John Marcellus Steedman

A Lexington County planter, merchant, and surveyor, he was commissioned Major of the 9th South Carolina Reserves in April 1861, but when that unit disbanded he was commissioned Lieutenant Colonel of the reorganizing 6th South Carolina Infantry, probably in April 1862. He commanded the regiment from then on as senior officer present. He was wounded in action at the Seven Days in June 1862 and at Second Manassas in August.

He commanded the Regiment on South Mountain on 14 September 1862 but was apparently unable to continue, and was relieved before the 17th by Captain Cantey.

He was promoted to Colonel by May 1864 and commanded the regiment up to the surrender at Appomattox Court House, VA on 9 April 1865.

Not long after the war he was murdered (or "assassinated"); family lore says he was killed by former slaves looking for money.

Basic service from Steve Batson's unit page for the 6th Regiment. Details of the regiment's commanders in Maryland from Carman.1 His graduation from the Citadel from the Official Register for 1854, which is online and has him as M. Steedman. Details from family genealogists, who sometimes have him as Steadman - he apparently changed his name at some point. His gravesite is on Findagrave; his stone has him as J.M. Steadman. His picture from a photograph left on Ancestry.com by an unknown family member and posted by Jason Spellman on his blog The Significant Word (2013).

He married Henrietta Amanda "Hettie" Spann (1840-1910) in 1859 and they had 3 children together.

09/18/1833; Lexington County, SC

01/07/1867; Lexington County, SC; burial in Batesburg Cemetery, Batesburg, SC