Solon Z Ruff

(1830 - 1863)
Home State: Georgia
Command Billet: Commanding Regiment
Branch of Service: Infantry
Unit: 18th Georgia Infantry

see his Battle Report

Before the Antietam Campaign:
He was appointed Lieutenant Colonel of the 18th Georgia Infantry Regiment on it's organization, ranking from April 25, 1861. He was listed as being from the Georgia Military Institute, Marietta, where he had graduated 2nd in the Class of 1856.

In the Antietam Campaign:
He was in command of the Regiment on the Maryland Campaign, as Colonel Wofford was commanding the Brigade.

The remainder of the War:
He was elected Colonel on April 23, 1863 (to rank from January 17, 1863) after the promotion of Brigadier General Wofford. He was killed at Knoxville, Tennesse on November 29, 1863.

References, Sources, and other notes:
Photograph above courtesy of great-great granddaughter Lucile Woods Hardwick Lind, from a family collection. Basic service data above is from Folsom, James M., Heroes and Martyrs of Georgia, 1864 and Henderson, Lillian, Roster of Confederate Soldiers of Georgia 1861-1865, compiled 1959-64, published in 1984 by the Georgia Division, United Daughters of the Confederacy. GMI data from a roster on GenWeb.

More on the Web:
His exact burial location near Knoxville is unknown. See an interesting discussion of this topic on the Georgia in the Civil War message board (search on Solon Ruff). The SCV planted a new stone for him in Lonas Cemetery, Knox County, TN in 2011, though it's not clear how that spot was documented. Family genealogists also disagree on his birth year - being either 1830 or 1837. Note: He married Irene E Arnold in Morgan County (GA) on May 17, 1860 (see record from GenWeb).

College: Georgia Military Institute Graduating Year: 1856 Class Rank: 2
Death Date: 11/29/1863 Death Place: Knoxville, TN Burial Place: near Knoxville, TN

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