Kirkwood Otey

Kirkwood Otey (October 18, 1832 – June 1, 1897) served as the commanding officer of the 11th Virginia Infantry in the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia during the American Civil War.

Civil War service

Otey commanded the regiment first as a major, then as a colonel in the years 1864–1865, until General Robert E. Lee's surrender to General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, on April 9, 1865. While still a major in command of the 11th Virginia, Otey was wounded in the shoulder during the unsuccessful frontal assault known as Pickett's Charge near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. This occurred on the third and final day of the Battle of Gettysburg (the bloodiest and probably most decisive engagement of the conflict), on July 3, 1863. Otey survived, however, and would serve as commanding colonel of the unit until the war ended.

Postbellum

Otey died in 1897 and is buried in Lynchburg, Virginia's Spring Hill Cemetery next to his wife.