Van Dorn was born on September 17, 1820, near Port Gibson, Mississippi. He was a descendant of Pieter van Dorn who in the seventeenth century emigrated from Holland to the colony that is now New York.
He was the son of Sophia Donelson (Caffery) and Peter Aaron Van Dorn. His father was a graduate of the College of New Jersey (Princeton) in 1795 and removed from New Jersey to Virginia and then to Mississippi, where he was a lawyer and judge of the probate court. His mother was the niece of Mrs. Andrew Jackson.
Education
The boy was appointed a cadet of the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1838, was graduated in 1842, and was commissioned in the infantry.
Career
Van Dorn was in garrison at Fort Brown, Texas, at the outbreak of the war with Mexico and served in the field with distinction through the war. He was wounded in the city of Mexico. As a first lieutenant, promoted in 1847, he took part in the Seminole hostilities in Florida in 1849-50. In 1855, he was appointed captain in the 2nd Cavalry and until the beginning of the Civil War served with his regiment in Texas and the Indian Territory. In an action with the Comanches near Washita Village, he received four wounds, two of them from arrows.
He was promoted major in 1860. He resigned from the army on January 31, 1861, was appointed brigadier-general of Mississippi state troops and was made major-general to succeed Jefferson Davis. Appointed as colonel of cavalry in the Confederate regular army and assigned to duty in Texas, he received the surrender of most of the Union troops there in April. His appointment as brigadier-general in the provisional army followed, and in September he was appointed major-general. In January 1862, he became commander of the trans-Mississippi district. With a heterogeneous force, partially organized and trained, and hampered rather than helped by a body of wild Indians, he fought and lost the decisive battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas, in March.
Transferred east of the Mississippi, he operated to thwart the early movements against Vicksburg and in October was defeated by Rosecrans in a severe battle at Corinth, Miss. He was criticized for his conduct, but a court of inquiry found the charges disproved. Upon the arrival of General Pemberton, his senior, to take command, he was put in charge of the cavalry.
In a brilliant raid on the Union depots at Holly Springs, Mississippi, in December, he captured the garrison and destroyed stores of great value, effectively crippling Grant's projected campaign. As he sat at his desk in his headquarters at Spring Hill, Tennessee, he was shot and killed by a personal enemy. His death was a serious loss to the service, for he was an excellent cavalry commander. As he was defeated in both the important battles in which he was in chief command, his real merits have been generally overlooked.
Achievements
Personality
Controversial throughout his life, Van Dorn as a military commander was an able leader of small to medium groups of soldiers, particularly cavalry, but was out of his depth with larger commands.
Physically short, impulsive, and highly emotional, Van Dorn was also a noted painter, writer of poetry, was respected for his skill at riding a horse, and also known for his love of women.
Quotes from others about the person
Military historian David L. Bongard described Van Dorn "aggressive, brave, and energetic but lacked the spark of genius necessary for successful high command in combat. " Military historian Richard P. Weinert summarized Van Dorn: "A brilliant cavalry officer, he was a disappointment in command of large combined forces. "
Connections
In 1843, Van Dorn married Caroline Godbold of Mt. Vernon, Alabama.