Colonel of the 18th Tennessee Infantry

Wounded five times during the War Between the States

Born in Rutherford County, Tennessee, he was educated at Union University in Murfreesboro and was admitted to the bar in 1848. The following year he was elected to the state legislature, and was re-elected in 1851. He served as the mayor of Murfreesboro from 1855-59. At the outbreak of the war he raised a company of volunteers which became part of the 18th Tennessee Infantry with him being elected their colonel. He was captured at Fort Donelson, Tenn. and later exchanged. He fought gallantly at the battle of Murfreesboro where he was wounded three times. He was seriously wounded at the battle of Chickamauga and was unable to rejoin the army until the start of the Atlanta campaign. Once again he was wounded this time at Jonesboro, Ga. He was promoted to the rank of brigadier general to rank from November 15, 1864, and fought under General John Bell Hood during the bloody Franklin, Tenn. campaign. He commanded the Tennessee regiments in the Carolinas campaign, and fought at Bentonville. Palmer was paroled at Greensboro, North Carolina, on May 1, 1865. Following the surrender he marched the Tennessee troops home and quietly resumed his law practice. Although he was asked on numerous occasions to run for governor of Tennessee on the Democratic ticket, he refrained from getting involved in active politics.

Antique photograph, 2 1/2 x 4. Chest up view in Confederate uniform. No imprint. Circa late 1800's. This is the only known uniformed pose of General Palmer. Very fine. Scarce general to find any images of.