EARL

See also:

• VAN

VAN DORN (182o-1863)  , American soldier, was born near Vicksburg in 182o, and entered the army of the United States from West Point in 1842 . For several years previous to the Mexican War he was employed in garrison duty, but in that war he saw a good deal of active service, distinguishing himself at Cerro Gordo and Churubusco, returning to the United States a brevet-major . He also fought in the Seminole War and in 1858 against the Comanches . When his state seceded in 186r he resigned his commission in the U.S. army, and in the September of that year became major-general C.S.A . He commanded the Confederates in the hard-fought battle of Pea Ridge, but was superseded for failing to win it . Later in 1862 he won promotion and a second independent command in the West, and led the Confederates at the battle of Corinth (the 3rd and 4th of October 1862) at which he came very near to success . In spite of the verdict of a court of inquiry, he was again superseded . As a subordinate of Lieut.-General Pemberton he did splendid service to the Confederate cause in defeating Grant's first advance on Vicksburg at Holly Springs (1862) . He was shot in a private quarrel on the 8th of May 1863 .