John Calvin Fiser facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Calvin Fiser
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Colonel John Calvin Fiser, CSA
photo taken in 1864 or 1865 |
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| Born | May 4, 1838 Dyersburg, Tennessee |
| Died | June 1876 (aged 37–38) Memphis, Tennessee |
| Place of burial |
Elmwood Cemetery
Memphis, Tennessee |
| Allegiance |  Confederate States of America |
| Service/ |
 Confederate States Army Infantry |
| Years of service | 1861–65 (CSA) |
| Rank |  Colonel |
| Commands held |  17th Mississippi Infantry |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
John Calvin Fiser (born May 4, 1838 – died June 1876) was an American businessman and soldier. He was an officer in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. He fought in battles across both the eastern and western parts of the war. Fiser was hurt badly five times during the conflict. He even lost an arm in 1863 during the Battle of Fort Sanders. Later in the war, he was named a general, but this rank was never officially confirmed. After the war, he went back to his businesses. He also joined groups for Confederate veterans.
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Early Life and Business Career
John Fiser was born in 1838 in Dyersburg, Tennessee. His family moved to Batesville, Mississippi in 1848. After his father passed away, his uncle, John B. Fiser, raised him. His uncle was a politician and a merchant.
In 1853, John Fiser started working in a country store. This store was near the Tallahatchie River in Lafayette County, Mississippi. In 1855, he moved to Memphis, Tennessee. There, he worked as a cotton merchant. Later, he became involved in other types of trade.
Serving in the Civil War
When the American Civil War started in 1861, Fiser returned to Mississippi. He wanted to support the Confederate cause. On May 27, he became a first lieutenant in the 17th Mississippi Infantry. He helped create this regiment in Panola County.
On June 4, he became the regiment's adjutant. He fought with the 17th Mississippi in the First Battle of Bull Run on July 21. That autumn, he fought well during the Battle of Ball's Bluff. He was praised for his "most important and effective service."
On October 12, 1861, Fiser was made assistant adjutant general for his regiment. In 1862, he was elected lieutenant colonel of the 17th Mississippi. He fought during the Peninsula Campaign. He took command of the regiment when its colonel was hurt in the Battle of Malvern Hill.
The 17th Mississippi's attack at Malvern Hill was very brave:
At Malvern Hill, 1 July 1862, about six in the evening, they made a desperate charge upon the Federal line, under a terrible fire of shell, grape, canister and Minié balls, but without success. Colonel Holder was wounded and Lieutenant-Colonel Fiser took command.
Fiser continued to lead the regiment during the Maryland Campaign in 1862. He led them in the Battle of Antietam on September 17. Later that year, he became adjutant of his brigade. He fought during the Battle of Fredericksburg that winter. His brigade defended the Rappahannock River crossing on December 11. Fiser was wounded during the main battle two days later. He then fought during the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg. He was wounded again in July. Fiser was shot in the cheek and then hit in the same leg twice.
The Attack on Fort Sanders
In the fall of 1863, Fiser's regiment moved west. They joined Lieutenant General James Longstreet's First Corps. He fought in the Battle of Chickamauga. Then he fought during the Knoxville campaign. On November 29, Fiser was shot in his right arm. This happened as he reached the top of the Union defenses during the Battle of Fort Sanders. His arm was so badly hurt that it had to be removed.
Here is an account of his actions during the attack:
Fiser has a hatchet buckled onto his sword belt, and he vowed to cut down the tall flagstaff on top of the enemy fort. He climbed to the top of the parapet during the heat of battle, and was making for the flagstaff when a ball shattered his arm, and rolling him back into the ditch.
While he was recovering from losing his arm, Fiser helped with recruiting. On February 26, 1864, he was promoted to colonel. But his wound healed slowly, so he resigned on June 12 and went home. That winter, Major General Lafayette McLaws asked Fiser to serve in South Carolina. Fiser rejoined the Confederate Army.
In 1865, Fiser led a brigade of reserve soldiers from Georgia. These forces were fighting against Union soldiers led by Major General William Tecumseh Sherman. This was during the Carolinas Campaign. On April 9, Fiser's small brigade of 800 men joined with Colonel George P. Harrison's brigade. This meant Fiser went back to leading a regiment. Also in 1865, Fiser was named a brigadier general. However, the Confederate Senate never officially approved this rank.
Life After the War
When the Civil War ended in 1865, John Fiser went back to Memphis, Tennessee. He started his businesses again. In 1866, he married Hayes Dunn. They had three daughters together. Soon after, he changed the spelling of his last name to Fizer. He felt this spelling matched how his name sounded. Three streets in Memphis were later named after him, all using the spelling "Fizer."
He also became a partner in a very successful cotton brokerage firm. He was active in local Democratic politics. In 1871, Fiser was elected president of the Confederate Historical and Relief Association in Memphis. When he passed away, he was also president of the Office Security Building and Loan Association. Fiser died from dysentery in 1876. He was buried in the Chapel Hill section of the Elmwood Cemetery in Memphis.
