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Selma Alabama Civil Rights Driving Tour
Item 5 of 9
Edmund Pettus was a lawyer a General in the Confederate Army and was a United States senator. The Edmund Pettus Bridge was named after him which was the site of the Bloody Sunday Events during the Civil Rights battles during the sixties. The ironic thing about the bridge that would be site of a major civil rights battle being named after Edmund was that he was a member of the Klu Klux Klan. Although for many years he did not live in this house in Selma spending many of his early years in different states. He lived in this house from 1866 until his death in 1907.

a Photo of Edmund

a Photo of Edmund

The marker marking his house

The marker marking his house
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 states bar in 1842. During the Mexican American War he served at a Lieutenant with the Alabama Volunteers and after the way he actually moved to California for a few year before returning to Alabama. Where he ended up serving as a judge for about 3 year before returning to life as a lawyer. Pettus was a highly outspoken advocate for the Confederate states. He was actually a delegate for the secession convention.

He helped organize the 20th Alabama Infantry and became one of its first officers. He was captured a few times by union troops escaping every time or took part in a exchange of troops was freed. Usually every time after his exchange he was promoted a rank and eventually rose to the rank of Brigadier General. He was given brigade control of the army of Tennessee. He participated in the Confederates defense of the deep south during Shermans march to the sea. Pettus was sent to the defense of Columbia, South Carolina. When the Confederacy surrendered to the Union 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. His legacy lives on with a bridge in Selma, Alabama being named after him.