Biography of General William McComb

Although born in Pennsylvania, General William McComb became a Confederate general and commanded a brigade in the Third Corps.

Born in Mercer County on November 21, 1828, McComb went to Tennessee in 1854 and took up residence in Clarksville. In Clarksville, McComb engaged in a variety of manufacturing interests including erecting a flour mill on the Cumberland River. Although of Northern birth, McComb chose to enlist in the Confederate army. He enlisted as a private in the 14th Tennessee Infantry.

He was soon elected 2nd lieutenant, however, in May 1861, and then major the following year. His regiment became part of James Archer's brigade and one of the few Tennessee units with the Army of Northern Virginia.  

Although slightly wounded at Gaines Mill, he apparently stayed in command. McComb was promoted to lieutenant colonel after the battle of Cedar Mountain and to colonel after Second Manassas. He was badly wounded at Sharpsburg, however, and was unable to return to his command until December.

McComb was severely wounded again at the battle of Chancellorsville, and as a result, was forced to miss the Gettysburg Campaign. He was able, however, to return by the end of August and commanded Cadmus Wilcox's old Alabama brigade. He commanded this unit in the Overland Campaign and during the siege of Petersburg. McComb was promoted to general to rank from January 20, 1865. He was paroled at Appomattox.

After the War, McComb lived in Alabama and Mississippi for a time. In 1869, he moved to Louisa County, Virginia where he took up farming for nearly fifty years. McComb died on his plantation near Gordonsville on July 12, 1918. He was buried in Mechanicsville Cemetery in Boswells, Virginia.