Civil War Union Brigadier General. He was 1862 graduate of the United States Military Academy, where he was first in his class. Posted with the Engineers he served through most of the campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, in July 1864 he was commissioned Colonel of the 2nd Connecticut Volunteer Heavy Artillery. During Major General Philip Sheridan's 1864 "Valley" campaign he commanded a brigade in the 6th Corps and was wounded at the Battle of Cedar Creek. After his recovery he was commissioned a Brigadier General of Volunteers and given a division of cavalry under Sheridan, serving with great distinction. General Ulysses S. Grant later said, "I regarded Mackenzie as the most promising young officer in the army". At the end of the Civil War he was brevetted Major General of Volunteers and brevetted Brigadier General in the Regular Army. On March 6, 1867 he was commissioned Colonel of the 41st United States Infantry and on December 15, 1870 was given command of the 4th United States Cavalry. Post Civil War he had a distinguished career as an Indian fighter in the west. Wounded in 1871 during an engagement with Indians, it was his seventh wound during while in the service. He retired for disability in 1884. His father was a brother of Confederate diplomat John Slidell. His father having taken the surname Mackenzie to honor an uncle.
Civil War Union Brigadier General. He was 1862 graduate of the United States Military Academy, where he was first in his class. Posted with the Engineers he served through most of the campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, in July 1864 he was commissioned Colonel of the 2nd Connecticut Volunteer Heavy Artillery. During Major General Philip Sheridan's 1864 "Valley" campaign he commanded a brigade in the 6th Corps and was wounded at the Battle of Cedar Creek. After his recovery he was commissioned a Brigadier General of Volunteers and given a division of cavalry under Sheridan, serving with great distinction. General Ulysses S. Grant later said, "I regarded Mackenzie as the most promising young officer in the army". At the end of the Civil War he was brevetted Major General of Volunteers and brevetted Brigadier General in the Regular Army. On March 6, 1867 he was commissioned Colonel of the 41st United States Infantry and on December 15, 1870 was given command of the 4th United States Cavalry. Post Civil War he had a distinguished career as an Indian fighter in the west. Wounded in 1871 during an engagement with Indians, it was his seventh wound during while in the service. He retired for disability in 1884. His father was a brother of Confederate diplomat John Slidell. His father having taken the surname Mackenzie to honor an uncle.
Bio by: Steve Dunn
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