Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General. Known familiarly as "Joe", he was a newspaper editor prior to the Civil War. When the Civil War started he enlisted in the Union army as a private. Detailed to General U.S. Grant's headquarters as clerk, he was soon commissioned as 1st lieutenant in the 48th Illinois Infantry. He became captain and aide-de-camp to General Grant where he was a trusted member of Grant's military family. He subsequently served as Judge Advocate of the Army of the Tennessee with the rank of major and lieutenant colonel and assistant adjutant general on the staff of Lt. General Grant. Brevetted Brigadier General, US Voluinteers on April 9, 1865 for "gallant and meritorious services in the field during the war". Postwar he remained a member of Grant's staff with the regular army rank of Major. He was killed March 6, 1866 when he slipped beneath a train he was hurrying to board. He was buried in the Post Cemetery at the United States Military Academy even though he had not been a student at that institution.
Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General. Known familiarly as "Joe", he was a newspaper editor prior to the Civil War. When the Civil War started he enlisted in the Union army as a private. Detailed to General U.S. Grant's headquarters as clerk, he was soon commissioned as 1st lieutenant in the 48th Illinois Infantry. He became captain and aide-de-camp to General Grant where he was a trusted member of Grant's military family. He subsequently served as Judge Advocate of the Army of the Tennessee with the rank of major and lieutenant colonel and assistant adjutant general on the staff of Lt. General Grant. Brevetted Brigadier General, US Voluinteers on April 9, 1865 for "gallant and meritorious services in the field during the war". Postwar he remained a member of Grant's staff with the regular army rank of Major. He was killed March 6, 1866 when he slipped beneath a train he was hurrying to board. He was buried in the Post Cemetery at the United States Military Academy even though he had not been a student at that institution.
Bio by: Steve Dunn
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