Civil War Union Army Brigadier General. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York in 1835, placing 53rd out of 56 (his classmates included future Union Generals George W. Morrell, George G. Meade, Marsena Patrick and Herman Haupt, as well as future Confederate General Jones M. Withers). Four years after his graduation he resigned from the Army to become a civil engineer in the railroad field (one of his engineering accomplishments was his aiding the construction of a Russian Railroad from St. Petersburg to Moscow). He rejoined the Army at the start of the Mexican War, first being commissioned 1st Lieutenant in a regiment of Mounted Rifles, and eventually being promoted to Captain. After receiving brevets of Major and Lieutenant Colonel for his war service, he remained in the Army, serving on the Frontier and in the Southwest. A month after the Civil War started he was promoted to Major of the 3rd United States Regular Cavalry. Assigned to General Edward Canby's forces in New Mexico, he received a brevet of Colonel for his participation in the Battle of Valverde. He was promoted to Brigadier General, US Volunteers on July 16, 1862. Soon after he was brought East and served with Major General John Pope as his Inspector General and Chief of Cavalry during the August 1862 2nd Bull Run Campaign. After that Union defeat, he became involved in General Pope's vendetta against Major General Fitz-John Porter, and was the actual officer who proffered charges against Porter (on Pope's behalf). The ensuing controversy (and his loyalty to the General Pope) caused him to be banished to the Minnesota frontier until February 1863, when he was recalled to Washington, DC, where he commanded the upper defenses of the capital. His subsequent Civil War career was in command of small, unimportant posts. After the war he was brevetted Brigadier General, US Regular Army and Major General, US Volunteers. In 1866 he was advanced to Lieutenant Colonel in the Regular Service, and retired in 1870. When he died in Washington, DC in 1875, he was originally buried in Washington's Oak Hill Cemetery before being removed to Manchester.
Civil War Union Army Brigadier General. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York in 1835, placing 53rd out of 56 (his classmates included future Union Generals George W. Morrell, George G. Meade, Marsena Patrick and Herman Haupt, as well as future Confederate General Jones M. Withers). Four years after his graduation he resigned from the Army to become a civil engineer in the railroad field (one of his engineering accomplishments was his aiding the construction of a Russian Railroad from St. Petersburg to Moscow). He rejoined the Army at the start of the Mexican War, first being commissioned 1st Lieutenant in a regiment of Mounted Rifles, and eventually being promoted to Captain. After receiving brevets of Major and Lieutenant Colonel for his war service, he remained in the Army, serving on the Frontier and in the Southwest. A month after the Civil War started he was promoted to Major of the 3rd United States Regular Cavalry. Assigned to General Edward Canby's forces in New Mexico, he received a brevet of Colonel for his participation in the Battle of Valverde. He was promoted to Brigadier General, US Volunteers on July 16, 1862. Soon after he was brought East and served with Major General John Pope as his Inspector General and Chief of Cavalry during the August 1862 2nd Bull Run Campaign. After that Union defeat, he became involved in General Pope's vendetta against Major General Fitz-John Porter, and was the actual officer who proffered charges against Porter (on Pope's behalf). The ensuing controversy (and his loyalty to the General Pope) caused him to be banished to the Minnesota frontier until February 1863, when he was recalled to Washington, DC, where he commanded the upper defenses of the capital. His subsequent Civil War career was in command of small, unimportant posts. After the war he was brevetted Brigadier General, US Regular Army and Major General, US Volunteers. In 1866 he was advanced to Lieutenant Colonel in the Regular Service, and retired in 1870. When he died in Washington, DC in 1875, he was originally buried in Washington's Oak Hill Cemetery before being removed to Manchester.
Bio by: RPD2
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