Rep./Col. George Craighead Cabell, CSA

George Craighead Cabell was a nineteenth-century congressman, lawyer and editor from Virginia.

Born in Danville, Virginia, Cabell attended Danville Academy and later the University of Virginia, from which he graduated in 1857.

After admission to the Virginia bar, Cabell began his legal practice in Danville in 1858. From one of the First Families of Virginia, Cabell was elected Danville's commonwealth attorney (prosecutor) in 1858, and served until 1861. He was editor of the Republican and later Democratic Appeal in Danville.

When Virginia seceded in April, 1861, Cabell enlisted in the Confederate Army as a private in 1861. During the first year of the Civil War, Cabell received a promotion to major and was assigned to the 18th Regiment, Virginia Infantry. He was later promoted to colonel which rank he held until the end of the war.

Cabell resumed his legal practice in Danville. After Congressional Reconstruction ended, he ran as a Democrat for a seat in the United States House of Representatives in 1874. He defeated incumbent Republican Christopher Thomas and later won re-election several times, serving from 1875 to 1887. There, Cabell served as chairman of the Committee on Railways and Canals from 1877 to 1881. After losing his bid for reelection in 1886, John R. Brown succeeded to the seat.

Cabell resumed his legal practice in Danville, and in 1901 was elected as one of three delegates representing the city in the Virginia General Assembly.

Cabell died in Baltimore, Maryland on June 23, 1906. He was interred in Green Hill Cemetery in Danville.

Source: The Cabells and Their Kin by Alexander Brown

"George Craighead Cabell, born at Danville, Va., January 25, 1836; educated at the Danville Academy and the University of Virginia; commenced the practice of law at Danville in 1858; edited "The Republican" and then "The Democratic Appeal", of Danville; commonwealth's attorney 1858 to April 23, 1861, when he volunteered as a private soldier in the C.S.A.; commissioned major in June, 1861, and assigned to the 18th Virginia Infantry Regiment; served through the war, was twice wounded, and attained the rank of colonel; after the war, returned to the practice of his profession; represented the fifth Virginia district in the United States Congress, 1875-1887..."

Cabell, George C. BATTLE UNIT NAME: 18th Regiment, Virginia Infantry SIDE: Confederacy COMPANY: F&S SOLDIER'S RANK IN: Major SOLDIER'S RANK OUT: Major ALTERNATE NAME: FILM NUMBER: M382 ROLL 9 PLAQUE NUMBER: NOTES: none