Wounded 3 times during the Civil War; twice at Malvern Hill, Va., and at Drewry's Bluff, Va.

Attorney General of North Carolina

United States Senator from North Carolina

(1826-1904) Born in Warren County, North Carolina, he was the elder brother of Confederate General Robert Ransom. He graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1847, studied law, and was admitted to the bar. A Whig Presidential Elector in 1852, he married Martha Anne "Pattie" Exum of Northampton County, N.C., on January 19, 1853, and the couple resided at "Verona," the Exum family's plantation on the banks of the Roanoke River. Matt and Martha had eight children together. A slaveholder, Ransom also had two children with Emma Outland, one his slaves. Those children were Douglas Ransom, born in 1859, and Alice Ransom, who later became the wife of Edward "Ned" Rawles, one of North Carolina's first African-American state legislators! Ransom served as North Carolina Attorney General, 1853-55, and was a member of the North Carolina General Assembly, 1858-61. He was chosen as one of the three commissioners from North Carolina that were sent as representatives to the Confederate government that were meeting at Montgomery, Alabama, in 1861. Ransom was commissioned lieutenant colonel of the 1st North Carolina Infantry, and then colonel of the 35th North Carolina Infantry. This regiment was part of his brother's brigade, which he later commanded. He was promoted to brigadier general, on June 13, 1863, and fought in the battles of Seven Pines, the Seven Days Battles, Va., Sharpsburg, Md., Fredericksburg, Va., Plymouth and Weldon, N.C., Suffolk, Va., and the siege of Petersburg, Va. He was wounded 3 times during the war, twice at Malvern Hill, Va., during the 7 Days Battles, in 1862, and at Drewry's Bluff, Va., in May 1864. He finally surrendered at Appomattox Court House, Va., on April 9, 1865, after previously having led his troops that were shattered at the battles of Five Forks, and Sayler's Creek, Va. After the war, he moved to Weldon, North Carolina, where he was a planter, and resumed his law practice. He served as a Democratic member of the United States Senate, from North Carolina, 1872-95. He also served as U.S. Minister to Mexico, in the President Grover Cleveland administration, 1895-97. Following his term as ambassador, Ransom retired to his Verona estate, and engaged in agricultural pursuits. He died near Garysburg, North Carolina, on his 78th birthday, October 8, 1904, and was buried on his estate, near Jackson, North Carolina. Verona is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in America.

Card Signature with State: 3 1/2 x 2 1/4, large and bold ink autograph, M.W. Ransom, N.C. Minor age toning. Very desirable North Carolina Confederate General's signature.