Civil War
Following the secession of Alabama from the Union, Clayton led his men to Pensacola, Florida, to enroll into the service of the new Confederate States of America in January 1861. Their services were initially not needed, but Clayton was subsequently ordered to take command of all incoming Alabama volunteer troops as they assembled in Pensacola. The 1st Alabama Infantry was formally mustered into Confederate service in late March, with Clayton as its first colonel. The regiment saw no combat action and stayed in Florida the balance of the year.
In January 1862, Clayton resigned his commission and returned to Alabama. There, the governor authorized him to raise a new regiment for Confederate service, the 39th Alabama. Clayton was appointed as its first colonel, and the regiment joined the brigade of Brig. Gen. Franklin Gardner. Clayton's first significant campaign was as a part of the army of Braxton Bragg during his 1862 Kentucky Campaign.
Clayton's regiment fought at the Battle of Stones River in the early winter as a part of the brigade of Brig. Gen. Zachariah Deas. Clayton suffered a severe wound, but recovered and was promoted to brigadier general in April 1863. He was assigned command of a brigade previously led by Alexander P. Stewart consisting of the 18th, 32nd, 36th, 38th, and 58th Alabama regiments. Clayton was active in a number of subsequent campaigns and battles, including Chickamauga and Chattanooga. His brigade played a prominent role in several fights during the 1864 Atlanta Campaign. Following the Battle of New Hope Church, Clayton was promoted to major general and assigned command of Stewart's Division in the Army of Tennessee, where it participated in the unsuccessful Franklin-Nashville Campaign.
In April 1865, during the Carolinas Campaign, Clayton resigned his commission and returned home, a victim of chronic stress.
Read more about this topic: Henry De Lamar Clayton (general)
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