William H. Tebbs
Encyclopedia
William Henry Tebbs was a Confederate Army lieutenant colonel
during the American Civil War
, best known for having been a driving force behind the recruitment and organization of the 3rd Arkansas Infantry Regiment, which would become one of the most distinguished and respected Confederate regiments of the war.
, and upon reaching adulthood began studying medicine. He began practicing as a doctor
, and later moved to Mason County, Kentucky
, where he married Martha Anderson. The couple moved to Platte County, Missouri
, where he again opened a private doctor practice. In 1854, he and his brother Obidiah opened a hotel in Jefferson County, Kansas
, in the rapidly expanding town of Ozawkie, Kansas
. Tebbs entered into politics, serving on the territorial Legislature
, and initially was successful in having the town of Ozawkie named as the county seat
. However, not long afterward the decision was made to name Oskaloosa
as the county seat. Tebbs became a member of the National Democratic Party
, and an active member of the pro-slavery movement, and following the Kansas
free-state victory in 1857, Tebbs and his family moved to Hamburg, Arkansas
, where he again opened a medical practice.
in the recruitment and organization of the 3rd Arkansas Infantry Regiment, in which Tebbs was initially elected as a captain. His brother Obidiah also joined the regiment, assigned to "A" Company, which was commanded by Tebbs. The regiment was then marched to Vicksburg, Mississippi
and presented for service in the Confederate Army. Initially, they were turned down. However, Manning appealed to Arkansas
politician Albert Rust
, whose two brothers were serving in the regiment, and with persistence the 3rd Arkansas became a part of the Confederate Army, being sent to Lynchburg, Virginia
for training. The regiment was then assigned to General Robert E. Lee
's Army of Northern Virginia
, and soon after attached to the Texas Brigade
. Tebbs was promoted to lieutenant colonel following Manning's promotion to colonel
in early 1862. Tebbs would serve with the regiment in the Battle of Cheat Mountain
, Battle of Seven Pines
, Battle of Harpers Ferry
, Battle of Antietam
, and the Battle of Fredericksburg
, in addition to several smaller battles and skirmishes in between. In bad health, he would resign his commission and leave the army on January 11, 1863. He died in November, 1866, in St. Louis, Missouri
, and was buried in "Bellefontaine Cemetery".
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
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...
, best known for having been a driving force behind the recruitment and organization of the 3rd Arkansas Infantry Regiment, which would become one of the most distinguished and respected Confederate regiments of the war.
Early life
Tebbs was born in Prince William County, VirginiaPrince William County, Virginia
-National protected areas:* Featherstone National Wildlife Refuge* Manassas National Battlefield Park* Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge* Prince William Forest Park-Government and politics:...
, and upon reaching adulthood began studying medicine. He began practicing as a doctor
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
, and later moved to Mason County, Kentucky
Mason County, Kentucky
Mason County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 16,800. Its county seat is Maysville. The county is named for George Mason, a Virginia delegate to the U.S. Constitutional Convention, known as the "Father of the Bill of Rights"...
, where he married Martha Anderson. The couple moved to Platte County, Missouri
Platte County, Missouri
As of the census of 2000, there were 73,781 people, 29,278 households, and 20,231 families residing in the county. The population density was 176 people per square mile . There were 30,902 housing units at an average density of 74 per square mile...
, where he again opened a private doctor practice. In 1854, he and his brother Obidiah opened a hotel in Jefferson County, Kansas
Jefferson County, Kansas
Jefferson County is a county located in Northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 19,126. Its county seat is Oskaloosa, and its most populous city is Valley Falls...
, in the rapidly expanding town of Ozawkie, Kansas
Ozawkie, Kansas
Ozawkie is a city in Jefferson County, Kansas, United States. It is part of the Topeka, Kansas Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 645...
. Tebbs entered into politics, serving on the territorial Legislature
Legislature
A legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...
, and initially was successful in having the town of Ozawkie named as the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
. However, not long afterward the decision was made to name Oskaloosa
Oskaloosa, Kansas
Oskaloosa is a city in and the county seat of Jefferson County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,113. Oskaloosa is part of the Topeka, Kansas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
as the county seat. Tebbs became a member of the National Democratic Party
National Democratic Party (United States)
The National Democratic Party or Gold Democrats was a short-lived political party of Bourbon Democrats, who opposed the regular party nominee William Jennings Bryan in 1896. Most members were admirers of Grover Cleveland. They considered Bryan a dangerous man and charged that his "free silver"...
