Duncan K. McRae facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Duncan Kirkland McRae
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| United States Consul to Paris, France | |
| In office 1853–57 |
|
| President | Franklin Pierce |
| United States District Attorney for North Carolina | |
| In office 1843–50 |
|
| Member of the North Carolina House of Commons for Cumberland County |
|
| In office 1842–43 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 16, 1820 Fayetteville, North Carolina |
| Died | February 12, 1888 (aged 67) Brooklyn, New York |
| Resting place | Woodlawn Cemetery, New York City |
| Political party | Democrats |
| Other political affiliations |
Whigs Independent Democrat |
| Spouse | Louise Virginia Henry McRae |
| Profession | lawyer, courier, newspaper editor |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Confederate States of America |
| Branch/service |  Confederate States Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1862 |
| Rank |  Colonel (CSA) |
| Commands | 5th North Carolina Infantry Regiment Garland's Brigade |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
Duncan Kirkland McRae (born August 16, 1820 – died February 12, 1888) was an important figure from North Carolina. He worked as a lawyer, a diplomat, and a state lawmaker. During the American Civil War, he was an officer in the Confederate States Army. He also worked as a newspaper editor.
Growing Up and School
Duncan McRae was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina. His father, John McRae, was the postmaster of Fayetteville for many years. When Duncan was just five years old, he gave a welcome speech to the Marquis de Lafayette during his visit in 1825.
Duncan went to college at the University of Virginia and the College of William & Mary. After college, he studied law with Judge Robert Strange. He became a lawyer in 1841. For a short time, he worked in Oxford. Then, he became a special messenger to Mexico for the State Department.
His Career in Politics
In 1842, Duncan McRae was chosen to be a representative for Cumberland County in the North Carolina House of Commons. He served one term until 1843. After that, he became a U.S. District Attorney. He was known for being a sharp lawyer and a great speaker.
In 1843, he started a newspaper called the Democratic Signal with Perrin Busbee. It was in Raleigh, where he had moved. The newspaper did not last very long. He stopped being a U.S. District Attorney in 1850 and moved to Wilmington the next year.
From 1853 to 1857, McRae worked as a Consul for the U.S. in Paris, France. This was during the time Franklin Pierce was president. After this, he moved to New Bern.
In 1858, he ran to become the governor of North Carolina. He left the Democratic Party and got help from the old Whig Party. People sometimes criticized him for changing his political views. He ran as an Independent Democrat. He wanted money from public lands to be given back to North Carolina. He lost the election to John Willis Ellis.
The Civil War Years
When the American Civil War started, Governor Ellis made McRae the leader of the 5th North Carolina Infantry Regiment. He became a Colonel in the Confederate States Army. In July, his regiment went north to join the Army of the Potomac. They were part of Brig. Gen. James Longstreet's brigade.
McRae's regiment was at the First Battle of Manassas, but he was sick and not there. He led his regiment, which was then in Jubal Early's brigade, during the Peninsula Campaign. He fought in the Battle of Williamsburg. He was hurt while leading a charge, but it was a minor wound. He stayed and took temporary command of the brigade when General Early was wounded. Later, Samuel Garland Jr. took over. McRae also fought in the Seven Days Battles. After these battles, he had to leave his unit again because of sickness and his wound.
Colonel McRae returned to lead his regiment during the Maryland Campaign. He took command of the brigade again after Samuel Garland Jr. died at the Battle of South Mountain. He led them into the very tough Battle of Antietam. McRae himself was badly wounded but stayed with his command until after the battle, when he went to the hospital. When he was recovering, he was not promoted, and someone else got the promotion instead. Because of this, he left the army on November 13, 1862.
McRae wrote letters about the Maryland Campaign that still exist today. He wrote that at the Battle of South Mountain, he kept Garland's brigade fighting for two more hours after Garland died. At Antietam, he said that a "panic occurred" and he was left almost alone. He was trying to get some men out of a difficult spot with General Lee when a piece of a shell hit him in the forehead.
In 1863, the new Governor of North Carolina, Zebulon B. Vance, sent McRae to southern Europe. His job was to find a market for cotton and buy supplies. After he came back, he tried to get elected to the Confederate Congress but did not win. Then, he started another newspaper in Raleigh called The Confederate.
Later Life
After the war ended, McRae moved to Memphis, Tennessee. He worked as a lawyer and published a law journal. After 14 years, he moved back to Wilmington.
In 1880, McRae gave a speech to support Winfield Scott Hancock, who had been his opponent during the Battle of Williamsburg. Hancock was running for president in the U.S. presidency. McRae later became very critical of the Civil War. He wrote in a private letter in 1885 that he did not like to think about the war. He felt that any glory from it belonged only to the brave soldiers who fought until the end.
McRae's health was not good, and his old war wounds bothered him again. This made him move, first to Chicago, then to New York City. He died in Brooklyn on February 12, 1888. He was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery.
Family Life
Duncan McRae married Louise Virginia Henry on October 8, 1845. She was the daughter of Judge Louis D. Henry. They had three daughters: Margaret Kirkland, Virginia Henry, and Marie.
