Ellison Capers

Ellison Capers
Born	October 14, 1837 Charleston, South Carolina
Died	April 22, 1908 (aged 70) Columbia, South Carolina
Allegiance	Confederate States of America
Service/branch	Confederate States Army
Years of service	1861–65
Rank	Colonel
Commands held	24th South Carolina Infantry Gist's Brigade
Battles/wars	American Civil War Vicksburg Campaign Battle of Chickamauga Battle of Franklin
Other work	teacher, college administrator, bishop

Ellison Capers (October 14, 1837 – April 22, 1908) was a Confederate general in the American Civil War, theologian, school teacher and college administrator from South Carolina.

Early life

Capers was the son of a Methodist bishop. He was born in Charleston, South Carolina, and educated in local schools. He graduated from South Carolina Military Academy, later known as The Citadel, in 1857, and then worked as a teacher at the academy.

Civil War

At the outbreak of the Civil War, Capers joined the Confederate Army with the rank of major. He served on coastal defense duties until 1863, having been promoted to lieutenant colonel of the 24th South Carolina. In May 1863 the regiment joined the army of General Joseph E. Johnston for the Vicksburg Campaign. Capers was wounded but promoted to colonel.

Capers returned to field service in time for the Chickamauga Campaign with the Army of Tennessee. He fought in the disastrous Battle of Franklin. After the campaign he commanded a brigade, replacing States Rights Gist, who had been killed in action. Capers was promoted to brigadier general on March 1, 1865, shortly before the end of hostilities. He was captured at Bentonville, North Carolina, but there is no record of parole.^[1]

Postbellum career

Bishop Ellison Capers

Capers returned home after the Civil War. In December 1865, he was elected Secretary of State for South Carolina. He was rector of Christ Church (Episcopal) in Greenville. He served as the Episcopal Bishop of South Carolina from 1894 to his death. He also served as chancellor of Sewanee: The University of the South from 1904 to 1908. He died in Columbia, South Carolina, and is buried there at Trinity Episcopal Churchyard.

Honors

The General Ellison Capers Camp #1212 of the Sons of Confederate Veterans was named in his honor.

Capers Hall at The Citadel is named in for him and his brother Major Francis W. Capers, who served as Superintendent from 1852 to 1859. Ellison delivered the commencement address at The Citadel in 1886.

See also

• List of American Civil War generals (Confederate)

Notes

1. Eicher, p. 162.

References

• Evans, Clement A., Confederate Military History, Volume III Atlanta, Georgia: Confederate Publishing Company, 1899.
• Eicher, John H., and Eicher, David J., Civil War High Commands, Stanford University Press, 2001, ISBN 0-8047-3641-3.

External links

• "Photo gallery of Capers". Generals and Brevets. Archived from the original on January 31, 2008.
• "Biography of Capers". SCV.
• "Capers, Ellison, 1837-1908". The Citadel Archives.