Civil War Union Brigadier General. Born in Carmarthen, Wales. Entered the Civil War as Colonel and commander of the 90-day regiment 24th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. When the unit was mustered out after the First Bull Run Campaign, he was commissioned Colonel of the 69th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, which was part of the Army of the Potomac's "Philadelphia Brigade". The regiment was formed around men from the 24th PA, and was originally called the 3rd California Infantry. His time with the brigade was marked by controversy. After serving as regiment commander during the Peninsular Campaign, and the Battles of 2nd Bull Run and Antietam, he was promoted to Brigadier General of Volunteers in November 1862, and was given command of the Brigade. His Generalship was allowed to expire by law in March 1863, but he was re-appointed and confirmed a month later. At the Battle of Fredericksburg, he led his command in one of the futile Union assaults on Marye's Heights. After the Chancellorsville Campaign (in which the Philadelphia Brigade took no active part), he was arrested and relieved of brigade command for reasons unknown to history (his replacement, Brig. Gen. Alexander Webb, would win a Medal of Honor commanding the brigade at the Copse of Trees during Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg). He was returned to the command of the Philadelphia Brigade, which he led at the Battles of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, and Cold Harbor, where his failure to support another brigade resulted in his arrest by General John Gibbon for "disobedience of orders". He was allowed to be honorably mustered out of service in July 1864. In 1871 he founded The New York Daily Register, a law journal that became the official publication of the New York Court system.
Civil War Union Brigadier General. Born in Carmarthen, Wales. Entered the Civil War as Colonel and commander of the 90-day regiment 24th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. When the unit was mustered out after the First Bull Run Campaign, he was commissioned Colonel of the 69th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, which was part of the Army of the Potomac's "Philadelphia Brigade". The regiment was formed around men from the 24th PA, and was originally called the 3rd California Infantry. His time with the brigade was marked by controversy. After serving as regiment commander during the Peninsular Campaign, and the Battles of 2nd Bull Run and Antietam, he was promoted to Brigadier General of Volunteers in November 1862, and was given command of the Brigade. His Generalship was allowed to expire by law in March 1863, but he was re-appointed and confirmed a month later. At the Battle of Fredericksburg, he led his command in one of the futile Union assaults on Marye's Heights. After the Chancellorsville Campaign (in which the Philadelphia Brigade took no active part), he was arrested and relieved of brigade command for reasons unknown to history (his replacement, Brig. Gen. Alexander Webb, would win a Medal of Honor commanding the brigade at the Copse of Trees during Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg). He was returned to the command of the Philadelphia Brigade, which he led at the Battles of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, and Cold Harbor, where his failure to support another brigade resulted in his arrest by General John Gibbon for "disobedience of orders". He was allowed to be honorably mustered out of service in July 1864. In 1871 he founded The New York Daily Register, a law journal that became the official publication of the New York Court system.
Bio by: RPD2
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