Richard
Stoddert Ewell was born in 1817. He graduated from West
Point in 1840 and served in the Mexican
War where he won a brevet. Over the next fifteen years he commanded
a company of dragoons.
On the outbreak of the American Civil War
Ewell resigned and joined the Confederate
Army and commanded the 2nd Brigade at Bull
Run (June, 1861). He also served under Thomas
Stonewall Jackson in the Shenandoah
Valley and at Manassas (August,
1862) and lost a leg at Groveton.
Ewell returned to duty on 23rd May, 1863, and fought at Gettysburg
(July, 1863) and Wilderness (June,
1864) until falling from his horse at Spotsylvania left him unfit
for active service.
Ewell took over the defence of Richmond
but was forced to withdraw on 3rd April, 1865. He was captured three
days later at Sayler's Creek. Held in Fort Warren he was released
on 19th August, 1865. Richard Stoddert Ewell died at his farm near
Spring Hill, Tennessee, on 25th January, 1872.
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