Position at Antietam
Commander, Lawton’s (Ewell’s) Division, Army of Northern Virginia (Age 44 at the battle)
Personal
1818-1896 Georgia
Nickname:
Born near Beaufort, SC. Married Sarah Gilbert Alexander (sister of Porter Alexander) in 1845; three daughters, one son. Son Alexander Rudolph Lawton was Colonel, 1st Georgia Infantry, in the Spanish American War
Education
Graduated from West Point in 1839 with James Ricketts; ranked 13th of 31 cadets. Resigned in 1840 to study law at Harvard; graduated 1842.
Mexican War
N/A
Other military career highlights
2nd Lt. 1st U.S. Artillery, 1839-40; Lieutenant, Georgia Militia 1849-1852; Colonel, 1852-1861
Civilian career highlights
Counselor at Law, Savannah, 1843-1861; President, Savannah and Augusta Railroad, 1849-1854; member Georgia House of Representatives, 1855-1856; Georgia Senate, 1859-1860; President of Georgia Democratic Convention, 1860. Lawton favored Georgia’s secession.
Civil War
Colonel, 1st Georgia Volunteers; commanded Savannah troops that seized Ft. Pulaski; promoted to Brig. Gen. April 13, 1861; Commanded troops guarding Georgia coast; in June 1862, joined Army of Northern Virginia as brigade commander in Ewell’s division. Commanded Ewell’s division from August 28 to September 17, 1862, when he was seriously wounded in the leg at Antietam. Quarter Master General of Confederacy, Aug. 1863-April 1865
Postwar
Returned to his law practice and politics. Member of Georgia Senate, 1874-1875; President of Savannah and Augusta Railroad, 1878-1887; President American Bar Association, 1883; Minister to AustriaHungary, 1887-1889.
Death
July 2, 1896 in Clifton Springs, New York. Buried in Savannah Georgia. Age 77.
Quotes
“”An admirable, well-rounded character with many friends.” Moxley Sorrel
“Lawton’s abilities suggested him for administrative work.” Moxley Sorrel
“(Lawton) was in hourly fear lest Jackson might perhaps catch one of his men somewhere in the rear up an apple tree & send
an aide ahead & tell Lawton to consider himself under arrest.” E. Porter Alexander
“(Jackson) holds himself as the god of war, giving short, sharp commands distinctly, rapidly and decisively, without consultation or explanation, and disregarding suggestions and remonstrances. Being himself absolutely fearless …he goes ahead on his hook, asking no advice and resenting interference. He places no value on human life, caring for nothing so much as fighting, unless it be praying. Illness, wounds and all disabilities he defines as inefficiency and indications of a lack of patriotism. Suffering from insomnia, he often uses his men as a sedative, and when he can’t sleep calls them up, marches them out a few miles; then marches them back. He never praises his men for gallantry, because it is their duty to be gallant and they
do not deserve credit for doing their duty.” Alexander Lawton
“General Lawton was wounded and nearly all the field officers, with a large proportion of the men killed or disabled.” Robert E. Lee in his report on the Battle of Antietam