Reuben Walker Carswell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Reuben Walker Carswell
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| Born | September 29, 1837 Louisville, Georgia |
| Died | January 11, 1889 (aged 51) Louisville, Georgia |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance |  Confederate States of America |
| Service/ |
 Confederate States Army Georgia militia |
| Years of service | 1861–1863; 1863–1865 |
| Rank |  Lieutenant colonel, CSABrigadier general, Georgia militia |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
| Other work | Lawyer, judge, state legislator |
Reuben Walker Carswell (born September 29, 1837 – died January 11, 1889) was an important person from Georgia. He was a lawyer and a judge. He also served in the Georgia government. During the American Civil War, he was a high-ranking officer in the Confederate Army and the Georgia militia.
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Early Life and Education
Reuben W. Carswell was born on September 29, 1837. His family lived at "Middle Ground" Plantation near Louisville, Georgia. His father, Edward Rhodes Carswell, was a state representative in Georgia.
Reuben went to school in his home county, Jefferson County, Georgia. He later graduated from Emory University in 1856. After college, he studied law with Ambrose R. Wright, who later became a Confederate general.
After becoming a lawyer, Reuben practiced law with his cousin, William Carswell. He also served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 1858 to 1860. In 1861, Carswell married James Walker's daughter. They had four children together.
Service in the American Civil War
Reuben W. Carswell began his service in the American Civil War on June 14, 1861. He started as a second lieutenant in the 20th Georgia Infantry Regiment. In March 1862, he became a captain in the 48th Georgia Infantry Regiment.
Soon after, on March 22, 1862, Carswell was promoted to lieutenant colonel of the 48th Georgia Infantry. His regiment was part of a brigade led by Brigadier General Ambrose Wright. Carswell fought well in several battles, including the Seven Days Battles and the Battle of Chancellorsville.
In 1863, Carswell was elected to the Georgia State Legislature. He returned to Georgia to serve in this role.
Fighting in Georgia
In May 1864, the Union Army, led by Major General William Tecumseh Sherman, advanced into Georgia. Georgia Governor Joseph E. Brown appointed Carswell as a brigadier general in the Georgia militia. Carswell led the 1st Brigade of the Georgia militia against Sherman's army.
His brigade fought during the Atlanta Campaign and Sherman's March to the Sea. They were involved in battles like the Battle of Ruff's Station on July 4, 1864. They also fought at the Battle of Atlanta on July 22, 1864. Carswell's brigade continued to fight during the siege of Atlanta until the city fell on September 2, 1864.
After Atlanta fell, Governor Brown allowed the militia to go home for 30 days. This gave the soldiers time to harvest their crops. They returned in October and fought against Sherman's troops as they marched toward Savannah, Georgia.
Carswell's brigade left Macon, Georgia early and missed the Battle of Griswoldville. In December 1864, Carswell commanded his brigade in Savannah until the city was captured by Union forces. When Sherman's army moved to South Carolina, the Georgia militia stayed in their home state. Carswell surrendered to the Union Army on May 20, 1865, in Augusta, Georgia. He was released as a brigadier general of the Georgia militia.
Life After the War
After the war ended, Carswell went back to working as a lawyer. In 1880, he was elected as a judge for the Superior Courts of the Middle Circuit of Georgia. He had to resign from this position six years later due to poor health.
Reuben Walker Carswell passed away at his home in Louisville, Georgia, on January 11, 1889. He was buried at New Cemetery in Louisville, Georgia.
