Civil War Union Brigadier General. Graduating from Yale in 1853, he taught at Natchez, Mississippi before traveling to New York City, where he took a position in the law office of Theodore Sedgwick, and was admitted to the bar in 1856. Upon the start of the Civil War, he was commissioned 1st Lieutenant and Adjutant with the 39th New York Volunteer Infantry (the "Garibaldi Guard") and was engaged in action at the Battle of First Manassas (Bull Run). He was promoted to Captain in August 1861 and in September 1861 was appointed to Lieutenant Colonel of the 44th New York Volunteer Infantry, which was being formed in Albany. He was promoted to Colonel of the regiment in July 1862 and led the regiment through the Peninsular Campaign, Second Manassas and Chancellorsville. At the Battle of Gettysburg, on July 2, 1863, he assumed command of his brigade when General Strong Vincent was mortally wounded on Little Round Top. He was promoted to Brigadier General, US Volunteers in August 1863 and was mortally wounded in action at the Battle of Spotsylvania, Virginia, on May 10, 1864. His last words while dying are engraved on his obelisk grave marker: "Turn me over and let me die with my face to the foe."
Civil War Union Brigadier General. Graduating from Yale in 1853, he taught at Natchez, Mississippi before traveling to New York City, where he took a position in the law office of Theodore Sedgwick, and was admitted to the bar in 1856. Upon the start of the Civil War, he was commissioned 1st Lieutenant and Adjutant with the 39th New York Volunteer Infantry (the "Garibaldi Guard") and was engaged in action at the Battle of First Manassas (Bull Run). He was promoted to Captain in August 1861 and in September 1861 was appointed to Lieutenant Colonel of the 44th New York Volunteer Infantry, which was being formed in Albany. He was promoted to Colonel of the regiment in July 1862 and led the regiment through the Peninsular Campaign, Second Manassas and Chancellorsville. At the Battle of Gettysburg, on July 2, 1863, he assumed command of his brigade when General Strong Vincent was mortally wounded on Little Round Top. He was promoted to Brigadier General, US Volunteers in August 1863 and was mortally wounded in action at the Battle of Spotsylvania, Virginia, on May 10, 1864. His last words while dying are engraved on his obelisk grave marker: "Turn me over and let me die with my face to the foe."
Bio by: Mark Bodnar
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