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- Old Sorrel-Weed Househttp://www.georgiamagazine.com/counties/chatham/tour/071.htm
A fine example of Greek Revival style, this building (completed in 1840 from the plans of Charles B. Cluskey a well-known Georgia architect shows the distinguished trend of Savannah architecture during the first half of the 19th century. The Mediterranean villa influence reflects the French background of the original owner, Francis Sorrel (1793-1870), a shipping merchant of Savannah who as a child was saved by a faithful slave from the massacre of the white colonists in St. Domingo. The antebellum tradition of refinement and hospitality associated with the residence was continued after its purchase in 1859 by Henry D. Weed. Here resided as a youth G. Moxley Sorrel (1838-1901) who achieved fame as one of "Lee's Lieutenants". Shortly after the war broke out in 1861 Sorrel, a young bank clerk in Savannah, proceeded to Virginia where he obtained a place on Gen. Longstreet's staff. He served with conspicuous valor and zeal through the major battles and campaigns in that theater from the First Manassas to Petersburg and was thrice wounded. Sorrel became Brig. General at the age of 26. Competent critics have called him "the best staff officer in the Confederate service". Gen. Sorrel's "Recollections of a Confederate Staff Officer" is an absorbing account of his war experiences.
5. Slave House:Carriage House.
This is where the slaves lived, and is dedicated to them. Without their excellent craftsmanship, this house would not have been built. In a letter of 1839, Francis Sorrel writes about little Moxley helping the slaves with the floor beams.
One distinguished member of the Sorrel family was Gilbert Moxley Sorrel, known as Moxley. Young Moxley was a bank clerk in Savannah when the Civil War began. He fought with the Confederates, served as one of Lee's lieutenants, was wounded three times and, by age 26, held the rank of brigadier general. Later the house was owned by the Weed family. Now it is a private residence with a shop attached.
Gilbert Moxley Sorrel was born February 23, 1838 in Savannah, Georgia. His father, Francis Sorrel, was of French decent. His mother was of the prominent Moxley family of Virginia.
Prior to the war he worked as a clerk in a banking house for the Central Railroad. On June 1, 1861, he enlisted as a private in the Georgia Hussars. Impatient to join the war effort, he left this unit after 30 days and travelled to Virginia. He procured a letter of introduction from Col. Jordon, Beaureguard's A.A.G., and a friend of Sorrel's father; and reported to General Longstreet at Manassas on July 21, 1861. He served initially as a volunteer aide-de-camp.
Pleased with his work, Longstreet requested a commission for Sorrel three weeks after the battle. On September 11, 1861, Sorrel received his captain's commission and assignment as A.A.G. on Longstreet's staff, seemingly to his surprise. He wrote modestly in his Recollections, "I had had no military training except some drill and tactics at school, but it seemed he (Longstreet) thought I took to the work handily." He served as Longstreet's chief of staff for the next 3 1/2 years.
Sorrel, despite his youth and his lack of prior military training, rose quickly in rank and responsibility. He was promoted to Major on May 5, 1862; and to Lt. Colonel on June 18, 1863. As early as December of 1863, Longstreet was recommending that Sorrel be given command of a brigade, if a Georgia brigade became available. Though Sorrel described his responsibility as chief of staff "to respond to calls for instruction and to anticipate them", he was often in the position to have to issue orders himself for troop movements. With this experience and much support from his commander, as well as a recommendation from A.P. Hill, Sorrel was given a promotion to Brigadier General on October 27, 1864. He was given command of a brigade of Georgians in A.P. Hill's Corps.
Sorrel was wounded slightly by shell fragments at Sharpsburg and at Gettysburg. His horse was killed under him at Gettysburg, for which he was reimbursed $1,000. General Sorrel was seriously wounded at Hatcher's Run in February, 1865. He was shot in the chest, and the bullet penetrated his lung. He was on his way back to his command when the war ended.
Sorrel was described as a "tall, slender, graceful young man with dark eyes and a friendly disposition." and also as "a very gallant officer and polished gentleman." Francis Dawson, and Englishman who served in the ordnance department and did not fit in well with the staff, described Sorrel as "demanding" and "overbearing". Jeffery Wert calls him "a perceptive man with administrative skills"; and Longstreet biographers Eckenrode and Conrad assert that Sorrel was "the best staff officer in the Confederate army."
After the war, Moxley returned to Georgia and became an agent and then manager of the Ocean Steamship Company in Savannah and later in New York City. While in Savannah Sorrel served on the city council from 1872 to 1875. He also was a vice president of the Georgia Historical Society.
