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Brigadier General Zachariah Cantey Deas
Zachariah Cantey Deas was born in Camden, SC, on 25 October 1819. He was well educated, both in South Carolina and in France. The family moved to Mobile in 1835 where Deas engaged in mercantile pursuits. He served in the Mexican War, and amassed a considerable fortune in Mobile's prosperous atmosphere.
When the Civil War began, Deas offered his services to the Confederacy and was assigned to the staff of Gen'l Joseph E. Johnston at 1st Manassas. That fall, he and Major Robert B. Armistead raised their own regiment, the 22nd Alabama. Deas was elected Col. and commissioned, 25 October 1861. Deas put up 28,000 in gold for 800 Enfield rifles, equipping his own men (he was reimbursed in Confederate bonds the following year). At Shiloh on the first day, Deas led his regiment until the brigade commander, Gen'l Gladden, and its senior Col., Daniel Adams were wounded, and Deas then assumed brigade command. On the second day, 7 April 1862, Deas himself was badly wounded. Deas recovered in time to join the Kentucky Campaign and fight at Munfordville and Salt River. After Murfreesboro,
Deas received his Brig. Gen'l commission, 13 December 1862, and he took command of Franklin Gardner's brigade (19th, 22nd, 25th, 39th, and 26th-50th AL Regiments). The brigade fought at Chickamauga and routed Sheridan's Division, killing Brig. Gen'l W. H. Lytle and capturing 17 cannon. Deas lost 40% of his own command but also led the brigade at Chattanooga and Missionary Ridge. By January 1864, Deas was in command of the division, although a promotion to Major General did not materialize. Deas led his brigade at Atlanta and Jonesboro. He went with Gen'l John Bell Hood through Alabama into Tennessee, with the division now under Major Gen'l Edward Johnson. This command participated in the Battle of Franklin, where Deas was slightly wounded. At Nashville when Gen'l Johnston was captured, Deas again led the division on the retreat through Alabama. He was ordered to take his brigade against Gen'l William T. Sherman and was active in the Carolinas until taken ill at Raleigh.
At war's end, Deas made his home in New York City and engaged in the cotton trade. He died in the city, 6 March 1882, and is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery.