born mississippi died october mississippi physician state legislator military officer best known having served general american_civil_war born exact served fought major battles greatly injured ball passed ankle participated siege campaigns promoted rank brigadier general june july end war served positions commander head life returned plantation worked despite physical injury age death october death buried plantation early life education born veteran american revolution mississippi exact birth date determined family records destroyed fire settled mississippi near following year married union produced children davis children soon die educated washington virginia princeton_university studied medicine career highly interested horses hunting served time brother serving governor mississippi founded gentlemen club populated men area mississippi parish louisiana married having sons william robert later served fourth son eugene died age enlisted service major general local militia medicinal expertise consulted professionals field wife died continued care plantation owned considerable property including real estate personal property slaves slave quarters military career despite age time permitted serve lieutenant colonel went virginia july contracted cold prompting leave active service end august subordinates believe fit duty receive appointment colonel regiment placed virginia summer fall unit duty northeastern state siege regiment confederate army units spread eastern virginia norfolk forming regiment action fought day action july ankle joint struck ball fell hand hit rolling shell explode oblivious wounds tried rise fell remained field men able pick carry rear visible bleeding thought injuries taken horse hospital initially offered whiskey eased pain refused drink water sugar drank convinced necessary foot removed place likely painful procedure produce replace leg doctors gave wooden prosthetic leg age doctors thought chances survival slight coming richmond tended friends servant confederate president offered mansion city later returned active service commanding regiment general killed battle colonel brigadier general replace turn promoted colonel went action september resigned active duty artificial leg age feel fit military service time later life june promoted brigadier general sent mississippi july given command later placed charge october worked recruit men confederate army war returned despite age physical disability worked death october buried plantation son eventually graduated harvard_university service lane achieved rank captain fought major battles including father wounded physician wounded went attend yale_university
William L. Brandon