William Whedbee Kirkland
| William Whedbee Kirkland | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
February 13, 1833 Hillsboro, North Carolina |
| Died | May 12, 1915 (aged 82) Washington, D.C. |
| Place of burial | Elmwood Cemetery Shepherdstown, West Virginia |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America Confederate States of America
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Marine Corps Confederate States Army
|
| Years of service | 1855–1860 (USMC) 1861–1865 (CSA) |
| Rank |
 Second Lieutenant (USMC) Brigadier General (CSA) |
| Commands held |
 11th North Carolina 21st North CarolinaPettigrew-Kirkland-MacRae Brigade |
| Battles/wars | |
William Whedbee Kirkland (February 13, 1833 – May 12, 1915) was a brigadier general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. He was the only former US Marine to serve as a Confederate general.
Kirkland was born in Hillsborough, Orange County, North Carolina. He was appointed to the United States Military Academy in 1852, but did not graduate. Despite this failure, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps in 1855. He resigned his U.S. commission in 1860.
When the Civil War broke out, Kirkland was colonel of the 11th North Carolina Volunteers, later designated the 21st North Carolina. He fought at First Manassas, and, the next year, he participated in Stonewall Jackson's Shenandoah Valley Campaign. Kirkland was shot through both thighs during the First Battle of Winchester, putting him out of action for several months. When he returned, Kirkland became chief of staff for Patrick Cleburne during the Murfreesboro campaign in December 1862.
Kirkland returned to active service with his old regiment at the Battle of Gettysburg, taking part during the fighting on July 1 & 2. He was promoted to brigadier general in August 1863, and commanded the former brigade of J. Johnston Pettigrew at the Battle of Bristoe Station, where his left arm was fractured by a bullet. In 1864 he fought in the Battle of the Wilderness and the Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse before being wounded again at the Battle of Cold Harbor, when he was once again shot in the right thigh. Kirkland was assigned to the command of another brigade in Robert F. Hoke's division in August 1864.
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