Samuel Gibbs French | |
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Samuel Gibbs French
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Born |
Mullica Hill, New Jersey |
November 22, 1818
Died | April 20, 1910 Pensacola, Florida |
(aged 91)
Allegiance |
United States of America Confederate States of America |
Service/branch |
United States Army Confederate States Army |
Years of service | 1843 - 1856 (USA) 1861 - 1865 (CSA) |
Rank |
Captain (USA) Major General (CSA) |
Commands held | Divisional Commander of the Army of Tennessee |
Battles/wars |
Mexican-American War American Civil War |
Other work | Planter and author |
Samuel Gibbs French (November 22, 1818 – April 20, 1910) was an officer in the U.S. Army, wealthy planter, author, and a major general in the Confederate army during the American Civil War. He commanded a division in the Army of Tennessee in the Western Theater.
Samuel G. French was born in Mullica Hill, New Jersey. His larger family lived in both Gloucester and Salem Counties. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1843. His classmates included future Civil War generals Ulysses S. Grant, William B. Franklin, Roswell Ripley, and Franklin Gardner. French was brevetted as a second lieutenant in the 3rd U.S. Artillery and assigned to garrison duty.
During his military service in the Mexican-American War, he was wounded at the Battles of Monterrey and Buena Vista. He was awarded a congressional award and a sword from the State of New Jersey and became an original member of the Aztec Club of 1847. He rose to the rank of Captain, but resigned his commission in May 1856 to become a planter in Mississippi.