McLaws

Lafayette McLaws
Lafayette McLaws
Born	(1821-01-15)January 15, 1821 Augusta, Georgia
Died	July 24, 1897(1897-07-24) (aged 76) Savannah, Georgia
Place of burial	Laurel Grove Cemetery Savannah, Georgia
Allegiance	United States of America Confederate States of America
Service/branch	United States Army  Confederate States Army
Years of service	1842–61 (USA) 1861–65 (CSA)
Rank	Captain (USA) Major general
Battles/wars	Mexican-American War American Civil War Seven Days Battles Battle of Harpers Ferry Battle of Antietam Battle of Fredericksburg Battle of Chancellorsville Battle of Gettysburg Battle of Fort Sanders
Other work	insurance business, tax collector, postmaster, author

Mexican-American War
American Civil War

Lafayette McLaws (/ləˈfeɪ.ɛt/ lə-FAY-et; January 15, 1821 – July 24, 1897) was a United States Army officer and a Confederate general in the American Civil War. He served at Antietam and Fredericksburg, where Robert E. Lee praised his defense of Marye's Heights, and at Gettysburg, where his division made successful assaults through the Peach Orchard and Wheatfield, but was unable to dislodge Union forces from Cemetery Ridge. After the Knoxville Campaign, he was court-martialed for inefficiency, though this was overturned for procedural reasons. Finally he was sent to his native Georgia to resist Sherman's March to the Sea, but had to retreat through the Carolinas, losing many men through desertion, and is presumed to have surrendered with Joseph E. Johnston in April 1865.

McLaws remained bitter about his court-martial, especially as the charges had been filed by James Longstreet, his friend and classmate at West Point, with whom he had served for years. Although he defended Longstreet against Lost Cause proponents who blamed him for losing the war, McLaws never fully forgave Longstreet for his actions.