This is a RARE Original 1860's Engraving of Confederate General John Porter McCown..."NOT A REPRINT"...It does have some foxing spots, but doesn't take away from the displayed portion of this peice..This is a Beautiful Engraving in GREAT SHAPE..If you have any questions feel free to contact me...Would be a GREAT Addition to any Civil War Collection..
.....PLEASE LOOK CLOSELY AT PICTURES TO DETERMINE CONDITION, THANKS FOR LOOKING...Brandon
1860s Original CIVIL WAR ENGRAVED IMAGE - Confederate General John Porter
McCown.
Engraving (image) of Confederate Civil War General John Porter McCown. Original from the 1860's. Measures about 9 by 12 inches. Very small repaired tears along top. Image itself is in excellent condition.
John Porter McCown (August 19, 1815 - January 22, 1879) was a career officer in the United
States Army, fighting in the Mexican- American War and in the Seminole Wars. He also served as a general in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War.
EARLY CAREER, Seminole Indian Wars, Mexican American War
John Porter McCown was born near the town of Sevicrville, located in Sevier County,
Tennessee. In September 1 835 he entered the United States Military Academy at West Point, and
graduated in July 1 840 standing tenth out of 42 cadets, McCown was commissioned a second
lieutenant and assigned to the 4th U.S. Artillery. He was promoted to first licutenant on
September 30, 1843.[1] McCown then participated in the U.S. Army's military occupation of
Texas in 1845 and 1846.[2]
McCown fought during the Mexican- American War and participated in the Battle of Cerro
Gordo near Xalapa, Veracruz He was brevetted to captain on April 18, 1847, for his conduct in
that battle, He served as the 4th Artillery's Regimental Quartermaster from March 29, 1847 to January 12, 1849.
After the war McCown served along the Rio Grande on frontier duty,and he was promoted to
captain on January 9, 1851. During this time, McCown collected birds in the area, most of
which he sent to omithologist George Lawrence, Three of these species were found to be new to
science and one, the McCown's longspur, was named in his honor; it has since been renamed
the thick-billed longspur due to McCown's connection to the Confederacy. McCown also wrote a
paper on the greater roadrunner in 1853.
In 1856 and 1857 McCown fought during the Seminole Wars in Florida, and in 1858 he was part
of the Utah War. He then was on garrison duty in the Nebraska Territory as well as in the Dakota
Territory from 1858 into 1861
CIVIL WAR
McCown chose to follow the Confederate cause and resigned his U.S. Ary commission on May
17, 1861. He was appointed a captain in the artillery of the Confederate Army on March 16, and
then promoted to lieutenant colonel on May 9,[1 ] Also in 1861 he was in charge of a
Confederate infantry brigade under the command of Gidcon J, Pillow.
He was sent to the Western Theater and appointed a colonel in the Tennessee artillery on May
17. He was promoted to brigadier general on October 12,(1 ] and he marched
his brigade to Columbus, Kentucky, and on to the Battle of Belmont on November 7
Battle of Island Number Ten
Starting on March 3, garrison commander Brig. Gen. McCown, defended New Madrid and
Island No. 10 from a siege by the Union's Army of the Mississippi under command of Brig. Gen
John Pope. McCown was promoted to Major Gencral on March 10, 1 862,[1] and ordered the
evacuation of positions at New Madrid to Island No 10. on the evening of March 13 after several
days of sicge. McCown was criticized for abandoning arms and supplies in a hasty withdrawal
from positions at New Madrid. Amid the criticism, McCown was accused of drunkenness and
was replaced by William W. Mackall during the Battle of Island Number Ten. However.,
McCown was later vindicated by an April 4 letter from Henry S, Foote's son Henry S, Foote Jr.
that attributed the rumors circulated because of McCown's brother "who I'm told drinks freely"
and because of jcalousy at McCown's recent promotion. Foote called his son's letter a "patriotic
act" in "these days of general fault finding and vulgar crimination".[5] Following the surrender
of the Confederate garrisons after the battle, he commanded the 2nd Division of the Army of the
West from April until Junc 20, when he assumed overall command of the Army of the West.
McCown Battle Flag - Resembles the Flag of Scotland
On June 27, McCown's command was added to the Second Corps of the Army of Mississippi
General Bragg consolidated the Army of Kentucky and the Army of Mississippi into one force
known as the Confederate Army of Tennessce, and McCown's division was made part of Lt.
Gen. William J, Hardee's Corps. The Army of Tennessee fought at the Battle of Stones
River at Murfreesboro near the end of 1862. McCown and other senior gencrals
petitioned Jefferson Davis to relieve General Braxton Bragg in favor of Gen. Joseph E. Johnston,
Davis refused to relicve either Bragg or the rebellious gencrals.[6] McCown ran afoul of Braxton
Bragg, who blamed McCown for the loss of New Madrid and labeled him "his worst division
commander". In March 1863 Bragg had McCown court-martialed, ostensibly for disobeying
orders at Murfreesboro, but more likely for criticism of Bragg and Confederate officials,
including Davis.[5] McCown was relieved of his command as the commanding gencral of the
Army and was tried and found guilty of disobedience of orders on March 16, and sentenced to
suspension from duty for a period of six months.[1] McCown declared the Confederacy was
nothing more than "a damned stinking cotton oligarchy .. gotten up for the benefit of Isham G.
Harris and Jefferson Davis and their damned corrupt cliques."[(7] That May, most of his
command was sent for service in Starkville.[8]
By 1865 McCown was in North Carolina. In April he defended a Catawba River crossing
near Morganton. McCown held the crossing against the Union cavalry division of Brig.
Gen. Alvan C. Gillem with about 300 soldiers and one artillery piece.[8] Afterthe war he was
paroled from Salisbury on May 12.