, and an active member of the pro-slavery movement, and following the Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
free-state victory in 1857, Tebbs and his family moved to Hamburg, Arkansas
Hamburg, Arkansas
Hamburg is a city in Ashley County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 3,039 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Ashley County.-Geography:...
, where he again opened a medical practice.
Civil War service
In May 1861, following the outbreak of the Civil War, Tebbs joined with Van H. ManningVan H. Manning
Vannoy Hartrog Manning was a U.S. Representative from Mississippi and an officer in the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia during the American Civil War.-Early life:...
in the recruitment and organization of the 3rd Arkansas Infantry Regiment, in which Tebbs was initially elected as a captain. His brother Obidiah also joined the regiment, assigned to "A" Company, which was commanded by Tebbs. The regiment was then marched to Vicksburg, Mississippi
Vicksburg, Mississippi
Vicksburg is a city in Warren County, Mississippi, United States. It is the only city in Warren County. It is located northwest of New Orleans on the Mississippi and Yazoo rivers, and due west of Jackson, the state capital. In 1900, 14,834 people lived in Vicksburg; in 1910, 20,814; in 1920,...
and presented for service in the Confederate Army. Initially, they were turned down. However, Manning appealed to Arkansas
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...
politician Albert Rust
Albert Rust
Albert Rust was a member of the United States House of Representatives from Arkansas, and a delegate to the Provisional Confederate Congress...
, whose two brothers were serving in the regiment, and with persistence the 3rd Arkansas became a part of the Confederate Army, being sent to Lynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 75,568 as of 2010. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the banks of the James River, Lynchburg is known as the "City of Seven Hills" or "The Hill City." Lynchburg was the only major city in...
for training. The regiment was then assigned to General Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee
Robert Edward Lee was a career military officer who is best known for having commanded the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War....
's 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...
, and soon after attached to the Texas Brigade
Texas Brigade
The Texas Brigade, also often referred to as Hood's Brigade, was an infantry brigade in the Confederate States Army that distinguished itself for its fierce tenacity and fighting capability during the American Civil War.-Organization:...
. Tebbs was promoted to lieutenant colonel following Manning's promotion to 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...
in early 1862. Tebbs would serve with the regiment in the Battle of Cheat Mountain
Battle of Cheat Mountain
The Battle of Cheat Mountain, also known as the Battle of Cheat Summit Fort, took place from September 12 to 15, 1861, in Pocahontas County and Randolph County, Virginia as part of the Western Virginia Campaign during the American Civil War. It was the first battle of the Civil War in which Robert...
, Battle of Seven Pines
Battle of Seven Pines
The Battle of Seven Pines, also known as the Battle of Fair Oaks or Fair Oaks Station, took place on May 31 and June 1, 1862, in Henrico County, Virginia, as part of the Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil War. It was the culmination of an offensive up the Virginia Peninsula by Union Maj. Gen....
, Battle of Harpers Ferry
Battle of Harpers Ferry
The Battle of Harpers Ferry was fought September 12–15, 1862, as part of the Maryland Campaign of the American Civil War. As Gen. Robert E. Lee's Confederate army invaded Maryland, a portion of his army under Maj. Gen. Thomas J...
, Battle of Antietam
Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam , fought on September 17, 1862, near Sharpsburg, Maryland, and Antietam Creek, as part of the Maryland Campaign, was the first major battle in the American Civil War to take place on Northern soil. It was the bloodiest single-day battle in American history, with about 23,000...
, and the Battle of Fredericksburg
Battle of Fredericksburg
The Battle of Fredericksburg was fought December 11–15, 1862, in and around Fredericksburg, Virginia, between General Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army of Northern Virginia and the Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside...
, in addition to several smaller battles and skirmishes in between. In bad health, he would resign his commission and leave the army on January 11, 1863. He died in November, 1866, in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, and was buried in "Bellefontaine Cemetery".