Civil War Union Major General. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York in 1822, placing 2nd. He served the twenty-four years between his graduation and the Mexican War in the Engineers Corps, building defenses along the Southern Coast. In the Mexican War he served as Chief Engineer in General Zachary Taylor's Army, participating in the Battles of Fort Brown, Monterrey and Buena Vista, and receiving brevet promotions up to Colonel, US Regular Army for his services. In 1853 he was promoted to full Colonel and was named the Army's Inspector General, in which capacity he spent the bulk of his time along the Western Frontier. When the Civil War started, he was promoted to Brigadier General, US Regular Army on May 18, 1861, and was largely responsible for the ring of forts that fortified Washington, DC throughout the War. He was then assigned to command the Army of the Potomac's XII Corps, which he led up to the Battle of Antietam. In that battle he led his Corps into the brutal fighting in the East Woods area when, riding on horseback at the front of his Corps to inspire them, he was shot down and mortally wounded, dying in an Army Hospital the next day. Six months after his death he was posthumously promoted to Major General, US Volunteers. Originally buried in Middletown's Mortimer Cemetery, he was reburied in Indian Hill Cemetery on May 30, 1867.
Civil War Union Major General. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York in 1822, placing 2nd. He served the twenty-four years between his graduation and the Mexican War in the Engineers Corps, building defenses along the Southern Coast. In the Mexican War he served as Chief Engineer in General Zachary Taylor's Army, participating in the Battles of Fort Brown, Monterrey and Buena Vista, and receiving brevet promotions up to Colonel, US Regular Army for his services. In 1853 he was promoted to full Colonel and was named the Army's Inspector General, in which capacity he spent the bulk of his time along the Western Frontier. When the Civil War started, he was promoted to Brigadier General, US Regular Army on May 18, 1861, and was largely responsible for the ring of forts that fortified Washington, DC throughout the War. He was then assigned to command the Army of the Potomac's XII Corps, which he led up to the Battle of Antietam. In that battle he led his Corps into the brutal fighting in the East Woods area when, riding on horseback at the front of his Corps to inspire them, he was shot down and mortally wounded, dying in an Army Hospital the next day. Six months after his death he was posthumously promoted to Major General, US Volunteers. Originally buried in Middletown's Mortimer Cemetery, he was reburied in Indian Hill Cemetery on May 30, 1867.
Bio by: RPD2
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