John Selden Roane
Template:Short description Template:More footnotes needed Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox officeholder John Selden Roane (January 8, 1817Template:Spaced ndashApril 7, 1867) was an American politician and lawyer who served as the fourth Governor of Arkansas from 1849 to 1852. Prior to this he commanded the Arkansas Mounted Infantry Regiment following the death of Colonel Archibald Yell at the Battle of Buena Vista. Roane also served as a senior officer of the Confederate States Army who commanded infantry in the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the American Civil War.
Early life and career
John Selden Roane was born in Wilson County, Tennessee, and educated at Cumberland College, which at the time was located in Princeton, Kentucky. He migrated to the new state of Arkansas in 1837, studied law, and was admitted to the bar. He was Prosecuting Attorney for the 2nd Judicial District of Arkansas from 1840 to 1842, a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from 1842 to 1844, and the fourth Governor of Arkansas from 1849 to 1852.
Mexican War
At the outbreak of the Mexican War, Roane was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel of the Arkansas Mounted Infantry Regiment, succeeding to command when Colonel Archibald Yell was mortally wounded repelling the charge of the Mexican lancers at the Battle of Buena Vista. Roane was officially appointed Colonel on February 28, 1847. He was known to be jealous of the honor of his state and once challenged Albert Pike to a duel over what he perceived as derogatory statements made about the regiment's actions in the war. The duel was fought, but neither combatant was injured.
American Civil War
On March 20, 1862, Roane was appointed to the grade of brigadier-general in the Confederate States Army. After most Confederate troops were moved from Arkansas across the Mississippi River, he was placed in charge of the defense of Arkansas. At this time Arkansas was nearly defenseless; and Roane, with the newly appointed commander of the Trans-Mississippi District (also known as Department Number Two), Major-General Thomas Hindman, cobbled together a reasonable defensive force. Roane took part in numerous battles within the Trans-Mississippi Theater, including the battles of Whitney's Lane and Prairie Grove.
Personal life
On February 1, 1855, Roane married Mary Kim Smith (1833–1907) of Dallas, Arkansas.
Later life
Roane died in Jefferson County, Arkansas, and is buried at Oakland Cemetery, Little Rock.
See also
- List of Arkansas adjutants general
- List of Confederate States Army generals
- List of governors of Arkansas
- List of people from Tennessee
References
External links
- 1817 births
- 1867 deaths
- 19th-century American lawyers
- Adjutants General of Arkansas
- Arkansas lawyers
- American duellists
- American lawyers admitted to the practice of law by reading law
- American militia officers
- American military personnel of the Mexican–American War
- 19th-century American planters
- American slave owners
- Confederate States Army brigadier generals
- Cumberland College (Princeton, Kentucky) alumni
- Democratic Party governors of Arkansas
- Farmers from Arkansas
- Neurological disease deaths in Arkansas
- People from Wilson County, Tennessee
- People of Arkansas in the American Civil War
- People pardoned by Andrew Johnson
- Speakers of the Arkansas House of Representatives
- Democratic Party members of the Arkansas House of Representatives
- United States Army colonels
- 19th-century members of the Arkansas General Assembly
- State governors of the United States who owned slaves
- U.S. state legislators who owned slaves