Van Dorn, Earl, 1820-1863

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Major General Earl Van Dorn was a Confederate general, originally from Mississippi. He was born near Port Gibson (Miss.) on Sept. 17, 1820. After graduating from West Point (N. Y. ) in 1842, he began a long career in the army. He was recognized for gallant and meritorious service during the Mexican War in 1848. He also served in the Seminole Indian War and in the West. When he resigned his U.S. Army commission, he was a major in the famous 2nd Cavalry Regiment. He was commissioned a colonel of cavalry in Confederate service and soon earned fame by capturing the "Star of the West" steamer in Galveston (Tex.) in April 1861. He was quickly promoted to brigadier and then major general in late 1861. After defeats at Pea Ridge (Ark.) and Corinth (Miss.) he was replaced by General John C. Pemberton. After becoming Pemberton's chief of cavalry, Van Dorn led a highly successful raid on U.S. General Grant's supply depot in Holly Springs (Miss.) in Dec. 1862. This disrupted Grant's operations against Vicksburg (Miss.) and helped Van Dorn redeem his reputation. On May 7, 1863, he was murdered at his headquarters in Spring Hill (Tenn.) by Dr. George Peters, a local physician. He was buried in Mobile (Ala.) initially, but his body was reinterred to Port Gibson (Miss.).

From the description of General Earl Van Dorn papers, 1847-1904. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122498294

Confederate army officer.

From the description of Earl Van Dorn papers, 1858-1863. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 70981503

