Zebulon Baird Vance, 1830-1894

Zebulon Baird Vance, 1830-1894

Zebulon Baird Vance (1830-1894) was a military officer for the Confederates during the Civil War prior to becoming governor of North Carolina from 1862-1865. Vance played a large role in creating legislature against the mismanagement that went in the Confederate army.

Sheppard, Morgan

Zebulon Baird Vance was born in Western North Carolina in 1831 to a middle class family. After high school, Vance continued his education at the University of North Carolina where he pursued a degree in law. Vance slowly worked his way up in North Carolina politics by first becoming the solicitor of Buncombe county. After realizing that his interests were not in law, Vance took his first steps into the political world by desiring to run for the House of Representatives, yet couldn't obtain enough votes from the public. However, his second time of running, Vance was granted a seat in 1858 at the young age of 29. Vance continued to hold this office until the Civil War began. Vance was known for having opposing thoughts against the Confederates, and denied the constitutionality of secession. Vance didn't completely lose sight of Union ideologies until Fort Sumter was attack, yet still seemed weary of Confederate beliefs and practices while governor. Once the war broke out, Vance raised a company called "Round and Ready Guards", that of which he was the Captain. Zebulon Vance eventually continued on his political path and ran for governor. The Confederate party campaigned against Vance and claimed that if he were to be elected, the Union party of the North would assume that their ideologies had trickled down and made an affect on them. Vance's victory for governor was tremendous, and during his reign he made great attempts at passing legislature to ensure desertion was slowed, and that proper methods were used when it came to conscription. After the war, Vance became governor once again, and passed away in 1894.

Yates, Richard E. The Confederacy and Zeb Vance. Tuscaloosa, Ala.: Confederate Pub., 1958. 13-18. Print.