James P. Simms

James Phillip Simms (January 16, 1837 – May 30, 1887) was a Confederate States Army brigadier general during the American Civil War (Civil War). He was a lawyer in Covington, Georgia, before and after the war. He served two non-consecutive terms in the Georgia legislature after the war.

Early life James P. Simms was born January 16, 1837, at Covington, Georgia. He was a lawyer and a brigadier general in the Georgia militia before the Civil War. Not much else is known about his life before the Civil War.

American Civil War service James P. Simms started his Confederate States Army service as a second lieutenant C.S.A. with the 6th Georgia Militia on October 21, 1861. On August 20, 1862, he was promoted to captain.

Simms commanded his regiment at the Battle of Fredericksburg and the Battle of Salem Church, where they captured the flag of the 2nd Rhode Island Infantry Regiment. The regiment fought at the Battle of Gettysburg, especially on July 2, 1863. Simms commanded the brigade in the Valley Campaigns of 1864, distinguishing himself at the Battle of Cedar Creek.

During this period, on December 8, 1864, Simms was promoted to brigadier general. Returning from the Shenandoah Valley, Simms served during the Siege of Petersburg that winter.

After the Confederates evacuated Richmond, Virginia and Petersburg, Virginia, Simms was captured at the Battle of Sayler's Creek on April 6, 1865. Simms was paroled from the Union prisoner of war facility at Fort Warren (Massachusetts) on July 24, 1865.

Aftermath Simms returned to Covington, Georgia, after the war. He resumed his law practice and served in the Georgia legislature in 1865–1866 and for the term starting in 1877. James Phillip Simms died on May 30, 1887, at Covington, Georgia, and was buried in Southview Cemetery at Covington.