John Donelson Martin

John Donelson Martin (1830–1862) was a Confederate States Army officer during the American Civil War.

John Donelson Martin
Colonel John Donelson Martin CSA
Born	August 18, 1830 Davidson County, Tennessee
Died	October 3, 1862 (aged 32) Corinth, Mississippi
Place of burial	Elmwood Cemetery Memphis, Tennessee
Allegiance	United States of America Confederate States of America
Service/branch	United States Army  Confederate States Army
Years of service	1846–48 (USA) 1861–62 (CSA)
Rank	Private (USA) Colonel Brigadier General (Acting)
Unit	3rd Tennessee Volunteer Infantry (USA) 154th Senior Tennessee Infantry (CSA)
Commands held	25th Mississippi Infantry Bowen's Brigade 4th Bde, 1st Div, Army of the West
Battles/wars	Mexican–American War American Civil War Battle of Shiloh Battle of Iuka 2nd Battle of Corinth †
Spouse(s)	Rosalie A. White Martin
Relations	Rachel Jackson{great aunt} Andrew Jackson Donelson,{cousin} Daniel Smith Donelson {cousin} John Donelson Martin, Sr.(grandson)

Early life

John Martin was born on August 18, 1830, in Davidson County, Tennessee. He was the middle child of Major James G. Martin (1791–1840) and Catherine Donelson Martin.[1][2] In 1846 he volunteered for the Mexican–American War, serving as a private in the 3rd Tennessee Infantry Regiment (Company D) until war's end in 1848.

Civil War

When the American Civil War erupted in 1861 Martin joined the Confederate States Army and was named Captain of the Hickory Rifles, a company of infantry from Memphis and Shelby County. It soon became Company E of the 154th Senior Tennessee Infantry Regiment; Martin himself becoming the regiment's Major in May 1861.[3]

During the summer Martin raised a regiment with 7 companies from Mississippi and 3 from Tennessee.[4] He was promoted to Colonel and assigned to command this unit; known as 25th Mississippi Infantry (also as 1st Mississippi Valley Regiment). In January 1862 it was renamed 2nd Confederate Infantry.[5]

Fighting in the Battle of Shiloh Martin took over brigade command when his commander, Brigadier John S. Bowen, was wounded. His services were noted and he was recommended for promotion to Brigadier General. Simultaneously, he was named Acting Brigadier General and assigned to command a brigade in the Army of the West, composed of the 36th, 37th and 38th Mississippi regiments as well as the 37th Alabama Infantry.[6]

Colonel Martin was killed in the Second Battle of Corinth on October 3, 1862, while leading his men.[6] He was buried on Elmwood Cemetery in Memphis; leaving behind his widow and his son, who died at the age of 32 years, just like his father. His grandson was Judge John Donelson Martin, Sr..[1]

See also

• John Donelson Martin, Sr.
• List of American Civil War generals (Confederate)

Notes

1. "John Donelson Martin". Find a Grave. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
2. His grandfather Captain John Donelson was a brother to Rachel Donelson Jackson
3. "154th (Senior) Tennessee Infantry Regiment (CSA), US Civil War". GENi. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
4. "Second Brigade - Reserve Corps - Army of the Mississippi". Shiloh National Military Park. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
5. "25th Regiment, Mississippi Infantry". Family Search. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
6. "The Battle of Corinth". John Wilson's Civil War. Retrieved 2 January 2016.

References

• Eicher, John H., and David J. Eicher, Civil War High Commands. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2001. ISBN 978-0-8047-3641-1.
• Sifakis, Stewart. Who Was Who in the Civil War. New York: Facts On File, 1988. ISBN 978-0-8160-1055-4.
• Warner, Ezra J. Generals in Gray: Lives of the Confederate Commanders. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1959. ISBN 978-0-8071-0823-9.

External links

• John Donelson Martin at Find a Grave