Dandridge McRae
Encyclopedia
Dandridge McRae was a lawyer, court official, and inspector general of Arkansas
, as well as a brigadier general
in the Confederate States Army
during the American Civil War
. He served in several key battles that helped secure Arkansas for the Confederacy
, prolonging the war in the Western Theater
.
. He graduated in 1849 from South Carolina College
, where he was a member of the Euphradian Society
. McRae moved to Searcy
in White County, Arkansas
. He was admitted to the bar and served as clerk of the county and circuit courts for six years. He was serving as Inspector General for the state of Arkansas when the state seceded from the Union
in 1861.
McRae entered the Confederate Army as a major
in command of the 3rd Arkansas Infantry Battalion
. He recruited, trained, and organized soldiers for the Confederacy and raised the 21st Arkansas Infantry
, being soon elected colonel
of that regiment
. McRae and his regiment participated in the Battle of Wilson's Creek
under General Ben McCulloch.
McRae took part in the Battle of Pea Ridge
in March 1862 and received commendations from his commander, Earl Van Dorn
. McRae remained in Arkansas while most troops were moved eastward across the Mississippi River
and participated in operations there. On November 5, 1862, he was commissioned as a brigadier general.
In 1863, McRae and his command took part in the Battle of Helena
in a failed effort to secure that river port for the Confederacy.
During the Camden Expedition
of the 1864 Red River Campaign
, McRae's brigade formed part of the force under General Sterling Price
. They participated in the Battle of Marks' Mills
and the Battle of Jenkins' Ferry
, forcing the Union forces out of southern Arkansas and back to Little Rock
. McRae then led his brigade in battles in northern Arkansas and in Missouri
later that year until he resigned his commission.
After leaving the service, McRae returned to Searcy and took up the practice of law. In 1881, he was elected as the deputy secretary of state. McRae focused his post-war activities on promoting the commercial interests of the State of Arkansas. He was a delegate to various commercial expositions and served as president of the bureau of information for Arkansas.
McRae died at Searcy, Arkansas, where he is buried.
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, as well as a brigadier general
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
in the Confederate States Army
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. He served in several key battles that helped secure Arkansas for the Confederacy
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
, prolonging the war in the Western Theater
Western Theater of the American Civil War
This article presents an overview of major military and naval operations in the Western Theater of the American Civil War.-Theater of operations:...
.
Biography
Dandridge McRae was born in Baldwin County, AlabamaBaldwin County, Alabama
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*85.7% White*9.4% Black*0.7% Native American*0.7% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.5% Two or more races*4.4% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
. He graduated in 1849 from South Carolina College
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
, where he was a member of the Euphradian Society
Euphradian Society
The Euphradian Society, also known as ΦAΕ , is a literary society founded in 1806 at the University of South Carolina, then known as South Carolina College, as a result of the splitting in two of the Philomathic Society, which had been formed within weeks of the opening of the college in 1805 and...
. McRae moved to Searcy
Searcy, Arkansas
Searcy is the largest city and county seat of White County, Arkansas, United States. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 20,663. It is the principal city of the Searcy, AR Micropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of White County...
in White County, Arkansas
White County, Arkansas
White County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of 2010, the population was 77,076. The county seat is Searcy. White County is Arkansas's 31st county, formed on October 23, 1835, from portions of Independence, Jackson, and Pulaski counties and named for Hugh Lawson White, a...
. He was admitted to the bar and served as clerk of the county and circuit courts for six years. He was serving as Inspector General for the state of Arkansas when the state seceded from the Union
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
in 1861.
McRae entered the Confederate Army as a major
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
in command of the 3rd Arkansas Infantry Battalion
Arkansas Civil War Confederate Units
Arkansas Civil War Confederate Units, a list of units formed from that state for service in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. Like most states, Arkansas possessed a prewar Militia organization, which consisted of seventy one regiments, organized into eight brigades, and divided into two...
