|
Contributed by: Diane Siniard Name: James Green Martin State Served: North Carolina Highest Rank: Brig-Gen Birth Date: 1819 Death Date: 1878 Birth Place: Elizabeth City, North Carolina Army: Confederacy Promotions: Promoted to Full Brig-Gen Biography: Brigadier-General James Green Martin was born at Elizabeth City, N. C., February 14, 1819. He was graduated at the United States military academy in 1840, number fourteen in the class of which Richard S. Ewell was thirteenth, and George H. Thomas twelfth. With promotion to a lieutenancy in the artillery, he served mainly on the northern coast, on the Maine frontier, and in the coast survey, until he went into the war with Mexico, where he participated in the battles of Monterey, Vera Cruz, Cerro Gordo, Contreras and Churubusco, in the latter losing his right arm. He had previously been promoted captain of staff, and was brevetted major. At the outbreak of the war of 1861, he was on staff duty at Fort Riley. Resigning June 14, 1861, he offered his services to North Carolina, was commissioned captain of cavalry, C. S. A., and appointed adjutant-general of the State, a position in which he rendered valuable service in the organization and equipment of troops. At his suggestion, blockade-running ships were first employed to bring supplies from Europe. On September 28, 1861, he was appointed commander-in-chief of the State forces, with the rank of major-general of militia. With due appreciation of the gravity of the struggle, he raised 12,000 more men than his State's quota, which were found of great service when hastily called into the field in Virginia when McClellan made his advance from Yorktown. After General Martin had completed this work he applied for duty in the field, and in May, 1862, was promoted brigadier- general in the provisional army, Confederate States. In August, 1862, he was given command of the district of North Carolina, with headquarters at Kinston. 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, composed of the Seventeenth, Forty-second, Fiftieth and Sixty-sixth regiments, he went into camp near Wilmington and soon had as well-drilled and equipped a command as the Confederate army possessed. When Pickett made his demonstration against New Bern in February, 1864, Martin successfully attacked and drove the Federals from Newport. When the campaign of 1864 opened in Virginia he was called to Petersburg, and reaching there May 14th, was first in the field under Whiting. D. H. Hill was in command of the division May 20th, and Martin and his brigade won distinction by their gallant charge, driving the enemy from the works in their front. After this battle of Howlett's House, his men carried him around on their shoulders, shouting: "Three cheers for Old One Wing," much to the surprise of the gallant officer, whose stern discipline had not been calculated to inspire affection. After this Martin was the object of the warm admiration of his men. The brigade now was assigned to Hoke's division, and reinforced Lee at Turkey ridge, where they gallantly repulsed the enemy's assaults on June 3rd, and for about ten days afterward were engaged in a sharpshooting fight along the line. Lee, believing 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, as he believed Grant would attack Richmond from the rear. This opinion was soon verified, and Martin's brigade being hastily transferred to Petersburg, marched out where there was not a Confederate line between that city and the enemy. In the famous battles of June before Petersburg, Martin and his brigade displayed courage, discipline and fortitude unsurpassed by any. During the siege which followed, General 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, his field of service at the close of the war. After he had left the army of Northern Virginia, General Lee one day highly complimented his old brigade for faithful obedience to orders, and when reminded by General Kirkland that the praise was largely due to his predecessor, replied: "General Martin is one to whom North Carolina owes a debt she can never repay." The gallant brigade was almost continuously under fire, was never driven from a position, and never failed in an attack. After the close of hostilities General Martin found himself bereft of the considerable property he had previously held, and manfully took up the study of law, a profession in which he met with success, practicing at Asheville during the remainder of his life. He died October 4, 1878. Source: Confederate Military History, vol. V, p. 332 |