William Henry Forney | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromAlabama's7th district | |
| In office March 4, 1877 – March 3, 1893 | |
| Preceded by | District re-established |
| Succeeded by | William Henry Denson |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromAlabama'sat-large district | |
| In office March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1877 | |
| Preceded by | Charles Christopher Sheats |
| Succeeded by | District inactive |
| Member of theAlabama Senate | |
| In office 1865-1866 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 9, 1823 |
| Died | January 16, 1894 (aged 70) |
| Nationality |  United States |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Profession | Lawyer |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Confederate States of America |
| Branch/service |  Confederate States Army |
| Years of service | 1861 – 1865 |
| Rank |  Brigadier General |
| Unit | 10th Regiment Alabama Infantry |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
William Henry Forney (November 9, 1823 – January 16, 1894) was an Alabama legislator, abrigadier general in theConfederate States Army during theAmerican Civil War andU.S. Representative fromAlabama from March 4, 1875 to March 3, 1893.
Forney was born inLincolnton, North Carolina, on November 9, 1823.[1] He moved with his parents to Alabama in 1835.[1][2] He was the grandson ofPeter Forney and nephew ofDavid M. Forney. He was the older brother of ConfederateMajor GeneralJohn Horace Forney, first cousin of Confederate Brigadier GeneralRobert Daniel Johnston and second cousin of Confederate Major GeneralsRobert F. Hoke andStephen Dodson Ramseur.[1] Forney pursued an education inclassical studies, and graduated from theUniversity of Alabama at Tuscaloosa in 1844.[1][2]
He served in theMexican War as afirst lieutenant in the First Regiment of Alabama Volunteers.[2] Upon returning from the War, Forney studied law and wasadmitted to the bar in 1848 when he commenced practice inJacksonville, Alabama.[2] Forney served as aTrustee of theUniversity of Alabama from 1851-1860. In 1859 and 1860, Forney served as a member of the Alabama House of Representatives.[2]
During the Civil War Forney entered theConfederate States Army in 1861 as acaptain in the10th Regiment Alabama Infantry, and was successively promoted tomajor on December 20, 1861,lieutenant colonel on March 17, 1862, andcolonel on June 27, 1862.[1] He was wounded in the leg at theBattle of Dranesville, Virginia, December 20, 1861.[1][3] He was wounded in the right arm and captured at theBattle of Williamsburg on June 27, 1862.[1][3] He was exchanged on August 31, 1862.[1] He was wounded in the leg at theBattle of Salem Church on May 3, 1863.[1]
He was left on the field at Gettysburg with multiple wounds, captured and remained a Union prisoner of war for more than a year from July 5, 1863 to August 4, 1864.[1] Following his parole, on August 21, 1864, he was given command of a brigade in Major GeneralWilliam Mahone's division.[1][2] Forney was promoted to brigadier general on February 15, 1865.[1] He served as a brigade commander in Mahone's Division until the surrender atAppomattox on April 9, 1865.[1][2] He was pardoned on July 11, 1866.[1]
After the War, Forney served as a member of the State senate in 1865 and 1866. He was elected as aDemocrat to theForty-fourth and to the eight succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1893).[1][3][4] He served as chairman of the Committee on Expenditures in the Department of the Treasury (Forty-sixth Congress). He was not a candidate for renomination in 1892.
He was appointed by PresidentGrover Cleveland to be a member of theGettysburg Battlefield Commission and served until his death. Forney died inJacksonville, Alabama, January 16, 1894 and was interred in City Cemetery, Jacksonville.[1][4]
Warner, Ezra J.Generals in Gray: Lives of the Confederate Commanders. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1959.ISBN 978-0-8071-0823-9.
This article incorporatespublic domain material fromBiographical Directory of the United States Congress.Federal government of the United States.
Media related toWilliam Henry Forney at Wikimedia Commons| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
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| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromAlabama's at-large congressional district 1875-1877 | Succeeded by District inactive |
| Preceded by District re-established | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromAlabama's 7th congressional district 1877–1893 | Succeeded by |
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