. He recruited, trained, and organized soldiers for the Confederacy and raised the 21st Arkansas Infantry
Arkansas Civil War Confederate Units
Arkansas Civil War Confederate Units, a list of units formed from that state for service in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. Like most states, Arkansas possessed a prewar Militia organization, which consisted of seventy one regiments, organized into eight brigades, and divided into two...
, being soon elected colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
of that regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
. McRae and his regiment participated in the Battle of Wilson's Creek
Battle of Wilson's Creek
The Battle of Wilson's Creek, also known as the Battle of Oak Hills, was fought on August 10, 1861, near Springfield, Missouri, between Union forces and the Missouri State Guard, early in the American Civil War. It was the first major battle of the war west of the Mississippi River and is sometimes...
under General Ben McCulloch.
McRae took part in the Battle of Pea Ridge
Battle of Pea Ridge
The Battle of Pea Ridge was a land battle of the American Civil War, fought on March 6–8, 1862, at Pea Ridge in northwest Arkansas, near Garfield. In the battle, Union forces led by Brig. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis defeated Confederate troops under Maj. Gen. Earl Van Dorn. The outcome of the...
in March 1862 and received commendations from his commander, Earl Van Dorn
Earl Van Dorn
Earl Van Dorn was a career United States Army officer, fighting with distinction during the Mexican-American War and against several tribes of Native Americans...
. McRae remained in Arkansas while most troops were moved eastward across the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
and participated in operations there. On November 5, 1862, he was commissioned as a brigadier general.
In 1863, McRae and his command took part in the Battle of Helena
Battle of Helena
The Battle of Helena was a land battle of the American Civil War fought on July 4, 1863, at Helena, Arkansas. Overshadowed by the battles of Gettysburg and Vicksburg, the Battle of Helena secured eastern Arkansas for the Union.- Union forces :...
in a failed effort to secure that river port for the Confederacy.
During the Camden Expedition
Camden Expedition
The Camden Expedition was a military campaign in southern and central Arkansas during the American Civil War. It involved Union forces stationed at Little Rock and Fort Smith under the command of Major General Frederick Steele...
of the 1864 Red River Campaign
Red River Campaign
The Red River Campaign or Red River Expedition consisted of a series of battles fought along the Red River in Louisiana during the American Civil War from March 10 to May 22, 1864. The campaign was a Union initiative, fought between approximately 30,000 Union troops under the command of Maj. Gen....
, McRae's brigade formed part of the force under General Sterling Price
Sterling Price
Sterling Price was a lawyer, planter, and politician from the U.S. state of Missouri, who served as the 11th Governor of the state from 1853 to 1857. He also served as a United States Army brigadier general during the Mexican-American War, and a Confederate Army major general in the American Civil...
. They participated in the Battle of Marks' Mills
Battle of Marks' Mills
The Battle of Marks' Mills occurred on April 25, 1864, in Cleveland County, Arkansas as part of the Camden Expedition of the American Civil War. Confederate troops under Maj. Gen. James F. Fagan overwhelmed a small Union detachment commanded by Lt. Col. Francis M...
and the Battle of Jenkins' Ferry
Battle of Jenkins' Ferry
The Battle of Jenkins' Ferry was fought April 30, 1864, in Grant County, Arkansas during the American Civil War. It was the climactic battle of the Camden Expedition, which was a part of the Union Army’s failed Red River Campaign. Each side sustained a large number of casualties, especially...
, forcing the Union forces out of southern Arkansas and back to Little Rock
Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock is the capital and the largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 699,757 people in the 2010 census...
. McRae then led his brigade in battles in northern Arkansas and in Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
later that year until he resigned his commission.
After leaving the service, McRae returned to Searcy and took up the practice of law. In 1881, he was elected as the deputy secretary of state. McRae focused his post-war activities on promoting the commercial interests of the State of Arkansas. He was a delegate to various commercial expositions and served as president of the bureau of information for Arkansas.
McRae died at Searcy, Arkansas, where he is buried.
See also
- List of American Civil War generals