Background
Mansfield Lovell was born in Washington, D. C., on October 20, 1822, the son of an army surgeon, General Joseph Lovell, and Margaret Eliza Mansfield Lovell.
West Point, New York, United States
Mansfield Lovell was admitted to the United States Military Academy in 1838 and graduated four years later, ninth in a class of 56.
https://www.amazon.com/Correspondence-Department-Submitted-Resolution-Representatives/dp/1348181370/?tag=2022091-20
1863
Mansfield Lovell was born in Washington, D. C., on October 20, 1822, the son of an army surgeon, General Joseph Lovell, and Margaret Eliza Mansfield Lovell.
Lovell received an ordinary school education. He was admitted to the United States Military Academy in 1838 and graduated four years later, ninth in a class of 56.
Mansfield Lovell reported for duty in Texas and performed several years of garrison duty under Gen. Zachary Taylor. When the Mexican-American War erupted in 1846, he accompanied Taylor’s invasion of northern Mexico; he was wounded and won a brevet promotion for gallantry at Monterrey on September 18-21. While recuperating he served as an aide-de-camp to Gen. John A. Quitman. The following year Lovell joined Gen. Winfield Scott’s column as it advanced upon Mexico City. He fought conspicuously in the storming of Chapultepec on September 14, 1847, receiving a second brevet promotion to captain. He served several more years of frontier duty until 1854, then resigned his commission to work at an ironworks in New Jersey. In 1858, Lovell relocated to New York City, becoming the first superintendent of street improvement and befriending Gustavus W. Smith, a future Confederate general. When the Civil War commenced in April 1861, Smith departed immediately, but Lovell lingered indecisively in New York for several months. He finally tendered his services to the Confederacy that September, but the delay engendered great suspicion as to his actual loyalty.
Mansfield Lovell enjoyed a pristine military reputation before the war, so on October 7, 1861, he gained an appointment as a major general. Furthermore, he was entrusted with the command of Department No. 1 - the city of New Orleans. This strategic location controlled access of the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico and also obstructed all Union advances up the mighty waterway. When Lovell arrived in New Orleans he was aghast to find that the city’s manpower had been stripped for service in other theaters. His command consisted of only 4,500 ill-trained and ill-armed militia and a handful of steamships under construction. Nevertheless, he threw himself into strengthening the defenses of New Orleans with commendable energy. He especially strengthened Forts St. Philip and Jackson, which controlled the approaches on the Mississippi, 75 miles downstream. These were the city’s main defenses, and it was hoped their presence would deter a Union fleet from passing. The entire scheme was far less than satisfactory, but Lovell, given to drinking and boasting, made it clear to the Southern press that the city could be held.
On April 8, 1862, a fleet under Adm. David G. Farragut and Cmdr. David D. Porter appeared in the mouth of the river, apparently intent upon capturing New Orleans. For two days, Porter’s gunboats pounded Fort Jackson with little success. Their failure prompted Farragut to run past the forts at night, which was brilliantly accomplished on April 24, 1862. Having then landed a large army under General Benjamin F. Butler, the fleet proceeded upstream and pulled up alongside the unprotected city. Lovell, realizing the hopelessness of his situation, promptly evacuated his troops and marched north. He was roundly criticized in the Confederate press, but several military figures, especially Gen. Robert E. Lee, testified to the correctness of his withdrawal. A court of inquiry also cleared him of responsibility for the loss of New Orleans, but a whispering campaign about his alleged disloyalty continued.
By the fall of 1862, Lovell was in charge of the I Corps in the army of General Earl Van Dorn and also posted as his second command. On October 3-4, 1862, Van Dorn attempted to retake the strategic railroad junction at Corinth from Union forces under Gen. William S. Rosecrans. The ensuing battle was a costly and confusing affair for the Confederates. On the second day, Van Dorn ordered Lovell, who commanded the right-wing, to attack superior Union forces in prepared positions. It was a reckless gamble, preordained to failure and heavy losses, so Lovell disobeyed to save the lives of his men. However, two other Confederate divisions went in unsupported and lost heavily; Van Dorn then charged Lovell with insubordination. He partially redeemed himself by performing useful work covering the Confederate withdrawal from Coffeeville, but he was subsequently relieved. Lovell had lost the respect of Confederate authorities, and even his men began derisively singing the "New Ballad of Lord Lovell," which satirized the loss of New Orleans - and their general's fondness for liquor. He consequently remained without a field command for the rest of the war. Despite repeated entreaties by Gen. Joseph E. Johnston and John Bell Hood, the Confederate war department refused to grant Lovell any significant responsibilities. However, he did manage to secure a post as a volunteer aide on Johnston’s staff and served well throughout the Atlanta campaign. In March 1865, General Lee formally requested that Lovell received command of a corps, and the government relented. The war ended before he could arrive at headquarters.
Mansfield Lovell relocated to Georgia after the war, where he lived as a rice farmer. When his estate was wiped out by floods, he returned to New York City and accepted various positions in surveying and engineering.
Quotes from others about the person
"Mansfield Lovell was very competent, and but for his insubordinate vanity would be a fine soldier Still we could do as well without him and he can't make me believe he was not bought." - Braxton Bragg
In 1849 Mansfield Lovell married Emily Maria Plympton Lovell. In 1854, their son, Mansfield Lovell, was born.