Richard Taylor (general) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lieutenant General Richard Taylor
Photo taken between 1860 and 1870
Born	(1826-01-27)January 27, 1826 Jefferson County, Kentucky
Died	April 12, 1879(1879-04-12) (aged 53) New York City, New York
Buried	Metairie Cemetery New Orleans, Louisiana
Allegiance	Confederate States of America
Service/branch	Confederate States Army
Years of service	1861–1865
Rank	Lieutenant General (CSA)
Commands held	9th Louisiana Infantry "Louisiana Tigers"
Battles/wars	American Civil War First Battle of Bull Run Jackson's Valley Campaign Seven Days Battles Battle of Fort Bisland Siege of Port Hudson Red River Campaign
Other work	Louisiana State Senate (1855–1861)

Richard Taylor (January 27, 1826 – April 12, 1879) was an American plantation owner, politician and Confederate general in the American Civil War. He was born in 1826 in Kentucky. His father was Zachary Taylor, who was a U.S. general and later a U.S. president. Richard Taylor graduated from Yale University in 1845. When his father died in 1851, he inherited a sugar cane plantation in Louisiana.

When the Civil War started, he became colonel of the 9th Louisiana Infantry. He fought in Virginia. He became a brigadier general in October 1861. In July 1862, he became a major general. After that, he was made the commander of the District of West Louisiana. He fought against several Union armies trying to invade western Louisiana, including during the Red River Campaign in 1864.

While he was in western Louisiana, Taylor often disagreed with Edmund Kirby Smith. Smith commanded the Confederates west of the Mississippi River. Because they disagreed so often, Taylor was sent east of the Mississippi in April 1864. He commanded Confederates in Mississippi and Alabama until the end of the war in May 1865.

Taylor died on April 18, 1879 in New York City.

Images for kids

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  Manassas Junction, looking towards Bull Run and Centreville, Civil War-era drawing by Edwin Forbes