“B” is for Bee, Barnard Elliott (1824-1861). Soldier. A native of Charleston, Bee moved with his family to Texas. He graduated from West Point in 1845 and served in the Mexican-American War. Bee participated in the siege of Vera Cruz and was wounded at Cero Gardo. He remained as an officer in the US Army after the war. In March 1861 he resigned his US Army commission to accept a commission in Confederate service. Bee advanced quickly from major to brigadier general and was in command of the Third Brigade of the Army of the Shenandoah in June 1861. His brigade was the first to reinforce the Confederate army at Manassas Junction, Virginia—that was instrumental in ensuring a Confederate victory. Barnard Elliott Bee was mortally wounded at the first Battle of Manassas and died July 22, 1861.