Winfield Scott Featherston

He had his first military experience at age 17 as a soldier in the Second Creek War (1836-37). He was admitted to the bar in Mississippi and elected to the US Congress (1847-51). In 1860 he was a prosperous 38 year old lawyer at Holly Springs, MS. He enrolled there on 22 April 1861 as Captain of Company G of the 17th Mississippi Infantry and shortly after elected Colonel of the regiment. He was appointed Brigadier General on 4 March 1862.

He was with his brigade in Maryland and present at Harpers Ferry, but was ill through the Campaign and did not command; he was relieved by Colonel Posey of the 16th Mississippi.

He returned to command of his brigade in November 1862, but relieved and sent West by General R.E. Lee in January 1863, assigned to lead a brigade in W.W. Loring's Division. He was on the Vicksburg Campaign in 1863, but not in the city at the surrender. He continued with his brigade to the surrender at Greensboro, NC on 26 April 1865.

By 1870 and to at least 1880 he was back in his law practice in Holly Springs. He was elected to two terms the state legislature (1876-78, 1880-82) and then Mississippi Circuit Court Judge in 1882.

His service and personal basics from Warner.1 His presence and role on the Maryland Campaign from Carman.2 Personal details from family genealogists and the US Census of 1860-1880. His gravesite is on Findagrave. His picture from a wartime photograph of unknown provenance, online from the Battle of Franklin Trust [pdf].

He married Mary Holt Harris (1827-1849) in November 1848 and they had twins Hallie and Thomas, but Mary died soon after they were born. He married again, Elizabeth M. "Lizzie" McEwen (1834-1878) in June 1858 and they had 8 children; Lizzie and all but 4 of their surviving children died of yellow fever in 1878.

08/08/1820; Murgreesboro, TN

05/28/1891; Holly Springs, MS; burial in Hill Crest Cemetery, Holly Springs, MS