biography
| sex:
| male
|
| lived:
| (1820–63)
|
| biography:
| US soldier, born near Port Gibson, Mississippi, USA. He trained at West Point (1842), and saw considerable action in the Mexican War, the Seminole War, and against the Indians (he was wounded four times in one engagement). As a major-general of the Confederate cavalry, he was defeated at Pea Ridge, AR (Mar 1862) and Corinth, MS (Oct 1862). He retrieved his military reputation leading Confederate cavalry against Grant during the Vicksburg campaign (1862–3). A civilian enemy - said to be a jealous husband - shot and killed Van Dorn as he sat working in his tent. |
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