History of Wytheville, (Wythe County) Virginia United States of America

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Biographies:

William Joseph Hardee, soldier, was born in Savannah, Ga., in 1819; son of John and Sarah (Ellis), grandson of John and Caroine T. (Aldrich), great grandson of Nohle Worthington and Mary Emily (Parker), and great2 grandson of Anthony and Evelyn (Dulverton) Hardee. Anthony, who spelled his name "Hardy," came from Pembroke, Wales, with three brothers and settled in Virginia, his brother Thomas in North Carolina, Joseph in Georgia and John in South Carolina. William graduated at the U.S. military academy in 1838 and was appointed to the 2d U.S. dragoons as brevet 2d lieutenant. He was promoted 2d lieutenant, served in Florida against the Seminole Indians, 1838-39, and was promoted 1st lieutenant, Dec. 3, 1839. Secretary Poinsett sent him to the military school, St. Maur, France, and while there he was attached to the cavalry department of the French army. He was promoted captain of dragoons, Sept. 18, 1844, and was stationed on the frontier till ordered to Texas in 1846 to join (Gen. Zachary Taylor in his invasion of Mexico. His first encounter with the Mexicans was at Curricitos where his force was defeated and he taken prisoner. His exchange was effected and he was present at the siege of Monterey and for gallantry was promoted major, March 25, 1847. He was brevetted lieutenant-colonel in 1848 and assigned to the 2d U.S. cavalry of which regiment Albert Sidney Johnson was colonel and Robert E. Lee lieutenant-colonel. In 1856 he was appointed commandant at West Point, N.Y., with the brevet rank of lieutenant-colonel. His service at the military academy extended to Jan. 31, 1861, when he resigned his commission in the U.S. army to accept a commission as colonel in the Confederate service. He was promoted brigadier-general in June, 1861, and served under Gen. Leonidas Polk. He gained the battle of Mumfordsville, Ky., Dec. 17. 1861, and commanded the 3d army corps at Shiloh and led the first attack on the Union line, April 6, 1863. For his action in this engagement he was promoted major-general and was mentioned by General Beauregard in general orders for "skill and ability." At Perryville, Ky., Oct. 8 1862, he commanded the left wing of the Confederate forces and at Stone's River, Dec. 31, 1862-Jan. 3, 1863, his corps formed the right wing of Bragg's army and his conduct in this campaign won for him the rank of lientenant-general. After the evacuation of Vicksburg, July, 1863, Hardee was detached from his corps which was placed under command of Lieut.-Gen. Daniel H. Hill, and he was engaged in the defence of Mississippi and Alabama. He commanded his corps in the battle of Missionary Ridge, Nov. 25, 1863, and was appointed to the command of the army of Tennessee, Dec. 2, 1863, to succeed General Bragg, and was in turn succeeded by Lieut.-Gen. Leonidas Polk, Dec. 23, 1863, who was succeeded by Lieut.-Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, Dec. 27, 1863. Hardee resumed the command of the 2d corps and ably sustained his chief in the Atlanta campaign. His corps was made up of the divisions of Cheatham, Cleburne, Walker and Bate and the artillery commanded by Col. Melancthon Smith. His corps held the centre of the line of battle at Resaca, Ga., May 13, 1864, but he was obliged to abandon his position on the 14th when Sherman made his flank movement toward Calboun, Ga., and on the 16th he abandoned that place, making a stand at Adairsville on the 17th and evacuating it the same night. The army then passed through Kingston, forming a line of battle at Cassville, where the progress of Johnston was disputed until Hood, who commanded the right wing, reported Hooker and Schofield beyond him to the east and on this information Johnston promptly fell back, extending his line along Allatoona creek with Hardee at Dallas and Hood at New Hope church. Hardee gave battle to McPherson on the 28th when that officer undertook to withdraw from Dallas, and Johnston finding Sherman gaining on his right, formed a new line extending from Lost Mountain to Brush Mountain with Pine Top near the centre, June 4, 1861. On this line, while Hardee, Johnston and Polk were reconnoitring from the summit of Pirie Top, June 14, General Polk was instantly killed and on the 16th the Confederate line was reformed beyond Mud Creek. When hard pressed Johnston drew back his left wing and fortified his line, extending now beyond the Dalton and Marietta road on the southern slope of the Kenesaw mountain. This line proved too strong for the Federal attack and they fell back and entrenched. In the meantime Johnston formed a new line of breastworks at Smyrna Camp and still another where the railroad crossed the Chattahoochee. On July 3 the Federal army first discovered the Kenesaw line deserted and Johnston's army safely entrenched between Sherman's line and Atlanta, the objective point of both commanders. On July 18 Johnston was relieved of the command of the army of Tennessee by Lieut.-Gen. J. B. Hood and Hardee continued under that commander, taking part in all the battles around Atlanta, and after its fall he was made commander of the department of South Carolina and prepared further to oppose the march of Sherman. He met Gens. G. W. Smith and Richard Taylor at Macon, Ga., Nov. 22, 1864, where they organized for the defence of Savannah and Charleston. Leaving Taylor in command at Macon, he proceeded to Savannah and directed Smith with the Georgia state troops to Augusta. Beauregard had been ordered from the west and reached Charleston, S.C., December 7, and went to Savannah, Ga., December 9 to consult with Hardee. With considerable military skill Hardee escaped with his entire army from Savannah, Dec. 20, 1864, before that city was reached by Sherman, who had planned to effect his capture. Meanwhile Johnston had been restored to the command of the army of Tenessee with Gen. G. T. Beauregard second in command and Hardee commander of the 1st corps. Hardee withdrew the army from Charleston, Feb. 17, 1865, and concentrated at Columbia to oppose the march of Sherman. He made his last stand at Bentonville, March 19, 1865, and he surrendered with his corps at Durham's Station, N.C., April 26, 1865. After the war he returned to his plantation in Alabama. He is the author of Hardee's Tactics (1856), which was adopted by the government in rifle and light infantry instruction. He died at Wytheville, Va., Nov. 6, 1873.

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

Thomas Duckett Boyd, educator, was born in Wytheville, Va., Jan. 20, 1854; son of Thomas J. and Minerva (French) Boyd. He was graduated from Louisiana state university in 1872; and remained there as adjunct professor of mathematics, 1873-'77; professor of English, 1877-'83; commandant of cadets, 1875-'79; and professor of history and English literature, 1883-'88. He was president of the state normal school, Natchitoches, La., 1888-'96, and was elected president of Louisiana state university in 1896. He received the degree LL.D. from Tulane in 1897.

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