Brigadier General Elisha Franklin Paxton,
P.A.C.S.
Brigadier-General Elisha Franklin Paxton, who fell at Chancellorsville while
leading the Stonewall brigade was a native of Rockbridge County, Va., of
Scotch-Irish and English descent. His grandfather, William Paxton
commanded a company from Rockbridge at the siege of Yorktown in 1781.
His father, Elisha Paxton, served in the war of 1812. General Paxton was
educated and graduated at Washington College, Va., and at Yale College,
and in 1849, at the head of his class in the university of Virginia, was
graduated in law. This profession he practiced with much success at
Lexington until 1860, when failing eyesight compelled him to seek other
occupation. He was engaged in farming near Lexington when the political
campaign of 1860 was in progress, and his ardent temperament and strong
convictions did not permit him to remain an indifferent spectator of the
important events of that year. After the election he advocated the
immediate secession of Virginia, and when that action was finally decided
upon he sustained his words by deeds of self-sacrifice. He was first
lieutenant of the Rockbridge rifles, the first of ten companies to go from
that county, and left his home April 18, 1861, for Harper's Ferry. His
company was attached to the First Virginia brigade under Gen. Thomas J.
Jackson, and at the first battle of Manassas, it formed a part of the Fourth
Virginia regiment. In that memorable fight Lieutenant Paxton attracted
attention by the conspicuous gallantry which ever afterward distinguished
him as a soldier. Subsequently his company was assigned to the Twenty-
seventh infantry, of which he was promoted major in October, 1861. In the
following spring he became a member of General Jackson's staff, and later
was appointed adjutant general and chief of staff, Jackson's corps, army
of Northern Virginia. On September 27, 1862, Jackson having well tested
his courage and ability, manifested great confidence in him by
recommending the volunteer soldier for promotion to brigadier-general and
assigned to command of the Stonewall brigade. The appointment was
made by President Davis, and General Paxton took charge of the brigade
November 15, 1862. His letters show that owning to a deep sense of the
responsibilities of the rank and a modest estimate of his own qualifications,
he accepted the command with much reluctance; but his subsequent record
vindicated Jackson's judgment. He commanded the brigade in but two
great battles, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. At the former
engagement he handled his troops with skill and promptness, and during
part of the 13th occupied the front line of the division of General William
Boothe Taliaferro, by whom he was particularly mentioned in official
report. On May 2, 1863, during Jackson's flank movement he was
stationed to guard an important point, the Germanna Junction, from which
he was called to the main line the following night, after Jackson had fallen
and the command had devolved upon Stuart. Early in the next morning of
Sunday, May 3d, the attack was renewed with irresistible vigor, and Paxton
led his men through the dense woods against the Federal position.
Dismounting, he marched on foot in the front line of his brigade until they
came with the enemy's fire, when he was instantly killed by a shot through
the breast. Dr. R. L. Dabney relates that when the news of General
Paxton's death was conveyed to General Jackson, then on his deathbed,
the great commander showed much emotion, "and spoke in serious and
tender strain of the genius and virtues of that officer." His loss was
mentioned with appreciative reference to his ability and courage in the
official report of General Lee. At the time of his death he was thirty-five
years of age. His remains now lie within a few feet of his chief in Lexington
cemetery.
