Alfred Iverson, Jr.

(1829 - 1911)
Home State: Georgia
Command Billet: Commanding Regiment
Branch of Service: Infantry
Unit: 20th North Carolina Infantry

Before the Antietam Campaign:
At 17 he served in the Mexican War as a Lieutenant in Seymour's (Ga) Battalion (1847-8). He was a Lt in the 1st US Cavalry from 1855 - 1861, when he resigned from US service and was appointed Captain in the Provisional Army (CSA). Soon after he was appointed Colonel of 20th Regiment North Carolina Troops.

He was seriously wounded as he led his regiment's charge in a bloody but successful charge on a Federal battery in June 1862 at Gaines' Mill.

In the Antietam Campaign:
"Iverson recovered in time to lead the regiment at South Mountain in September, where the entire brigade skedaddled after brigade leader Brig. Gen. Samuel Garland went down with a mortal wound. Three days later at the Battle of Sharpsburg, the shaky brigade broke and ran again, though Iverson rallied his regiment later in the day. None of this was to Iverson's credit, but it didn't slow his rise through the ranks."
(from Tagg)

The remainder of the War:
In November, 1862 he was commissioned brigadier-general and commanded his brigade through the campaigns of the Army of Northern Virginia to Gettysburg (July 1863). He seems to have performed poorly at Gettysburg, and was sent to Georgia on administrative duty. Iverson returned to the fighting during the Atlanta Campaign at the beginning of 1864, but he was ordered to leave the division.

References, Sources, and other notes:
His father was US Senator Alfred, Senior, a fiery and influential secessionist.

More on the Web:
See an interesting analysis and biography by Larry Tagg, from The Generals of Gettysburg: The Leaders of America's Greatest Battle

Birth Date: 2/14/1829 Place of Birth: Clinton, GA
Death Date: 3/31/1911 Death Place: Atlanta, GA

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