Civil War Union Brigadier General, U.S. Diplomat. Born in Bourbon County, Kentucky, he graduated with honors from Yale in 1857. He studied law under the direction of James Robinson, was admitted to the bar, and taught courses in Mississippi in 1858. He returned to Kentucky to practice as an attorney until the Civil War began. In October, 1861, he was commissioned by President Abraham Lincoln as a Lieutenant Colonel to help recruit and organize the 4th Kentucky Mounted Infantry. He was promoted to Colonelcy in 1862 and participated in major engagements at the Battles of Mill Springs, Perryville, Chickamauga, Franklin, and Nashville. He was wounded at Nashville and Chickamauga. In 1864, he was promoted to Brigadier General and assigned to command a cavalry brigade during the Atlanta Campaign. At Tuscaloosa, Alabama in April, 1865, he commanded his brigade under orders from General James H. Wilson to destroy industry and military interests in what became known as "Croxton's Raid. He was promoted to Brevet Major General of U.S. Volunteers for gallant and meritorious service at Franklin and Atlanta on April 27, 1865. He was then appointed to command the District of Southwest Georgia as provincial governor until he resigned on December 26, 1865. Croxton was appointed by President Grant as the United States Minister to Bolivia in 1872 and moved his family to La Paz. He died in office in 1874 when he was 37 years old. He was also a staunch Republican and a Freemason.
Civil War Union Brigadier General, U.S. Diplomat. Born in Bourbon County, Kentucky, he graduated with honors from Yale in 1857. He studied law under the direction of James Robinson, was admitted to the bar, and taught courses in Mississippi in 1858. He returned to Kentucky to practice as an attorney until the Civil War began. In October, 1861, he was commissioned by President Abraham Lincoln as a Lieutenant Colonel to help recruit and organize the 4th Kentucky Mounted Infantry. He was promoted to Colonelcy in 1862 and participated in major engagements at the Battles of Mill Springs, Perryville, Chickamauga, Franklin, and Nashville. He was wounded at Nashville and Chickamauga. In 1864, he was promoted to Brigadier General and assigned to command a cavalry brigade during the Atlanta Campaign. At Tuscaloosa, Alabama in April, 1865, he commanded his brigade under orders from General James H. Wilson to destroy industry and military interests in what became known as "Croxton's Raid. He was promoted to Brevet Major General of U.S. Volunteers for gallant and meritorious service at Franklin and Atlanta on April 27, 1865. He was then appointed to command the District of Southwest Georgia as provincial governor until he resigned on December 26, 1865. Croxton was appointed by President Grant as the United States Minister to Bolivia in 1872 and moved his family to La Paz. He died in office in 1874 when he was 37 years old. He was also a staunch Republican and a Freemason.
Bio by: K Guy
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