Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 7.djvu/417

394 at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg; also through the overland campaign of 1864, and in the battles near Petersburg and Richmond. For his continued faithful service and gallantry in battle he was, on the 2d day of April, 1865, commissioned brigadier-general. He had already been in command of a brigade and had proven his ability for such a position by meritorious conduct from first to last. He enjoyed his new honors only a short time, for the end of the Confederacy came on rapidly, and on the 9th of April the Confederate army of Northern Virginia laid down its arms and furled its banners forever. Though Colonel Bowles participated in so many bloody battles, he came off unhurt. Yet he had some narrow escapes. At the First Manassas his canteen was shattered by a ball, and at Spottsylvania Court House his cap was shot out of his hand. After the establishment of peace, General Bowles returned to his law practice at Sparta, Conecuh county, remaining there until the removal of the county-seat to Evergreen, in 1867, when he made his home at the latter place. Here he has built up a lucrative legal business, and ranks among the leading lawyers of south Alabama. For ten years he held the office of prosecuting attorney for Conecuh county, but has not been connected with any official position since, preferring to give himself entirely to his private practice. He was married, during the war, at Sparta, Ala., February 24, 1862, to Alice Irene, daughter of Judge N. F. and Anna C. Steams. He and his wife are members of the Episcopal church, and he has for many years acted as superintendent of the Sunday-school. Brigadier-General Michael J. Bulger was bom in Columbia, S. C., February 13, 1806. He went to Montgomery, Ala., in 1823, and made that city his home for many years. While living there he was elected major of Alabama militia. In 1834 he was in the Creek nation and was elected colonel. In 1838 he moved to Tallapoosa county.