Edmund Winston Pettus House Site Historical Marker

This historical marker was erected in 1972 by the Alabama Historical Association and marks the former home of Edmund Pettus, a lawyer and a General in the Confederate Army who was also a United States senator. The namesake of the Edmund Pettus Bridge, the former Klansman and Confederate leader lived at a home at this location from 1866 to 1907. In recent years, many have considered changing the name of the bridge that bears his name as it was the site of many important events within the Civil Right Movement, including the attack on peaceful protesters known as Bloody Sunday.

Edmund Pettus was born in 1821 in Limestone County, Alabama, going to public school and studied law at Tuscumbia, Alabama, and was admitted to the state bar in 1842. During the Mexican-American War, he served as a Lieutenant with the Alabama Volunteers, and after the way, he actually moved to California for a few years before returning to Alabama, where he served as a judge for three years before returning to life as a lawyer. Pettus was a highly outspoken advocate for the Confederate states and a delegate for the secession convention.

Pettus helped organize the 20th Alabama Infantry and became one of its first officers. He was captured a few times by United States troops, either escaping or being included in an exchange of prisoners. Pettus rose to the rank of Brigadier General and was given brigade control of the army of Tennessee. He participated in the Confederate's defense of the Deep South during Sherman's March to the Sea. Pettus was also part of the defense of Columbia, South Carolina. When the Confederacy surrendered to U.S. forces, Pettus received a pardon from the United States Government.

After the war Pettus returned to his life of law practice in Selma, which is when he moved into this historic house. He led the Klu Kux Klan while living in Selma as the grand master. During this time he also served in the United States senate first in 1897 and later in 1903. He died in Hot Springs, California in 1907, His body is buried in Live Oak Cemetery in Selma.

Edmund Pettus House Site, Historical Marker Database, http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=38273 accessed 5/6/2024