Civil War Union Brigadier General. He was a career military officer serving in both the Civil War and Indian Wars. In 1855, he was working with the American Boundary Commission when he was commissioned a 1st Lieutenant in the 1st U.S. Cavalry. Assigned to the frontier, he participated in the campaign against the Cheyenne Indians and fought in the Utah War. With the start of the Civil War, he was appointed Lieutenant Colonel in command of the 2nd Rhode Island Volunteer Infantry and fought at the First Bull Run and Battle of Williamsburg. Promoted Brigadier General in November 1862, he commanded the 3rd Division VI Corps at the battles of Gettysburg, Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg and the Shenandoah Valley campaign. For his service in the Civil War, he was awarded an honorary degree from Brown University and Rhode Island presented him with a sword of honor. In 1866, he was placed in command of the district of Nebraska in Omaha, to raise volunteers to join the 39th Infantry. In the 1870s, he fought Modoc warriors in Northern California and was later a member of the Peace Commission. Placed in command of the 24th Infantry, he played a role in repelling Pima and Mexican rebels in Arizona in the early 1890s. Promoted to Major General on April 3, 1897, he retired one month later on his 64th birthday. He died of a brain hemorrhage at age 70.
Civil War Union Brigadier General. He was a career military officer serving in both the Civil War and Indian Wars. In 1855, he was working with the American Boundary Commission when he was commissioned a 1st Lieutenant in the 1st U.S. Cavalry. Assigned to the frontier, he participated in the campaign against the Cheyenne Indians and fought in the Utah War. With the start of the Civil War, he was appointed Lieutenant Colonel in command of the 2nd Rhode Island Volunteer Infantry and fought at the First Bull Run and Battle of Williamsburg. Promoted Brigadier General in November 1862, he commanded the 3rd Division VI Corps at the battles of Gettysburg, Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg and the Shenandoah Valley campaign. For his service in the Civil War, he was awarded an honorary degree from Brown University and Rhode Island presented him with a sword of honor. In 1866, he was placed in command of the district of Nebraska in Omaha, to raise volunteers to join the 39th Infantry. In the 1870s, he fought Modoc warriors in Northern California and was later a member of the Peace Commission. Placed in command of the 24th Infantry, he played a role in repelling Pima and Mexican rebels in Arizona in the early 1890s. Promoted to Major General on April 3, 1897, he retired one month later on his 64th birthday. He died of a brain hemorrhage at age 70.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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