John Echols
Married- 1st- Mary Jane Caperton, daughter of Hugh Caperton and Jane Erskine; 1- Harriet 2- John Percy
3- James Alexander 4- Sarah Ann 5- Mary Caperton 6- Edward Echols
Second Marriage- Mary Cochrane Reid
After taking a prominent part in the Virginia convention of 1861, he offered his military services, and was promptly commissioned lieutenant-colonel, and ordered by General Lee to cal1 out and muster in the volunteer forces in the vicinity of Staunton, including the mountain counties, for Johnston's army. This work done he was assigned to the Twenty-seventh regiment, which he commanded at First Manassas, where he had a gal1ant part in earning the title of the "Stonewall brigade.
He was soon afterward promoted colonel, and in this rank served with Stonewall Jackson in the Shenandoah val1ey through the winter and spring of ,86,.62. In Jackson's report of the battle of Kernstown he related that "Col. John Echols with his regiment, with skirmishers thrown forward, kept in advance and opened the infantry engagement, in which it was supported by the Twenty-first. Well did these two regiments do their duty, driving back the enemy twice in quick succession. Soon a severe wound compelled the noble leader of the Twenty-seventh to leave the field." This wound, received March 23d, disabled him for some time.
His gallantry was recognized by promotion to brigadier-general in April, 1862, and a few months later he was assigned to command of a brigade of the army of Western Virginia, with which he was afterward prominently identified. He participated as a brigade commander in Loring's occupation of the Kanawha valley in September, and after Loring had withdrawn to the mountains, Echols was assigned to the command of the army of the department of Western Virginia, superseding Loring. He promptly reoccupied Charleston, but was again compelled to retire before superior forces.
He resigned his department command in the spring of 1863, and during the fol1owing summer served upon the court of inquiry held at Richmond to investigate the cause of the fal1 of Vicksburg, Gens. Howell Cobb and Robert Ransom being the other members. Later in the year he commanded the Confederate forces in the battle of Droop Mountain, West Virginia, a hard-fought contest, in which his command, though forced to retire, gave an effectual check to the Federal plans.
In May, 1864, he commanded Breckinridge's right wing at the successful battle of New Market, in the Valley, and was then called with his brigade to Lee's army on the Cold Harbor line, where he served with credit. On August 22, I864, he was given charge of the district of Southwestern Virginia, and on March 29, 1865, was ordered to the command of the western department of Virginia, relieving General Breckinridge.
On April 2d he began a march to unite with Lee, and reached Christiansburg on the l0th, where he received a telegram announcing the surrender at Appomattox. It was a terrible blow to his little army of 6,000 or 7,000 men, and caused indescribable consternation. At a council of war it was determined to march to unite with Johnston's army, and Echols set out at the head of Vaughn's and Duke's brigades on the 11th. Subsequently he accompanied President Davis to Augusta, Ga., and was for a short time in command at that place.
After the close of hostilities he re-entered the law practice at Staunton, also exerted a beneficent influence in public affairs as a member of the committee of nine, in restoring Virginia to its proper relations with the general government, and as a member of the Virginia legislature. He was one of the early members of Stonewall Jackson camp, Confederate veterans, at Staunton, and was always faithful to the soldiers of the Confederacy. He was very successful both in law and in business, displaying great executive ability; became president of the Staunton National Val1ey bank, and receiver and general manager of the Chesapeake, Ohio & Southwestern railroad. The duties of the latter office required his residence in Kentucky during the last ten years of his life. He was twice married, first to a sister of Senator Allen T. Caperton, of West Virginia, and after her death to Mrs. Mary Cochrane Reid, of New York. He died at the residence of his son, State Senator Edward Echols, at Staunton, May 24, I896.
In 1860, helped to organize and was leader of the Monroe Guards, a local militia unit. This unit subsequently became part of the 27th Virginia Infantry (Co. D).
Commanded 27th Virginia Infantry Regiment; severely wounded at Kernstown; promoted April 1862 to Brigadier General.
Brigade commander in Division of General John C. Breckinridge at Battle of New Market (May 15, 1864) commanded infantry brigade
Appointed Lt. Col. of 27th Va. Reg. May 30, 1861; Promoted to Col. Oct. 14, 1861; Wounded in the shoulder at the first Battle of Kernstown; Promoted to Brig. Gen. Apr. 18, 1862;
Commanded 1st Brigade of VMI Cadets at the Battle of New Market May 15, 1864.
Careers: Lawyer; Banker; Rep. of Augusta Co. in Va. House of Delagates 1877-79 and of Staunton 1879-80; Trustee of Washington & Lee University 1869-96;
In charge of Chesapeake, Ohio & Southwestern Railroad late 1880's- early 1890's.
Died- May 24, 1896 in Staunton, Va. Buried in Thornrose Cemetery.
Master Mason