Archibald Gracie III

Archibald Gracie III (December 1, 1832 – December 2, 1864) was a career United States Army officer, businessman, and a graduate of West Point. He is well known for being a Confederate brigadier general during the American Civil War and for his death during the Siege of Petersburg.

Early life Archibald Gracie III was born on December 1, 1832, to Archibald Gracie II (1795–1865), who married Elizabeth Davidson Bethune (d. 1864). He was born into a wealthy New York City family with interests in exporting cotton from Mobile, Alabama. After his elementary education, Gracie traveled to Germany for five years of further studying at the University of Heidelberg. After arriving back in the United States Archibald started his education at West Point, at the time of Robert E. Lee's superintendency. Gracie came to Lee's attention when, after intentionally stepping on fellow cadet Wharton J. Green's heels while marching, he was challenged to a fight on the parade grounds. When a teacher broke up the fight, which Gracie was losing badly, Green fled, and Gracie refused to tell who he'd been fighting. Days later, Green went into Lee's office to admit his role and demand an equal punishment. Lee decided to punish neither of them, and Gracie and Green became fast friends.

Career After graduating in 1854, he was appointed a second lieutenant and set off as an escort to Governor Isaac Stevens, who was on the way to the Walla Walla Council of 1855.

In 1857, Gracie resigned his post to join his father's firm, established during the 1840s in Mobile, Alabama, as agents of the London banking firm of Baring brothers. In Mobile, he joined the local militia company, one of several around the country called "Washington Light Infantry", and became its captain. After his recovery, he was sent to Richmond to join General Beauregard. While there, he had a horse shot out from under him, but came away relatively unscathed.

Siege of Petersburg Gracie family plot, Woodlawn Cemetery, The Bronx. The fallen marker, (since restored) is the general's.

Between July and December 1864, Gracie served in the trenches of Petersburg, Virginia, during the Siege of Petersburg. On December 1, Gracie's 32nd birthday, his second child, a girl, was born, and he was to take a leave to see the baby on December 3.

Personal life On November 19, 1856, Gracie married Josephine Mayo (1836–1901), daughter of Edward Carrington Mayo (1791–1852) and Adeline Marx (1808–1879). Josephine was the niece of General Winfield Scott through her father's sister, Maria D. Mayo (1789–1862), and was the great great granddaughter of Major William Mayo, who laid out the city of Richmond in 1737. Together, the couple had a son and a daughter, who was born the day before Gracie's death. Their children were:

Archibald Gracie IV (1858–1912), the famous survivor of the Titanic. Adeline Gracie (1864–1948)

Gracie is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in The Bronx, New York City.

Commemorations The Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp in New York City, Archibald Gracie Camp #985, is named for Gracie.