'s book, ''Generals in Gray'', claims that "McGowan's career and reputation were not excelled by any other brigade commander in the [[Army of Northern Virginia]]." ==Biography== Born in the [[Laurens County, South Carolina|Laurens District]] of South Carolina, McGowan attended and graduated from [[University of South Carolina|South Carolina College]] in 1841. Subsequently, he studied law in [[Abbeville, South Carolina|Abbeville]] and was admitted to the bar. Prior to the Civil War, McGowan practiced law and served in state politics. He also served in the [[Mexican-American War]] with the Palmetto Rifles. He was commended for his gallantry near [[Mexico City]] and rose to the rank of staff captain. At the [[First Battle of Bull Run]], McGowan served on the staff of General [[Milledge Bonham]]. In 1862, McGowan was appointed as [[Colonel (United States)|Colonel]] of the 14th South Carolina Infantry. This [[regiment]] was assigned to [[Maxcy Gregg]]'s brigade in A.P. Hill's Light Division. After Gregg was killed in the [[Battle of Fredericksburg]], McGowan was promoted to [[History of Confederate States Army Generals#Brigadier general|brigadier general]] (to rank from January 17, 1863) and took command of the Light Division's South Carolina brigade. Except for when wounded, McGowan commanded this brigade for the rest of the war, surrendering with it at [[Appomattox Court House]]. McGowan was wounded four times during the Civil War. The first occurrence was at Cold Harbor during the [[Seven Days Battles]] on June 27, 1862, where he was bruised in the right side by [[canister shot|canister]]. The second wound happened at [[Second Battle of Manassas|Second Manassas]] when McGowan was hit in the thigh. McGowan suffered his worst wound at [[Battle of Chancellorsville|Chancellorsville]]. A [[Minié ball]] severely injured McGowan's leg below the knee. Although he kept the leg, it was not until February 1864 that he was able to return to field command. McGowan received his final wound at [[Battle of Spotsylvania Court House|Spotsylvania]] where he was hit and suffered a minor wound to the forearm. Returning to Abbeville after the war ended, McGowan was elected to [[United States Congress|Congress]], but refused his seat. He became a leader in the fight against "[[carpetbagger]]" rule in the state legislature. In 1879, McGowan was elected to the South Carolina [[supreme court]] as an associate justice. He held the position until 1893. General McGowan died in Abbeville and was buried there in Long Cane Cemetery. [[Hans Holzer]]'s book ''Ghosts'' tells the story of contacting General Samuel McGowan in a story entitled "The Fifth Avenue Ghost." The story is based upon [[séances]] Holzer held between 11 July 1953 and 26 November 1953 at 226 Fifth Avenue in New York, and later at the medium's home.<ref>Holzer, Hans. ''Ghosts'' (1996). New York, NY: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, Inc. p.62-75. ISBN 1-884822-64-9.</ref>. ==See also== {{portal|American Civil War}} *[[List of American Civil War generals#Confederate-M|List of American Civil War generals]] ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== * [http://www.researchonline.net/sccw/bios/biosm2.htm Biographical Sketches: M Surname] {{Persondata |NAME= Macgowan, Samuel |ALTERNATIVE NAMES= |SHORT DESCRIPTION= Confederate Army general |DATE OF BIRTH= October 19, 1819 |PLACE OF BIRTH= [[Laurens County, South Carolina]] |DATE OF DEATH= August 9, 1897 |PLACE OF DEATH= [[Abbeville, South Carolina]] }} {{DEFAULTSORT:Macgowan, Samuel}} [[Category:1819 births]] [[Category:1897 deaths]] [[Category:People from Laurens County, South Carolina]] [[Category:People of South Carolina in the American Civil War]] [[Category:Confederate States Army generals]] [[Category:American military personnel of the Mexican–American War]] [[Category:Members of the Aztec Club of 1847]]
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