John A. Wharton

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For the Texian, see John Austin Wharton (died 1838).
John Austin Wharton
Major General
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War

John Austin Wharton (July 23, 1828 – April 6, 1865) was a lawyer, plantation owner, and Confederate general during the American Civil War. He was one of the Confederacy's best tactical cavalry commanders.

Early life

Wharton was born near

John Austin Wharton. When he was still an infant, the family moved to what became Brazoria County, Texas. In 1846, Wharton enrolled at South Carolina College, where he was a member of the Euphradian Society. Two years later, he married Eliza Penelope Johnson, the daughter of David Johnson, the Governor of South Carolina
.

After graduating in 1850, Wharton returned to

elector
.

Civil War

An ardent secessionist, Wharton enlisted in the Confederate States Army as captain of Company B, 8th Texas Cavalry, also known as "Terry's Texas Rangers." Commissioned as colonel of the regiment, Wharton fought with distinction at the Battle of Shiloh, where he was wounded. Wharton served under Gen. Braxton Bragg during the 1862 invasion of eastern Kentucky. He was promoted to brigadier general on November 18, 1862, and was once more wounded at the Battle of Stones River.

Wharton again distinguished himself at the

Red River Campaign.[1]

Wharton in Confederate uniform

Shortly before the end of the war in 1865, a fellow Confederate cavalry officer, Col.

Houston, Texas, over a simmering dispute on military matters. The incident began with an argument on the street outside of the Fannin Hotel, the headquarters of Maj. Gen. John B. Magruder. The two officers had quarreled in the past, but this time Wharton came into Magruder's quarters and, as Baylor later claimed, called Baylor a liar. Baylor shot the unarmed Wharton and killed him instantly.[2] Baylor was tried three times before he was finally acquitted after the war.[3]

Wharton monument at Texas State Cemetery in Austin, Texas

Wharton is interred at Texas State Cemetery in Austin, Texas.

See also

Notes

  1. ISBN 0-8071-0834-0
    , pp, 361, 365, 375
  2. ^ Bailey, p. 123.
  3. ^ El Paso Herald, April 2, 1916. p. 7.

References

External links
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