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States Commandery of the State of Massachusetts Civil War collection, 1724-1933 (inclusive); 1861-1912 (bulk). Houghton Library
referencedIn Bragg, Braxton, 1817-1876. Braxton Bragg papers, 1861-1863. Library of Congress
referencedIn Earl Van Dorn engraving, circa 1861-1865. Louisiana State University, LSU Libraries
referencedIn Thomas, George Henry, 1816-1870. George Henry Thomas correspondence, 1860-1869. Library of Congress
referencedIn Ross, Leonard Fulton, 1823-1901. Civil War documents of Leonard Fulton Ross, 1861-1863. Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
referencedIn Century Company records New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Matthews, Martha. Civil War letters, 1861-1864. Boston Public Library, Central Library in Copley Square
creatorOf Van Dorn, Earl, 1820-1863. Earl Van Dorn papers, 1858-1863. Library of Congress
referencedIn United States. Adjutant-General's Office. Papers, 1855-1861. Texas Tech University Libraries, Academic Library
referencedIn Pollard, Charles T. (Charles Teed), 1842-1873. Confederate officers photograph album, undated. Alabama Department of Archives and History
referencedIn Crimmins, Martin Lalor Papers 1936; 1950., 1813-1954 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Graves, L. H. Diary, 1861-1864 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Wier, Thomas Dabney, 1833-1898. Thomas D. Wier diary [manuscript], 1861-1863, 2006. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Goodrich, Matthew, 1845-1863. Goodrich, Matthew 1845-1863 1842-1872 papers. The Filson Historical Society
creatorOf Lee, Robert E. (Robert Edward), 1807-1870. Letters of Robert E. Lee, 1830-1860. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Frederick M. Dearborn collection of military and political Americana, Part II: The Civil War and the Confederacy, 1832-1915. Houghton Library
referencedIn Horn, Stanley Fitzgerald, 1889-1980. Papers, 1938-1980. Tennessee State Library & Archives, TSLA
referencedIn Alexander, Peter Wellington, 1825-1886. Peter Wellington Alexander papers, 1835-1910. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Wallace, George W. George W. Wallace correspondence, 1859 August 8. Library of Congress
referencedIn Preston, William, 1816-1887. William Preston : miscellaneous papers, 1855-1876. The Filson Historical Society
referencedIn Treadwell, E. W. Letters, 1863. Alabama Department of Archives and History
creatorOf Van Dorn, Earl, 1820-1863. General Earl Van Dorn papers, 1847-1904. Alabama Department of Archives and History
creatorOf Lee, Fitzhugh, 1835-1905. Papers of Fitzhugh Lee [manuscript], 1731-1952. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Adams, William C. W.C. Adams collection, 1860-1910 & n.d. Bryan Wildenthal Memorial Library, Sul Ross State University Library
referencedIn G. T. Beauregard Papers 1844-1883 (bulk 1861-1865) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Hillyer, William Silliman, 1831-1874. Papers of William Silliman Hillyer, 1822 (1861-1874) 1931, [manuscript]. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Van Dorn, Earl, 1820-1863. Telegram : Jackson, Miss., to Brigadier General Preston, Abbeville, Miss., f 1862 June 25. Texas Christian University
creatorOf Bragg, Braxton, 1817-1876. Braxton Bragg papers, 1833-1879 [microform]. Western Reserve Historical Society, Research Library
creatorOf Van Dorn, Earl, 1820-1863. Letter : Holly Springs, Miss., to General [John Cabell] Breckinridge, 1862 Sept. 18. Texas Christian University
referencedIn Biography -- Van Dorn, Earl. Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library
referencedIn Ross, Lawrence Sullivan. Ross, Lawrence Sullivan, Letters, 1846-1894 University of Texas Libraries
creatorOf Van Dorn, Earl, 1820-1863. Papers, 1862-1863. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
referencedIn Jubal Anderson Early Papers, 1829-1930 Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Griscom, George L. Diary, 1861-1863 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
creatorOf Lee, Robert E. (Robert Edward), 1807-1870. Papers of Robert E. Lee [manuscript], 1830-1870. n.d. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Leonidas Polk family papers, 1825-1939 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn Peter Wellington Alexander Papers, 1855-1863 Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Tyler, Nathaniel. Letters, [1863?]. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
referencedIn Twiggs, David Emanuel, 1790-1862. David Emanuel Twiggs correspondence and price estimate, 1849-1859. Library of Congress
referencedIn Crimmins, Martin Lalor, 1876-1955. Crimmins, Martin Lalor, papers, 1813-1954 University of Texas Libraries
referencedIn Ross, Lawrence Sullivan, Letters, 1846-1894 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
creatorOf Polignac, Camille de, b. 1832. [Letters, 1844-1867] [microform]. Louisiana State University, LSU Libraries
creatorOf Richey, Samuel W.,. Samuel W. Richey Confederate Collection, 1805-1936, (bulk 1861-1865). Miami University Libraries, King Library
referencedIn Confederate officers photograph album, n.d. Alabama Department of Archives and History
referencedIn Griscom, George L., 1837-1901. Griscom, George L., diary, 1861-1863. University of Texas Libraries
referencedIn Graves, L. H. Graves, L. H., diary, 1861-1864. University of Texas Libraries
referencedIn Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States Commandery of the State of Massachusetts Civil War collection, 1724-1933 (inclusive); 1861-1912 (bulk). Houghton Library
referencedIn Johnston, Joseph E. (Joseph Eggleston), 1807-1891. Letter, October 9, 1861. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library
referencedIn Deane, Ernie. Elm Springs August 1967 [graphic] / Ernie Deane [photographer]. Arkansas History Commission
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Adams, William C. person
associatedWith Alexander, Peter Wellington, 1825-1886. person
correspondedWith Beauregard, G. T. (Gustave Toutant), 1818-1893. person
associatedWith Bowen, John Stevens, 1829-1863. person
associatedWith Bragg, Braxton, 1817-1876. person
associatedWith Breckenridge, John C. (John Cabell), 1821-1875. person
correspondedWith Breckinridge, John C. (John Cabell), 1821-1875 person
associatedWith Butler-Gunsaulus Collection (University of Chicago. Library) corporateBody
correspondedWith Century Company corporateBody
associatedWith Claiborne, J. F. H. (John Francis Hamtramck), 1809-1884. person
associatedWith Confederate States of America. Army. corporateBody
associatedWith Crimmins, Martin Lalor person
associatedWith Crimmins, Martin Lalor, 1876-1955. person
associatedWith Deane, Ernie. person
associatedWith Dearborn, Frederick M. (Frederick Myers), b. 1876 person
correspondedWith Dellenbaugh, Frederick Samuel, 1853-1935 person
correspondedWith Early, Jubal Anderson, 1816-1894. person
associatedWith Goodrich, Matthew, 1845-1863. person
associatedWith Graves, L. H. person
associatedWith Graves, L. H. person
associatedWith Griscom, George L. person
associatedWith Griscom, George L., 1837-1901. person
associatedWith Hillyer, William Silliman, 1831-1874. person
associatedWith Horn, Stanley Fitzgerald, 1889-1980. person
associatedWith Jackson, William H. (William Hicks), 1835-1903. person
associatedWith Johnston, Joseph E. (Joseph Eggleston), 1807-1891. person
associatedWith Lee, Fitzhugh, 1835-1905. person
associatedWith Lee, Robert E. (Robert Edward), 1807-1870. person
associatedWith Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. Commandery of the State of Massachusetts, collector. corporateBody
associatedWith Miller, Emily Van Dorn. person
associatedWith Pemberton, John C. (John Clifford), 1814-1881. person
associatedWith Peters, George. person
associatedWith Polignac, Camille de, b. 1832. person
associatedWith Polk, Leonidas, 1806-1864. person
associatedWith Pollard, Charles T. (Charles Teed), 1842-1873. person
associatedWith Preston, William, 1816-1887. person
associatedWith Price, Sterling, 1809-1867. person
associatedWith Richey, Samuel W., person
associatedWith Ross, Lawrence Sullivan person
associatedWith Ross, Lawrence Sullivan person
associatedWith Ross, Leonard Fulton, 1823-1901. person
correspondedWith Ruggles, Daniel, 1810-1897 person
associatedWith Star of the West (Ship). corporateBody
correspondedWith Thomas, George Henry, 1816-1870. person
associatedWith Tilghman, Lloyd, 1816-1863. person
associatedWith Treadwell, E. W. person
correspondedWith Twiggs, David Emanuel, 1790-1862. person
associatedWith Tyler, Nathaniel. person
associatedWith United States. Adjutant-General's Office. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Army. Cavalry Regiment, 2nd. corporateBody
associatedWith Van Dorn, Carrie. person
correspondedWith Wallace, George W. person
associatedWith Wier, Thomas Dabney, 1833-1898. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Louisiana
Tennessee
Arkansas
Mississippi
Vicksburg (Miss.)
Spring Hill (Tenn.)
Corinth (Miss.)
Camp Moore (La.)
West Point (N. Y.)
Pea Ridge (Ark.)
United States
Holly Springs (Miss.)
Columbia (Tenn.)
Mobile (Ala.)
La Grange (Tenn.)
Lamar (Miss.)
Port Gibson (Miss.)
Jackson (Miss.)
Vicksburg (Miss.)
Franklin (Tenn.)
Tennessee
United States
United States
Bolivar (Tenn.)
Mississippi
Galveston (Tex.)
Chattanooga (Tenn.)
United States
Subject
Mexican War, 1846-1848
Pea Ridge, Battle of, 1862
Occupation
Army officers, Confederate
Activity

Person

Birth 1820-09-17

Death 1863-05-07

Information

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Ark ID: w64j0v1c

SNAC ID: 64499060