Brig. General Mosby Parsons (CSA)

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

Mosby Monroe Parsons (May 21, 1822 – August 15, 1865) was a United States officer in the Mexican-American War and brigadier general of the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.

Early life and career

The eldest child of Gustavus Adolphus Parsons and his wife Patience Monroe Bishop, Mosby M. Parsons was born in Charlottesville, Virginia. When he was 13, his parents moved to Cole County, Missouri. Two years later, they moved again to Jefferson City, which Parsons would thereafter make his home. As a young man, Mosby read law and was admitted to the bar in 1846. He served as a volunteer in the Mexican-American War with the rank of captain in Colonel Alexander W. Doniphan's regiment and was cited for gallantry at the Battle of Sacramento on February 28, 1847. Returning to Missouri after the war, he married Mary Wells on September 18, 1850. However, his wife died just three years later, leaving him with an infant son, Stephen Kearney Parsons.

Parsons served as the United States District Attorney for western Missouri. In 1856 was elected to the state legislature. He became a state senator in 1858, serving until the Civil War began in early 1861.

Civil War

During the secession crisis in Missouri, Parsons was appointed brigadier general in command of the Sixth Division of the Missouri State Guard. He arrived too late to participate in the skirmish at Boonville, but he went on to lead his division at Carthage and the Battle of Wilson's Creek in Missouri, as well as the Battle of Pea Ridge in Arkansas.

Parsons was commissioned a brigadier general of the Confederacy on November 5, 1862 and led his infantry brigade in the Battle of Prairie Grove, Arkansas one month later. His force would participate in the attack at Helena, Arkansas on July 4, 1863, and assisted Richard Taylor in thwarting Union Major General Nathaniel Banks' Red River Campaign of 1864 in Louisiana, as well as opposing Union Major General Frederick Steele's Camden Expedition in Arkansas.

Parsons was appointed a major general by Trans-Mississippi Departmental Commander Kirby Smith on April 30, 1864, although his promotion was never confirmed by Jefferson Davis.

Post-war death

After the war's end, Parsons, like many other Missouri Confederates, chose to go to Mexico rather than surrender. He and five companions, including former Confederate Congressman Aaron H. Conrow, were captured and executed by bandits near Camargo, Chihuahua, on August 15, 1865. He is said to be buried in Nuevo Leon, although no one knows precisely where, or even if he was buried at all.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/82177769/mosby-monroe-parsons

M. M. Parsons was born on May 21, 1822 in Charlottesville, VA, son of General Gustavus Aldophus Parsons.

Around 1840 he moved with his family to Cole County where he studied and was admitted to the bar in 1846.

During the Mexican War he organized and commanded the Cole Co. Dragoons. He was Attorney General of MO, elected to the House of Representatives and was subsequently elected to the State Senate in 1858.

He commanded the 6th Division, MO State Guard from the outbreak of war until he was commissioned brigadier in the Confederate service on Nov. 5, 1862.

Parsons fought at Carthage, Springfield and Elkhorn, and in the AR campaigns of 1862 & 1863. The following year he was sent to reinforce Richard Taylor during the Red River campaign where he was present at Pleasant Hill, and later participated at Marks' Mills and Jenkins' Ferry against Steele.

He was appointed commander of the MO State Guard to replace Gen. Sterling Price who had joined the Confederate Army. Parsons was commissioned Brigadier General after the battle of Pea Ridge and the AR campaigns.

He commanded the Div. of MO Inf. At the battle of Pleasant Hill, was with Price in his last march through AR and MO. As of April 30, 1864 he was assigned to duty as a Major General by Kirby Smith and was so paroled, although he was never officially appointed by the President.

He went to Mexico after the close of the war. About Aug. 7, 1865, Parsons was captured and executed by Juaristas near Chino, Mexico. He is probably buried in the state of Nuevo Leon, Mexico.