William H.H. Cowles
Encyclopedia
William Henry Harrison Cowles (1840–1901) was a North Carolina
Democratic
politician who served four terms in the United States House of Representatives
.
, Cowles served in the Army of Northern Virginia
during the American Civil War
, rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel. After the war, he moved to Wilkesboro
and practiced law. From 1874 through 1878, Cowles served as the elected solicitor (district attorney
) for the state's 10th judicial district. In 1884, he was elected as a Democrat to the 49th United States Congress
. While in Congress, Cowles chaired the Committee on Expenditures in the Department of Justice (Fiftieth Congress) and the Committee on Mines and Mining (Fifty-second Congress). He was not a candidate for renomination in 1892.
He was the uncle of Republican Congressman Charles H. Cowles
.
He was a member of the 9th regiment of the 1st North Carolina cavalry. He enlisted 5/16/1861 and was eventually promoted to Lt. Col. by the wars end. He fought under JEB Stuart and led Stuart’s rear guard when crossing the last river back to CSA territory ending Stuart’s “ride around McClellan”. Upon Stuart’s death in 1864 General Wade Hampton took command and W H H Cowles was with Hampton until capture at Petersburg at the wars end. He was wounded twice during the war.
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician who served four terms in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
.
Biography
A native of Yadkin County, North CarolinaYadkin County, North Carolina
- Cities and towns :*Boonville*East Bend*Jonesville*Yadkinville-Towns of the past:These towns were incorporated at one time:*Arlington, merged with Jonesville in 2001.*Hamptonville, chartered in 1818.*Huntsville, incorporated in 1792....
, Cowles served in the Army of Northern Virginia
Army of Northern Virginia
The Army of Northern Virginia was the primary military force of the Confederate States of America in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War, as well as the primary command structure of the Department of Northern Virginia. It was most often arrayed against the Union Army of the Potomac...
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...
, rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel. After the war, he moved to Wilkesboro
Wilkesboro, North Carolina
Wilkesboro is a town in and the county seat of Wilkes County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 3,159 at the 2000 census, and it is the second largest municipality in the county. The 2010 Census listed the town's population at 3,044. The town is located along the south bank of the...
and practiced law. From 1874 through 1878, Cowles served as the elected solicitor (district attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
) for the state's 10th judicial district. In 1884, he was elected as a Democrat to the 49th United States Congress
49th United States Congress
The Forty-ninth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1885 to March 4, 1887, during the first two years...
. While in Congress, Cowles chaired the Committee on Expenditures in the Department of Justice (Fiftieth Congress) and the Committee on Mines and Mining (Fifty-second Congress). He was not a candidate for renomination in 1892.
He was the uncle of Republican Congressman Charles H. Cowles
Charles H. Cowles
Charles Holden Cowles was a North Carolina Republican politician who served one term in the United States House of Representatives. He was the son of Calvin J. Cowles, a prominent Republican who was the son-in-law of William W. Holden. His uncle was Democratic Congressman William H.H. Cowles.A...
.
He was a member of the 9th regiment of the 1st North Carolina cavalry. He enlisted 5/16/1861 and was eventually promoted to Lt. Col. by the wars end. He fought under JEB Stuart and led Stuart’s rear guard when crossing the last river back to CSA territory ending Stuart’s “ride around McClellan”. Upon Stuart’s death in 1864 General Wade Hampton took command and W H H Cowles was with Hampton until capture at Petersburg at the wars end. He was wounded twice during the war.