Josephus Somerville Irvine (1819-1876) was a Confederate Major who participated in the Texas Revolution and the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...

and was known for commanding Company C of James Liken's Battalion and went on to participate across several battles in the South.

Early years and Texas Revolution

Josephus was born on August 25, 1819, at Lawrence County, Tennessee. The Irvines then moved to

Milam, Texas Milam is a census-designated place (CDP) in Sabine County, Texas, United States. It is located along the Sabine River at the junction of Highway 87 and Highway 21. The population was 1,355 at the 2020 census. Milam is the largest city in Sabin ...

, in 1830 before then moving to a farm that was 4 miles south from

San Augustine San Augustine is the county seat city of San Augustine County, Texas, in East Texas, United States. The population was at the 2020 census. History The first European settlement in the area began in 1717 with the establishment of Mission Nuestra ...

. In the fall of 1835, at the outbreak of the Texas Revolution, Irvine and his three brothers enlisted in Captain Henry W. Augustine's battalion and would go on to participate at the Siege of Béxar. Irvine then re-enlisted in the

Texas Army The Texas Army, officially the Army of the Republic of Texas, was the land warfare branch of the Texas Military Forces during the Republic of Texas. It descended from the Texian Army, which was established in October 1835 to fight for independe ...

in March 1836 and served under Benjamin Franklin Bryant. He then served under Sidney Sherman's 2nd Cavalry Regiment during the Battle of San Jacinto and was possibly the youngest soldier during the battle. Around 1836, he married Nancy McMahon, with whom he would have seven children. Despite being honorably discharged on May 1, Irvine re-enlisted again on July 4, 1836, and served for the next three months under Captain William Scurlock's company at San Agustine. After the war, he served as a tax assessor and collector at Newton County from 1856 to 1860. His property was worth $6,000 (~$ in ) according to the 1860 United States Census and the 1861 tax roll stated he owned at least one slave.

American Civil War

When the

broke out, Irvine enlisted in the

Confederate States Army The Confederate States Army, also called the Confederate Army or the Southern Army, was the military land force of the Confederate States of America (commonly referred to as the Confederacy) during the American Civil War (1861–1865), fighting ...

and raised a battalion which became Company C of James B. Likens battalion of Texas Volunteers which would later become the

11th Texas Infantry Regiment The 11th Texas Infantry Regiment was a unit of volunteers recruited in Texas that fought in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. The regiment organized in the winter of 1861–1862 and always served west of the Mississippi Ri ...

along with Ashley W. Spaight. Irvine then proceed to participate at the First Battle of Sabine Pass, during which, he ordered the pieces to be spiked as well as removing all stores from the works. He also participated at the

Battle of Stirling's Plantation The Battle of Stirling's Plantation (also known as the Battle of Fordoche Bridge) was an American Civil War battle took place on September 29, 1863 in Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana. Background Following the Siege of Vicksburg, Union Major Ge ...

where one of his sons, James Patton Irvine, were killed in the battle. In 1864, Irvine was struck with yellow fever and malaria and resigned from active military service on December 1864.

Later years

Irvine proceeded to work as a farmer and

Methodist Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a group of historically related denominations of Protestant Christianity whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John Wesley. George Whitefield and John's b ...

preacher and was a Freemason as he lived on Milholm Creek until 1870 when he moved somewhere 5 miles south of

Newton Newton most commonly refers to: * Isaac Newton (1642–1726/1727), English scientist * Newton (unit), SI unit of force named after Isaac Newton Newton may also refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Newton'' (film), a 2017 Indian film * Newton ( ...

. He continued to live there until 1876 when he died from cancer as he had it for several years and was buried at McFarland-Wilson Cemetery.

Legacy

On April 21, 1963, a monument dedicated to Irvine was unveiled by Cooper K. Ragan at McFarland-Wilson Cemetery.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Irvine, Josephus Somerville 1819 births 1876 deaths People of Texas in the American Civil War American emigrants to Mexico Confederate States Army officers People of the Texas Revolution People from Lawrence County, Tennessee People from Newton, Texas Deaths from cancer in Texas American slave owners 19th-century American clergy American Freemasons Army of the Republic of Texas personnel