American Civil War Union Brevet Major General. He received an appointment to the US Military Academy at West Point, New York, graduating in 1844 with a commission as a 2nd lieutenant in the US Cavalry. After serving frontier duty, he participated in the Mexican American War and saw action at the Battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma in Texas. Following the outbreak of the America Civil War in April 1861, he was assigned to the 2nd US Cavalry Regiment and February 1962 was promoted to the rank of major. He participated in the Peninsula Campaign with the Army of the Potomac and in May 1962 he was nominated for the rank of brigadier general by President Abraham Lincoln. He was wounded at the Battle of Antietam, Maryland and saw limited action at the Battle of Chancellorsville, Maryland. His inflated claims of valor won him a promotion to the rank of major general. At the Battle of Brandy Station, Virginia, he led his cavalry force against General J.E.B. Stuart's cavalry, catching Stuart off-guard. In spite of the disadvantage, Stuart managed to pull off a tactical Confederate victory. Dissatisfied with Pleasanton's performance and aware of his reputation, at the Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Union General George Meade kept him close, and did not allow him to lead a cavalry force onto combat. He was then transferred to the Trans-Mississippi Theater where, in 1864, he commanded the District of Central Missouri and the District of St. Louis. While there, he performed well, defeating Confederate forces at the Battles of Bryam's Ford and Marais des Cygnes, thereby eliminating the Confederate threat in the West. Following the end of the war, President Andrew Johnson nominated him for an appointment to the rank of brevet major general which was confirmed by the US Senate in July 1866. He resigned his commission two years later and was placed on the US Army's retired list as a major. He then worked for the Collector of US Revenue and later as Commissioner of Infernal Revenue under President Ulysses S. Grant. He died at the age of 72, The town of Pleasanton (misspelled by a US postal employee), California is named in his honor.
American Civil War Union Brevet Major General. He received an appointment to the US Military Academy at West Point, New York, graduating in 1844 with a commission as a 2nd lieutenant in the US Cavalry. After serving frontier duty, he participated in the Mexican American War and saw action at the Battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma in Texas. Following the outbreak of the America Civil War in April 1861, he was assigned to the 2nd US Cavalry Regiment and February 1962 was promoted to the rank of major. He participated in the Peninsula Campaign with the Army of the Potomac and in May 1962 he was nominated for the rank of brigadier general by President Abraham Lincoln. He was wounded at the Battle of Antietam, Maryland and saw limited action at the Battle of Chancellorsville, Maryland. His inflated claims of valor won him a promotion to the rank of major general. At the Battle of Brandy Station, Virginia, he led his cavalry force against General J.E.B. Stuart's cavalry, catching Stuart off-guard. In spite of the disadvantage, Stuart managed to pull off a tactical Confederate victory. Dissatisfied with Pleasanton's performance and aware of his reputation, at the Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Union General George Meade kept him close, and did not allow him to lead a cavalry force onto combat. He was then transferred to the Trans-Mississippi Theater where, in 1864, he commanded the District of Central Missouri and the District of St. Louis. While there, he performed well, defeating Confederate forces at the Battles of Bryam's Ford and Marais des Cygnes, thereby eliminating the Confederate threat in the West. Following the end of the war, President Andrew Johnson nominated him for an appointment to the rank of brevet major general which was confirmed by the US Senate in July 1866. He resigned his commission two years later and was placed on the US Army's retired list as a major. He then worked for the Collector of US Revenue and later as Commissioner of Infernal Revenue under President Ulysses S. Grant. He died at the age of 72, The town of Pleasanton (misspelled by a US postal employee), California is named in his honor.
Bio by: William Bjornstad
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