This sexy MoFo and local badass is none other than Thomas Hart Ruffin–we discovered him while researching Louisburg, NC history for our previous posts. Born on September 9, 1820 in Louisburg, North Carolina (or only a matter of days before his parents arrived in Louisburg, depending upon the source). Educated in a private academy, followed by graduating from the University of North Carolina’s school of law, Ruffin would move to Goldsboro to open his own law practice before deciding to seek riches in the Ozark area of Missouri.

With the start of the Mexican War, Ruffin became a First Lieutenant in the Ozark Mountain Guards, First Infantry Regiment, which had been organized for the Santa Fe expedition; the unit continued to operate in the southwest for the duration of the war without crossing the border.

Returning to Goldsboro after the war, Ruffin resumed his law practice and became active in politics, being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and serving from March 4, 1853 until March 3, 1861. He resigned from Congress upon the succession of North Carolina from the Union and represented the Second District of the State of North Carolina at the “Provincial Congress” of the Confederate States.

With the commencement of hostilities, Ruffin rejected an appointment as a Colonel over an infantry regiment and decided to do his part for the war effort by raising a company of cavalry which would become Company H, Ninth North Carolina (First Cavalry) Division. Ruffin would become Captain of the company, served with distinction in every action with the unit, and was rapidly promoted to Major (followed by Lt. Col. less than a month later). On June 29, 1862, Major Ruffin was captured at Willis Church, Virginia and held for a short period of time before being sent back to the Confederacy during a prisoner exchange.

Thirsting for more Yankee blood, during the battle at Gettysburg, Lt. Col. Ruffin led his cavalry in a wild charge against Union forces, suffering a major saber wound to the head for his efforts–but successfully killing the Union officer who had struck the blow. After being released from the hospital, Ruffin would again assume command of his cavalry unit. On October 15, 1863 during the battle of Bristoe Station, Lt. Col Ruffin would lead a successful charge against Union forces but not before being knocked from his horse by a musket ball to the forehead and being taken hostage again. Ruffin would die two days later in a Union hospital (where we’re sure he took the extra time to curse all the Union forces in the area and show the Yankee nurses what it was like to be in the presence of a true Southern gentleman).

Upon his death, Lt. Col. Ruffin was interred with honor in a private vault at the Federal Military Hospital in Alexandria, VA and his personal belongings were dutifully cared for by local Southern women until they could be returned to his family. At the conclusion of the war, Lt. Col. Ruffin and his belongings were returned to Louisburg where he still remains to this day, buried in the Ruffin family cemetery on their original homestead.