Jr. Gideon Johnson Pillow

Other Events and Attributes:

• Graduation: 1827, Nashville, TN; University of Nashville
• Occupation: Aft 1827, Tennessee; Lawyer
• Military Service: Jul 1846, Tennessee; Brig. Gen. then Maj. Gen., Mexican War
• Military Service: 9 Jul 1861, Tennessee; Brig. Gen., C.S.A.

Notes:

The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans: Volume IIV
page 330

PILLOW, Gideon Johnson, soldier, was born in Williamson county, Tenn., July 8, 1806; son of Gideon and Annie (Payne) Pillow; grandson of John and Mary (Johnson) Pillow, and of Josiah Paine, a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and great-grandson of Jaspar Pillow, who emigrated from England in 1740, and settled in the Virginia colony. His paternal grandfather and his two great-uncles, Jaspar and William Pillow, were Revolutionary soldiers and were present at the surrender of Cornwallis, and his father was a soldier under General Jackson, and was conspicuous in the attack on the Indian fortress Nickajack. Gideon Johnson Pillow was graduated from the University of Nashville in 1827, studied law under Judge W. E. Kennedy and William L. Brown, established himself in practice in Columbia, Tenn., and became a prominent member of the Tennessee bar. He was a member of the staff of Gov. William Carroll, with the rank of brigadier general, 1829-35, a delegate to the Democratic national convention of 1844, and afterward made a canvass for James K. Polk. Upon the [p.330] outbreak of the war with Mexico, he was commissioned brigadier-general, U.S. army, July 13, 1846, and reported with a brigade of Tennessee volunteers to General Taylor, at Camargo, Mexico. He was engaged at the battle of Vera Cruz, where he was complimented for gallantry; Cerro Gordo, where he was severely wounded and was commissioned major-general, and during the campaign that followed was second in command. He was present at Contreras, Cherubusco and Chapultepec, and at the latter place his ankle was crushed by a grape shot and he was in hospital for three months. He favored pressing the Mexican army to the extreme boundary of the country, making the final capitulation beyond the Sierra Madre, which became known as the "Pillow line" and was afterward admitted by military experts to be correct. He was later arrested by General Scott, on charges of insubordination, but was completely vindicated by the court of inquiry. He returned to his home in Maury county, Tenn., relinquished his law practice and engaged extensively in farming in Tennessee and Arkansas. He was a delegate to the Southern convention held at Nashville in 1850, and favored a conservative policy. At the Democratic national convention of 1852 he received twenty-five votes for nomination for vice president. He opposed secession until the outbreak of the civil war, when he was appointed by Gov. Isham G. Harris major-general in the provisional army of Tennessee, May 9, 1861. He organized a force of 35,000 men, and on July 9, 1861, was commissioned brigadier-general in the Confederate army. He commanded the Confederate forces stationed at Belmont, Mo., and on Nov. 7, 1861, an attack was made on the town by General Grant. After a severe battle lasting the entire day he found that he was unable to hold his position and attempted to dislodge the concealed Federal force by a series of gallant charges. These proving of no avail, he was obliged to retreat. In the battle of Fort Donelson, he ranked second in command of the Confederate forces. He reached Fort Donelson Feb. 9, 1862, and on Feb. 14, 1862, the battle with the Federal gun boats was fought. On the 15th the situation was debated by General Floyd and his chiefs of brigade, and an immediate attack was decided upon against the advance of General Pillow. After the Confederate defeat he was relieved of his command and assigned to post duty until the close of the war. While on a visit to General Bragg at Murfreesboro, Tenn., he was given a temporary command in the battle of Murfreesboro, and took part in the famous charge of General Breckinridge. At the close of the war he returned to Tennessee and found his estates devastated. He engaged in farming, but in 1868 he formed a law partnership in Memphis, Tenn., with Isham G. Harris. His last years were spent in a vain effort to pay off his debts incurred during the war. He was married to Mary Martin of Columbia, Tenn. He died on the Mound Plantation, Phillips county, Ark., Oct. 8, 1878.

Gideon married Mary Elizabeth Martin on 24 Mar 1831 in Maury County, TN. Mary was born on 2 Apr 1812; died on 4 Oct 1869. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Robert Granville Pillow was born in 1854; died in 1918 in Little Rock, Pulaski County, AR.
2. III Gideon Johnson Pillow was born in 1836 in Maury County, TN.

Gideon married Mary Dickson in 1872. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Gideon married Anne Payne on 22 Jan 1803 in Davidson County, TN. Anne (daughter of Jr. Josias Payne, Jr and Elizabeth Fleming) was born on 20 Feb 1777; died on 10 Apr 1864 in Maury County, TN; was buried in Rosehill Cemetary, Columbia, Maury County, TN. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Emigration: 1784, Goochland County, Virginia, USA

Notes:

Member of the Va House of Burgess, Va Order of Cincinnati, Taken Prisoner at Germantown MD, did not return to regiment, Revolutionary War.

Went to NC after War, 1784, then later what is now Nashville, where he died. Received bounty lands and half pay. Land Warrant prior to 1784. Married 2nd wife Mary Barnett 1789. Encountered many hardships and perils in Nashville with Indians.

Josias married Elizabeth Fleming on 23 Aug 1755 in St James Northam Par., Goochland County, VA. Elizabeth (daughter of Tarleton Fleming and Hannah Bates) was born about 1735. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: 1779, Goochland County, Virginia, USA
• Will: 12 Jan 1785, Pittsylvania County, Virginia, USA
• Death: 5 Mar 1785, Pittsylvania County, Virginia, USA
• Probate: 19 Dec 1785, Pittsylvania County, Virginia, USA

Notes:

land transfer from father George Payne, 3/14/1734 in Goochland Co., land records, book 2 page 105

Buried:
Payne Cemetery

Josias married Mary Anna Fleming in 1732 in Goochland County, Virginia, USA. Mary (daughter of Charles Fleming and Susanna Tarleton) was born about 1709 in St Peters Par, New Kent County, Virginia, USA; died on 30 Aug 1786 in New Kent County, Virginia, USA; was buried in Goochland County, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Death: 6 May 1794, Goochland County, Virginia, USA

Other Events and Attributes:

• Will: 13 Oct 1750, Goochland County, Virginia, USA
• Probate: 18 Dec 1750, Goochland County, Virginia, USA

Notes:

Died:
"Rock Castle", Goochland Co., VA

Tarleton married Hannah Bates on 11 Mar 1737/38 in York County, Virginia, USA. Hannah (daughter of John Bates and Elizabeth Daniel) was born in 1689 in York County, Virginia, USA; died in Halifax County, VA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]