Contributed by: Diane Siniard Name: Matthew Whitaker Ransom State Served: North Carolina Highest Rank: Brig-Gen Birth Date: 1826 Death Date: 1904 Birth Place: Warren County, North Carolina Army: Confederacy Promotions: Promoted to Full Lt Colonel (1st NC Inf) Promoted to Full Colonel (35th NC Inf) Promoted to Full Brig-Gen Biography: RANSOM, MATTHEW WHITTAKER NORTH CAROLINA. Lieutenant colonel, First North Carolina Infantry. Colonel, Thirty-fifth North Carolina Infantry, , 1862. Brigadier general, P. A. C. S., June 13, 1863. Major general, 1865. Commands. Brigade composed of the Twenty-fourth, Twenty-fifth, Thirty-fifth, Forty-ninth and Fifty-sixth North Carolina Regiments Infantry, Longstreet's Corps, Army of Northern Virginia. Source: General Officers of the Confederate States of America Brigadier-General Matthew Whittaker Ransom was born in Warren county, N. C., in 1826. His father was Robert Ransom, who was descended from a colonial Virginia family of Gloucester county. His mother was Priscilla West Coffield Whittaker, whose lineage is traced to Alexander Whittaker, the English clergyman who baptized Pocahontas. He was graduated at Chapel Hill, the State university, in 1847, and was soon afterward admitted to the practice of law. The remarkable ability which he at once displayed led to his election five years later as attorney-general of the State. This office he resigned in 1855 to return to general practice. Three years later he was called upon to represent his district in the legislature, and was re-elected twice, serving until 1861. In the latter year he was sent by North Carolina as a peace commissioner to the provisional congress at Montgomery. At the organization of the First regiment of infantry, at Warrenton, June 3, 1861, he was commissioned lieutenant- colonel. Subsequently he was appointed colonel of the Thirty- fifth regiment, of Robert Ransom's brigade. With this command he participated in the Seven Days' battles before Richmond, and was particularly distinguished in the repulse of a night attack June 25th, and in the attack on Malvern hill, where his regiment suffered severely and he was twice wounded, so that he had to be carried from the field. He was again on duty with his regiment in the Maryland campaign, and during part of the battle of Sharpsburg had temporary command of the brigade, repelling a Federal assault, and pursuing the enemy and inflicting such punishment that no further attack was made in that quarter during the day. After the battle of Fredericksburg he served at Wilmington and other points in North Carolina, and being promoted brigadier- general took command of the brigade formerly led by Robert Ransom. He held the Suffolk line during the Gettysburg campaign, and in the latter part of July defeated the enemy's advance toward Weldon. He continued to serve in North Carolina during 1863, participated in the capture of Plymouth, defeated the enemy at Suffolk March 9, 1864, and then fought with Beauregard before Petersburg, with Longstreet on the north side of the James, and in Bushrod Johnson's division on the Crater line. During the latter part of 1864 he was in command of this division, comprising his own brigade and those of Wise, Gracie and Wallace. In the famous assault upon the Federal works on Hare's hill, March 25, 1865, he commanded two brigades, whose service was particularly complimented by General Lee. He was again in battle at Five Forks, and finally surrendered with Lee at Appomattox. After the close of hostilities he resumed the practice of law and engaged in planting, until 1872, when he was elected to the United States Senate, where he served by re-election a continuous period of twenty-four years. As a member of this exalted body he rendered efficient service to his State, and while retaining the affections of the people of whom he was part, gained the respect and admiration of the representatives of the whole nation. As a forcible and elegant public speaker and a wise councilor he held a high position during his public career in the Democratic party. In the second administration of President Cleveland he served as minister to Mexico, succeeding ex- Governor Gray, of Indiana. Source: Confederate Military History, vol. V, p. 343 |