Brig. Gen. Matthew Whitaker Ransom, CSA

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Whitaker_Ransom

Matt Whitaker Ransom (October 8, 1826 – October 8, 1904) was a general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War and a Democratic U.S. senator from the state of North Carolina between 1872 and 1895.

Early life and antebellum career

Matthew Ransom was born in Warren County, North Carolina to Robert and Priscilla Whitaker Ransom. He was the elder brother of General Robert Ransom and a cousin to fellow Confederate officer Wharton J. Green, who served as a U.S. Congressman after the Civil War. He graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1847. After serving as North Carolina Attorney General and as a member of the North Carolina General Assembly, he was chosen as one of the three commissioners from North Carolina to the Confederate government at Montgomery, Alabama in 1861.

Civil War

Ransom was commissioned lieutenant colonel of the 1st North Carolina Infantry and later Colonel of the 35th North Carolina Infantry. This regiment was part of his brother Robert's brigade, which Matt later commanded. Ransom was promoted to Brigadier General June 13, 1863. Ransom saw action in the battles of Seven Pines, the Seven Days, Antietam, Fredricksburg, Plymouth, Weldon, Suffolk and the siege of Petersburg. He was wounded three times during the Civil War and finally surrendered at Appomattox.

Political career

After the war, Ransom moved to Weldon, North Carolina, in 1866 where he was a planter and lawyer. In 1872, he was elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy in the term commencing March 4, 1871. Ransom was re-elected in 1876, 1883, and 1889 and served from January 30, 1872, to March 4, 1895. Ransom served briefly as President Pro tempore of the Senate during the 53rd Congress. He was later appointed United States Ambassador to Mexico and served from 1895-1897.

Retirement and death

Following his term as ambassador, Ransom retired to his estate, "Verona" and engaged in agricultural pursuits. He died near Garysburg, North Carolina, on his 78th birthday, October 8, 1904. Ransom was buried on his estate, near Jackson, North Carolina. ____________________________________________________

• *Added 1/13/2014 by cball@twc.com: Gen. Matt W. Ransom is my maternal 10th cousin 3x removed. I have a stamped envelope addressed to Gen. Ransom, U. S. Senator, Washington City (what we now know as Washington, D.C.), postmarked 1894. I have done some research on him and have added several pictures in the Media/Documents sections.

Sources:

• American National Biography; Dictionary of American Biography; North Carolina Historical Commissioin. Addresses at the Unveiling of the Bust of Matt W. Ransom. Raleigh: Edwards & Broughton Printing Co., 1911.
• Find A Grave Memorial # 11057 - http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Ransom&GSfn=M.... On this memorial, someone left a comment which says in part: "My Great Great Grandfather George Alston Wadsworth, Moore City, NC served under your brother Robert, "Ransom Brigade" and your Regiment Co. C, 35th N.C. Troops until his final breath at Petersburg, VA. You were a leader among men! I read that you told your troops 'I will not send you anywhere that I will not go. I will LEAD you and you must follow me.' And they did...You were there with General Lee for the surrender. Then you went home to North Carolina & served your state thru public service elected to the US Senate for twenty-four years and gained the respect and admiration of the representatives of the whole nation. God bless you Sir." What a wonderful tribute!

  ---

Matt Ransom was born in Warren County, North Carolina, to Robert and Priscilla Whitaker Ransom. He was the elder brother of General Robert Ransom, a cousin to fellow Confederate officer Wharton J. Green, who served as a U. S. Congressman after the Civil War, and a cousin to physician and aviation pioneer William Whitney Christmas. Matt Ransom graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1847, where he was a member of the Philanthropic Society.

On January 19, 1853, Ransom married Martha Anne "Pattie" Exum of Northampton County, North Carolina. The couple resided at Verona, the Exum family's plantation on the banks of the Roanoke River. Matt and Martha produced at least eight children together: Matt W., Jr., Joseph E., George E., Esther, Patrick Exum, and Robert. A slaveholder, Matt W. Ransom also sired two children with Emma Outland, one of the women of African descent Ransom enslaved; Matt W. Ransom's children with the enslaved Emma Outland were Douglas Ransom (born 1859) and Alice Ransom (wife of Edward "Ned" Rawles, one of North Carolina's first African-American state legislators).
Ransom was commissioned lieutenant colonel of the 1st North Carolina Infantry Regiment and later colonel of the 35th North Carolina Infantry. This regiment was part of his brother Robert's brigade, which Matt later commanded. Ransom was promoted to brigadier general on June 13, 1863. Ransom saw action in the battles of Seven Pines, the Seven Days Battles, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Plymouth, Weldon, Suffolk and the siege of Petersburg. He was wounded three times during the Civil War and finally surrendered at Appomattox.
After serving as North Carolina Attorney General and as a member of the North Carolina General Assembly, Matt W. Ransom was chosen as one of the three commissioners from North Carolina to the Confederate government at Montgomery, Alabama, in 1861.
After the war, Ransom moved to Weldon, North Carolina, in 1866 where he was a planter and lawyer. In 1872, he was elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy in the term commencing March 4, 1871. Ransom was re-elected in 1876, 1883, and 1889 and served from January 30, 1872, to March 4, 1895. Ransom served briefly as President Pro tempore of the Senate during the 53rd Congress. He was later appointed United States Minister to Mexico and served from 1895 to 1897.
Following his term as ambassador, Ransom retired to his Verona, his estate, and engaged in agricultural pursuits. He died near Garysburg, North Carolina, on his 78th birthday, October 8, 1904. Ransom was buried on his estate, near Jackson, North Carolina. Verona was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.
"It is incorrect to state, the South went to war over slavery. The South went to war because of her love for liberty, because of jealousy of her rights, her liberties and her independence...Southern people who owned no slaves offered their husbands, sons, fathers, brothers upon the altar of their country, a willing sacrifice for independence...not slavery."
General Matt W. Ransom