Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 02.djvu/307

 COBB

COBB

tacked for his policy. Mr. Cobb, as one of the most effective defenders of the administration, stood high with the President and cabinet, and his advice was sought on all important points, he having then acqv.Ired the distinction of being the acknowledged leader of his party. In 1848 the presidential canvass resulted in General Tay- lor's election. The defeat of Mr. Cass, whom Mr. Cobb had supported, placed him in the opposi- tion. The Southern Rights party was bitterly opposed to the compromise measures. At the close of the session of the 31st congress, upon his return to Georgia, Mr. Cobb was nominated for governor on this issue by the Union part}-, running against Charles J. McDonald, the candi- date of the Southern Rights party, and was elected by the largest majority ever given in the state. At the expiration of his term as governor, Mr. Cobb retired to private life, bej'ond taking an active part in the jsresidential campaign in sup- port of Franklin Pierce. In 1855 he was elected a, representative in the 34th congress, and served on the ways and means committee, but de- clined re-election. His report upon the questions growing out of the case of Preston Brooks was able and conclusive, and added to his reputation as a statesman. In the presidential campaign of 1856 he canvassed several of the northern states -with great success in support of his personal and political friend, Mr. Buchanan. President Bu- ■chanan tendered him the position of secretary' of state, which he declined in favor of General Cass, and accepted the post of secretary of the treasury. He resigned this portfolio in December, 1860, in view of the speedy secession of his state, and on reaching Georgia, urged the immediate consum- mation of that act. He was sent as a delegate from Georgia to the Confederate provisional con- gress at Montgomerj^ Ala. , and was unanimously chosen its president. He was thus the leading spirit in the formation and organization of the Confederate government and constitution. In the summer of 1861 he raised a regiment of volunteers known as the 16th Georgia, and was commissioned its colonel. During the fall and winter of 1861 he served with his regiment on the peninsula, under Gen. J. B. Magruder. On Feb. 13, 1862, he was promoted to the command of a brigade and in the spring of that year, bore a distinguished part in that series of engagements which took place between the United States forces under McClellan and General Magruder's small force, by which the Federal troops were success- fully held in check until Gen. Joseph E. Johnston assumed command and decided to evacuate the peninsula and concentrate the Confederate forces in front of Richmond. On the formation of the permanent government of the Confederate States on Feb. 23, 1863, General Cobb's duties as

president of the provisional congress terminated. From the retreat from the peninsula to the close of the first campaign in Maryland, including the memorable battles of Seven Pines, the Seven Days' battles, Mechanicsville, Malvern Hill, Har- per's Ferry, Crampton's Gap and Sharpsburg, he and his brigade were present and consijicuous for gallantry and good discipline. At the battle of Crampton's Gap, Sept. 14, 1862, General Cobb's coolness and presence of mind saved the brigade from annihilation. They met with heavj' losses, and among the killed was Col. John B. Lamar, Mi's. Cobb's only brother, who was a volunteer aid on General Cobb's staff. The next morning the Federal forces at Harper's Ferry surrendered to General Jackson. After the termination of the campaign of 1862, the Confederate government,' deeming General Cobb's popular influence of great importance in the settlement of differences which had begun to appear between the states and the Confederate authorities in the recruitment of the army, assigned him to the command of the mili- tary district of Florida, and on Sept. 9, 1863, he was promoted to the rank of major-general and given the command of the district of Georgia and the reserve forces of the state, which latter command he held mitil the close of the war. After the battle of Columbus he surrendei'ed at Macon, Ga., to General Wilson, on April 20, 1865. The battle of Columbus was fought Ajiril 15, 1865, and was the last battle fought on the east side of the Mississippi river. After being paroled he was ari-ested in May, 1865, and carried as far as Nash- ville where he was released, it was supposed in consequence of General Wilson's remonstrances at this violation of a parole. At the close of the war he moved to Macon and formed a law part- nership with liis friend and kinsman, Janaes Jackson. As a lawyer he occuj^ied the front rank of the bar of his native state. His argvmient before the supreme court at Milledgeville on the unconstitutionality of the " Stay law " is said to have been the most powerful argiunent ever made before that court. He was a trustee of the University of Georgia, 1842-68, and received from that institution the degree of A.M. in 1837. Co- lumbian college, Washington, D.C., conferred upon him the honorary degree of LL.D. in 1858. General Cobb died at the Fifth avenue hotel in New York city, Oct. 9, 1868.

COBB, James Edward, representative, was born in Thomaston, Ga., Oct. 5, 1835; son of William A. and Jane (Macmurphy) Cobb. He was graduated from Emory college, Oxford, Ga., in 1856, was admitted to the bar and removed to Texas in 1857. He entered the Confederate army in 1861 as lieutenant in the 5th Texas regiment, with which command he served in the Army of Northern Virginia till he was made prisoner at