Arkansas' Defender

Confederate Brigadier General John Selden Roane, a previous Governor of Arkansas was appointed Brigadier General March 20^th 1862.

John Selden Roane was born January 8^th 1817 in Lebanon, Wilson, Tennessee.  He attended Cumberland College, before moving to Arkansas in 1837.  Once in Arkansas Roane studied for and passed the bar.  From 1840 to 42 he was a Prosecuting Attorney, and then he was a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from 1842 to 44.  When the Mexican American War started Roane became a Lieutenant Colonel in Yell’s Arkansas Infantry, becoming a Colonel in the regiment in February 1847.  Following the war he was elected the fourth Governor of Arkansas from 1849 to 1852.

When the Civil War started Roane joined the Confederate Army, and was appointed Brigadier General March 20^th 1862.  He was given the charge of defending Arkansas, and along with Confederate General Thomas C Hindman who was in command of the Trans-Mississippi District, put up a good showing in several battles including the Battle of Prairie Grove.

Roane died April 8^th 1867 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas and is buried in the Oakland Cemetery in Little Rock, Arkansas.

If you’re interested in reading more about John Selden Roane Fourth Governor (1849–1852)  is a good web site to look at.