History of Louisville, (Jefferson County) Georgia United States of America

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Biographies:

Ambrose Ransom Wright, soldier, was born in Louisville, Ga., April 26, 1826; son of Ambrose Ransom and Sarah (Hammond) Wright. He received a liberal education and engaged in the practice of law. He left the Democratic for the Know-Nothing party, voted the Bell and Everett ticket in 1860, and subsequently advocated secession, being detailed by the convention of Georgia a commissioner to persuade Maryland to withdraw from the Union. He entered the Confederate army as a private in 1861; was commissioned colonel, 3d Georgia regiment, May 8, 1861 and as such commanded the military forces at Roanoke Island, N.C., being frustrated in his plan to destroy the Hatteras light-house and to move upon Hatteras Inlet. He was transferred to the 38th Georgia infantry, Oct. 15, 1861, and at the battle of South Mills, April 19, 1862, took his stand about three miles from that place, where he made the so-called "Roasted Ditch" and gallantly resisted the enemy. He was promoted brigadier-general, June 3, 1862, commanded the 3d brigade, Huger's division, Magruder's command, in the seven days' battles around Richmond, June-July, 1862 and a brigade in Anderson's division, Longstreet's corps at the second Bull Run, Aug. 29-30, 1862, in the Maryland campaign, at Fredricksburg and in the Chancellorville campaign. He commanded the same brigade in Anderson's division, A.P. Hill's corps, Army of Northern Virginia, at Gettysburg, July 1-3, 1863, where on the second day of the battle his brigade, together with those of Wilcox and Perry, outflanked Humphrey's right and left, General Wright breaking through the Union line and seizing the guns in front. He also commanded his brigade in the defence of Richmond against Grant's campaign, taking part in the battle of Cold Harbor, June 1, 1864. In the later defence of Petersburg and Richmond, the command of his brigade devolved on Gen. G. M. Sorrell and formed part of Mallone's division of A. P. Hill's corps. He was invalided and sent to his home in Augusta, Ga., in August, 1864; was promoted major-general, C.S.A., Nov. 26, 1864, and assigned to the command of one of two divisions in General Hardee's army, defending Savannah, General McLaws commanding the other, and after the fall of that city, he proceeded north with Johnston's army, and surrendered with him. After the close of the war he engaged in the publication of the Chronicle and Sentinel at his home, Augusta, Ga., where he rapidly recuperated his fortune and established a profitable newspaper. He was elected a Democratic representative from Georgia to the 43d congress in 1872, but did not take his seat. He was twice married: first to Mary Hubbell, daughter of Dr. William Savage of Augusta, and secondly to Caroline Hazelhurst. His eldest son, William A. Wright, was comptroller-general of Georgia in 1903. He died in Augusta, Ga., Dec. 21, 1872.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar, president of Texas, was born in Louisville, Ga., Aug. 16, 1798; son of John Lamar. He attended school at Milledgeville, and also at Eatonton, under Alonzo Church , 1816-19. He became a merchant and planter, and in 1828 established the Columbus Independent, a States' rights newspaper. In 1835 he removed to Texas, where he joined the revolutionists. He led the charge of cavalry that broke the Mexican line in the battle of San Jacinto, April 21, 1836. This decided the combat, and he was commissioned major-general by General Houston. He was appointed attorney-general in the cabinet of Provisional President Burner, then secretary of war, and was elected the first vice-president of the republic in 1836, with Gen. Sam Houston as president. He was elected president of Texas in 1838, with David G. Burnet as vice-president, held the office until 1841, and during his term Texas was recognized by the leading foreign powers as an independent republic. His administration was disastrous to the growth of the new republic. His extravagance, his visionary schemes, his bitter spirit of retaliation toward the Indians, his opposition to annexation to the United States, and his many intentional acts of neglect and disrespect toward General Houston made him unpopular. In 1846 he joined Gen. Zachary Taylor's army at Matamoras. He distinguished himself at Monterey, was appointed division inspector with the rank of lieutenant-colonel, and commanded a company of Texan rangers until the close of the war. He served a term in the Texas legislature after its admission as a state, and then retired to a farm. He was appointed U.S. minister to the Argentine Republic in July, 1857, by President Buchanan, but did not serve. He was commissioned U.S. minister to Nicaragua, Dec. 23, 1857, and minister resident to Nicaragua and Costa Rica, Jan. 20, 1858, and he returned to the United States in 1859. His first wife was a Miss Jordan, who died, leaving him a daughter. His second wife was a daughter of the Rev. John Newland Maffitt, of Philadelphia, Pa. Lamar county, Texas, bears his name. He is the author of: Verse Memorials (1857). He died in Richmond, Texas, Dec. 19, 1859.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

John Milton, governor of Florida, was born on the Milton plantation, near Louisville, Ga., April 29, 1807; son of Gen. Homer Virgil and Elizabeth (Robinson) Milton. He was educated in the academy at Louisville and in the law office of Roger L. Gamble, and established a large law practice. He was a strong states' rights advocate, and in 1832, while a resident of Columbus, Ga., was a candidate for representative in congress on the nullification issue, but was defeated. He removed to Mobile, Ala., in 1835, where he continued to practise successfully, and was captain of Alabama volunteers in the Florida Indian war of 1837-39. He removed to New Orleans, La., 1840, and had a large practice. In 1846 he removed to Florida; was a Democratic representative in the Florida legislature in 1849; a presidential elector in 1849, and was war governor of Florida, succeeding Madison S. Perry, and serving 1861-65. He was twice married: first to Susan Amanda Cobb, and secondly, to Caroline Howze. He died near Marianna, Fla., April 1, 1865.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor