When the
American Civil War erupted in 1861 Martin joined the
Confederate States Army and was named Captain of the
Hickory Rifles, a company of infantry from
Memphis and
Shelby County. It soon became Company E of the
154th Senior Tennessee Infantry Regiment; Martin himself becoming the regiment's Major in May 1861. During the summer Martin raised a regiment with 7 companies from Mississippi and 3 from Tennessee. He was promoted to Colonel and assigned to command this unit; known as
25th Mississippi Infantry (also as 1st Mississippi Valley Regiment). In January 1862 it was renamed 2nd Confederate Infantry. Fighting in the
Battle of Shiloh Martin took over brigade command when his commander, Brigadier
John S. Bowen, was wounded. His services were noted and he was recommended for promotion to brigadier general. Simultaneously, he was named acting brigadier general and assigned to command a brigade in the
Army of the West, composed of the 36th, 37th and
38th Mississippi regiments as well as the 37th Alabama Infantry. Colonel Martin was killed in the
Second Battle of Corinth on October 3, 1862, while leading his men. He was buried on
Elmwood Cemetery in Memphis; leaving behind his widow and his son, who died at the age of 32 years, just like his father. His grandson was Judge
John Donelson Martin, Sr. ==See also==