EARLY, JUBAL ANDERSON American soldier and lawyer, was born in Franklin county (Va.), on Nov. 3, 1816, and graduated at West Point in 1837. He served in the Seminole War of 1837-38, after which he resigned in order to practise law in Franklin county, Virginia. He also engaged in State politics, and served in the Mexican War as a major of Virginia volunteers. He was strongly opposed to secession, but thought it his duty to conform to the action of his State. As a colonel in the Confederate army, he rendered conspicuous service at the first battle of Bull Run (q.v.). Promoted brigadier-general, and later major-general, Early served throughout the Virginian campaigns of 1862-63, and defended the lines of Fredericksburg during the battle of Chancellorsville. At Gettysburg he com manded a division of Ewell's corps. In the campaign of 1864 Early, who had now reached the rank of lieutenant-general, com manded the Confederate forces in the Shenandoah valley. After several successful actions in the Shenandoah and Potomac valleys (on June II he threatened the city of Washington), Gen. Sheri dan arrived with Union reinforcements, forced Early to retreat, and defeated him at Winchester and Fisher's Hill. Finally, on Oct. 19, after inflicting at first a severe blow upon the Federal army in its camp at Cedar creek, he was decisively beaten by Sheridan. (See SHENANDOAH VALLEY CAMPAIGNS.) Waynesboro (March 1865) was his last fight, after which he was relieved of his command. Gen. Early was regarded by many as one of the ablest soldiers in the Confederate army.
After the declaration of peace he went to Canada; but in 1867 returned to resume the practice of law. For a time he managed the Louisiana lottery in conjunction with Gen. Beaure gard. He died at Lynchburg (Va.), on March 2, 1894. Gen. Early was for a time president of the Southern Historical Society, and wrote, besides various essays and historical papers, A Memoir of the Last year of the War, etc. (1867).
See Lieutenant General Jubal Anderson Early; an Autobiographical Sketch and Narrative of the War Between the States (1912).