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
