Hi,

I've posted a similar message on the Mississippi and Alabama message boards, but I'm duplicating it here, as I hope some of you Kentucky experts might be able to help me make sense of the below gentleman's service in the early stages of the war. Apparently, this man was appointed a "temporary general" by Jefferson Davis and raised three, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Kentucky Infantry Regiments at Camps Boone & Burnett. I'm curious as to the origin of the term "temporary general" and how to reference this. Any information on this man's early service in Kentucky would be appreciated or his later service referred to below.

---------------

I'm looking for any information available for Col. William Temple Withers originally of Kentucky and later Mississippi. He started the war raising Kentucky regiments and then moved to Mississippi where he became commander of the 1st Mississippi Light Artillery. He also seems to have been a commander of a "provisional brigade", which included the 37th Alabama Infantry, that he commanded at Chickasaw Bayou. He was very much involved in the battles of Champion Hill and Big Black River Bridge, where he seems to have been commanding both his artillery units and directing certain infantry units.

I have his service record, but it does not cast a great deal of light on his different commands and especially the last two years of the war. He apparently was stationed at Mobile, AL where he commanded a "provisional brigade" on East Mobile or Mobile Bay. I cannot determine the composition of this brigade or its engagements.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Doug