Bio: Gen. Henry Gray, Red River and Bienville Parish La
Source: Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana
The Southern Publishing Company, Chicago & Nashville, 1890
Submitted by: Gwen Moran-Hernandez
Gherna1154(a)aol.com
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Gen. Henry Gray was born January 19, 1816, in Lawrence District, S. C., of
Prussian extraction. His ancestors, who emigrated from Prussia in the early
settlement of the American colonies, many of them distinguished themselves in
the service of their adopted country. His father was prominent in politics
in South Carolina, and served for many years in the Legislature. Young Gray
was graduated from South Carolina College in 1834 with distinguished honor.
He immediately entered upon the study of the law, and was admitted to the bar
in 1838. He completed his legal studies in the office of Col. William
Murphy, of Greensboro, Ala., he located temporarily in Winston County, Miss.,
where he met Mr. S. S. Prentiss, who induced him to make that State his home.
In 1839 he was elected district attorney, and served until 1845, when he
declined renomination. In 1841, he married Miss Ellen Howard, a young lady
of rare attainments, who contributed greatly in furthering the intellectual
pursuits and political aspiration of her husband. In 1846 he was elected to
the Legislature and served for on session and resigned. In 1850 he was a
candidate for Congress on the Whig ticket and was defeated by a small
majority. In 1851 he moved to Louisiana and settled in Bienvelle Parish,
where he continued the practice of his profession and engaged largely in
agriculture. In the campaign of 1856 (having left the Whig ranks) he was an
elector on the Democratic ticket. In this memorable campaign he and Judah P.
Benjamin canvassed the State together and were strong political friends. He
was elected to the Legislature in 1860. I the same year he was a candidate
of the United States Senate against Mr. Benjamin, and was defeated by one
vote. When the war came on he enlisted in the Confederate service as a
private in a Mississippi regiment. His ability was well known to President
Davis, with whom he was on the most intimate terms. He was sent by President
Davis from Virginia, where his regiment was then in service to Louisiana, to
organize a regiment. Accordingly he organized the Twenty-eighth Louisiana
Infantry, of which he was elected Colonel. The conspicuous part that this
regiment played, and the distinguished services rendered in the Toche
country, and in the battles of Mansfield and Pleasant Hill, are familiar in
the military annals of the times. At the battle of Mansfield, on of the
greatest achievements of the late war, Gen. Mouton was mortally wounded, and
Gen. Gray was promoted to brigadier-general and placed in command of his
brigade. He commanded the troops in the Red River District and then in
Arkansas, when he was elected to the Confederate Congress. This closed his
military career. He proceeded immediately to Richmond and represented the
North Louisiana District Confederate Congress in the last days of the
Confederacy. After the war was ended by the Confederate surrender Gen. Gray
returned to his home, only to find his hard-earned competency swept away. He
was elected to the State Senate soon after and took an active and conspicuous
part. As an orator he had but few equals. About this time he lost his wife,
which appears to have chilled his political aspirations. He resigned his
seat in the Senate, and retired from politics, since which time he has
persistently declined to become a candidate for any office. Though he
engaged energetically in agricultural pursuits, he , like many of his
compatriots in the Confederacy, was never able to rebuild his shattered
fortunes. He lives in retirement near, Coushatta La., with his only child,
the wife of W. J. Stothart