Jubal Anderson "Bad Old Man" Early (3 November 1816-2 March 1894) was a Lieutenant General of the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.
Biography[]
Early in 1863
Early was from Franklin County, Virginia, and in 1837 graduated from West Point 18th of 50 students in his class. After fighting in the Seminole Wars in Florida he served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1841 to 1843 as a Whig and fought in the Mexican-American War from 1847 to 1848 as the commander of the 1st Virginia Volunteers. A strong opponent of secession before the American Civil War, he became a Brigadier-General in the Confederate States Army's Virginia militia after President Abraham Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers to suppress the rebellion by violence. He fought under Robert E. Lee in all the major actions of the Virginia Campaign and the other East Coast battles against Union invaders.
In 1864, he was the general dispatched to capture Washington, D.C. while Lee fought the Union army. At the Battle of Monocacy he defeated Lew Wallace in his northernmost victory. Despite his many victories, he was routed at the Battle of Cedar Creek on October 19 by Philip Sheridan and his valley campaign ended. Sheridan finally defeaed Early's army at the Battle of Waynesboro on 2 March 1865. He was relieved of his command by Lee, who said that although he was zealous and a great commander, he would not inspire his men and could not forgive his injuries to his army. He escaped to Mexico from Texas, dressed as a farmer, and sailed to Cuba, and from there to Canada. After he was pardoned by President Andrew Johnson in 1868 he returned home, and was among the most vocal of the supporters of the "Lost Cause" movement, who sought to establish the reputation of the Confederate leaders as gallant gentlemen. He died at age 77 after falling down a flight of stairs.
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