Civil War Union Brigadier General. Born in Franklin, Indiana, he entered West Point in 1847, but resigned in 1849. Though he did not graduate, he had great military ability and was later praised by Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant as one of the army's best division commanders. Beginning his military career in Iowa, where he had lived for most of the preceding decade while practicing law in Des Moines, he enlisted when the 2nd Iowa Infantry was being raised for the Civil War. Elected one of its companies Captains on May 27, 1861, he was made regimental Major 4 dats later, during organization. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, then Colonel, and fought in the Battles of Shiloh and Corinth. In the latter battle he commanded the Iowa Brigade with commensurate rank and performed well. This so impressed his superiors that he was given command of a division, again without commensurate rank. Late in 1862, he was promoted to Brigadier General. Through the Vicksburg fighting he commanded the 7th Division of Major General James B. McPherson's XVII Corps. In late summer he briefly led the XIII's Corps' 4th Division, then until May 1864 he was back with his old XVII Corps, leading its 4th Division. In this last post, as in all the others, he was popular with his men. They performed well for him, and when they were engaged in fighting in north Georgia on Major General William T. Sherman's Atlanta Campaign, they became known as "Crocker's Greyhounds" for the pace they kept. He had tuberculosis and in May 1864, before he could be commissioned Major General, he tendered his resignation. Neither McPherson nor Sherman would accept it and instead arranged for his transfer to New Mexico, where, it was thought, the climate would help his condition. There he responded well and by December was back in Tennessee under Major General George H. Thomas. But in less than 3 months he was sent to Washington D.C., and there relapsed and died.
Civil War Union Brigadier General. Born in Franklin, Indiana, he entered West Point in 1847, but resigned in 1849. Though he did not graduate, he had great military ability and was later praised by Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant as one of the army's best division commanders. Beginning his military career in Iowa, where he had lived for most of the preceding decade while practicing law in Des Moines, he enlisted when the 2nd Iowa Infantry was being raised for the Civil War. Elected one of its companies Captains on May 27, 1861, he was made regimental Major 4 dats later, during organization. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, then Colonel, and fought in the Battles of Shiloh and Corinth. In the latter battle he commanded the Iowa Brigade with commensurate rank and performed well. This so impressed his superiors that he was given command of a division, again without commensurate rank. Late in 1862, he was promoted to Brigadier General. Through the Vicksburg fighting he commanded the 7th Division of Major General James B. McPherson's XVII Corps. In late summer he briefly led the XIII's Corps' 4th Division, then until May 1864 he was back with his old XVII Corps, leading its 4th Division. In this last post, as in all the others, he was popular with his men. They performed well for him, and when they were engaged in fighting in north Georgia on Major General William T. Sherman's Atlanta Campaign, they became known as "Crocker's Greyhounds" for the pace they kept. He had tuberculosis and in May 1864, before he could be commissioned Major General, he tendered his resignation. Neither McPherson nor Sherman would accept it and instead arranged for his transfer to New Mexico, where, it was thought, the climate would help his condition. There he responded well and by December was back in Tennessee under Major General George H. Thomas. But in less than 3 months he was sent to Washington D.C., and there relapsed and died.
Bio by: Ugaalltheway
Inscription
BRIG GEN 4 DIV 17 ARMY CORPS
CIVIL WAR
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