Major Dowell Sterrett

He was a student at the University of Alabama in 1857, but transferred that year to Howard College in Marion, AL. He was suspended for participating in a duel and transferred to the University of Virginia (class of 1860) in 1858. He enlisted at age 20 on 26 April 1861 in Selma, AL as Private, Company C, 4th Alabama Infantry. He was elected First Lieutenant 21 April 1862, and promoted to Captain on 15 July 1862.

He was seriously wounded in action at Sharpsburg on 17 September 1862 while in command of his Company.

He lost his right leg, amputated above the knee, due to his Sharpsburg wound. He was found medically unfit for field service, and resigned his commission in January 1863. He was transferred back to Alabama, and served as quartermater there to the end of the War.

He completed studies as a medical doctor, was licensed to practice in Shelby County in 1864, and graduated as valedictorian from Atlanta Medical College in 1866. He went to Panola County, TX in 1866 and practiced medicine there. He lived in the Confederate Home in Austin from 1908.

Service record information from the Alabama Archives1, with bio details from his obituary in The Confederate Veteran of November 1920. His photo from one posted online by the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, from Sterrett's own autograph album, now in the University of Virginia's Special Collections Library. His gravesite is on Findagrave.

06/27/1840; Columbiana, AL

10/24/1919; Austin, TX; burial in Langley Cemetery, Beckville, TX