His wife Kate (diBignon) suggested that he write down his remembrances of the was as a solace "in illness and tedious convalescence". His Recollections of a Confederate Staff Officer was published in 1905.
G.M. Sorrel died on August 10, 1901 at his brother's home in Roanoke, Virginia. He is buried in Laurel Grove Cemetery in Savannah.
* Though Sorrel, in post war writings, referred to himself as Longstreet's "Chief of Staff", this title did not officially exsist in the Confederate Army. Sorrel, as the senior AAG, certainly performed the duties of a Chief of Staff, as did Osmun Latrobe after Sorrel's promotion; but in no official documents nor correspondence during the war was this title applied to them.
G. MOXLEY SORREL
A Working Bibliography of MHI Sources
Sorrel, G. Moxley. Recollections of a Confederate Staff Officer. Wash, DC: Neale, 1905. 315 p.
E470S72.
Gilbert SORREL Self M Male W 45 GA Ship Broker FRANCE VA
Kate SORREL Wife M Female W 32 GA Keeping House GA GA
William MACKALL Nephew S Male W 25 VA Sawyer MD GA
Candacy BURTON Other M Male MU 50 GA Servant GA GA
Source Information:
Census Place Savannah, Chatham, Georgia
Family History Library Film 1254138
NA Film Number T9-0138
Page Number 446C
1880 Bibb Co., GA Census:
Martha E. SORREL Self W Female W 53 GA Keeping House GA GA
Marcial SORREL Son S Male W 18 GA At School GA GA
Moxley SORREL Dau S Female W 15 TX At School GA GA
Source Information:
Census Place District 1085, Bibb, Georgia
Family History Library Film 1254134
NA Film Number T9-0134
Page Number 130C
Gilbert Moxley Sorrel
Birth: Feb. 23, 1838
Death: Aug. 10, 1901
Civil War Confederate Brigadier General. Born in Savannah, Georgia, he was a clerk for a railroad at the outbreak of the Civil War. He also was a Private in the Georgia Hussars, a militia company. After witnessing the reduction of Fort Sumter, South Carolina, he participated in the capture of Fort Pulaski, Georgia, then went to Virginia, where, before First Bull Run, he secured a position on Lieutenant General James Longstreet's staff as Captain and volunteer aide-de-camp. From that battle until the Wilderness, his Civil War career was inextricably linked to that of Longstreet. As Longstreet rose in rank to command of the I Corps, his duties increased, and he eventually became the I Corps's chief of staff. Rising to the rank of Colonel, he participated with Longstreet in every major campaign in the East and went with his commander to the West during the Chickamauga and Knoxville campaigns. During the Battle of the Wilderness, where Longstreet was critically wounded, he personally led 4 brigades in a successful envelopment of the Union left. On October 27, 1864, he was promoted to Brigadier General and assigned to command of a brigade in Major General William Mahone's division. Later that autumn he sustained a leg wound in the battles around Petersburg, Virginia. On February 7, 1865, he fell with a severe chest wound in an engagement at Hatcher's Run. He was returning to his command when the Confederate army was surrendered at Appomattox. After the war he returned to Savannah. A merchant, he was also connected with a steamship company. In 1905 he published Recollections of a Confederate Staff Officer, one of the most valuable and perceptive memoirs of an aide. He later would die near Roanoke, Virginia. (bio by: Ugaalltheway)
Family links:
Spouse:
Kate Amelie DuBignon Sorrel (1846 - 1919)*
Burial:
Laurel Grove Cemetery (North)
Savannah
Chatham County
Georgia, USA
Baltimore Herald - Aug 12 1901
Text: "Gen. G. Moxley Sorrel (by Associated Press) Roanoke. VA., Aug. 11- Gen G. Moxley Sorrel, aged 64. of Savannah, Ga., died at the home of his brother, near Roanoke, last midnight. General Sorrel entered the Confederate army at Savannhah as volunteer aid on Longstreet's staff at the outbreak of the civil war. He was promoted several times for gallantry, and in the third year of the war was made brigadier general on Longstreet's staff. He was shot through the lungs at the battle of Sharpsburg. After the war he was made superintendent of the Central of Georgia Railroad. He relinquished that position sever years ago to accept the general managership of the steamboat line plying between Savannah, New York and Liverpool, which office he held at the time of his death."
Publication: Baltimore, Baltimore County, MD, USA
Date: Aug 12 1901
Page: 10
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1838 - 1901 (63 years)
