Civil War Union Major General. He started at Yale Law School, but withdrew before he could finish. In 1849, he began a law practice, and from 1854 to 1860 he served as clerk of the Superior and Supreme Court of Connecticut. When the Civil War began, he joined the 2nd Connecticut Militia as a Colonel. His unit was reorganized as the 7th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, and he was appointed as its Commander, with the rank of Colonel. He fought at Port Royal and Fort Pulaski in 1862, and was brevetted to Brigadier General. From 1862 to 1864, he took part in operations against Charleston, Fort Sumter, Fort Wagner, Fort Gregg, James Island, and fought at Stone River, Chester Station, Drewey Bluff, Bermuda Hundred, Pettersburg, Fort Harrison, New Market, and Williamsburg. In January 1865, he performed one of the most brilliant exploits of the war by capturing Fort Fisher, North Carolina, after a major failed attempt by General Benjamin Butler. He took over 2,000 prisoners and 167 cannon. This victory was rewarded by making him a Brigadier General in the post-Civil War Army. He was brevetted to Major General for his capture of Wilmington, North Carolina. After the war, he commanded the Departments of the South, and the Dakotas, where he participated in numerous campaigns to secure peace with the Indians. In 1876, he was the Commanding Officer of George A. Custer, who was killed at the Battle of the Little Big Horn. On March 3, 1886, he was promoted to Major General, Regular Army, and made Commander of the Department of the Missouri. He retired in April 1888, and died two years later.
Civil War Union Major General. He started at Yale Law School, but withdrew before he could finish. In 1849, he began a law practice, and from 1854 to 1860 he served as clerk of the Superior and Supreme Court of Connecticut. When the Civil War began, he joined the 2nd Connecticut Militia as a Colonel. His unit was reorganized as the 7th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, and he was appointed as its Commander, with the rank of Colonel. He fought at Port Royal and Fort Pulaski in 1862, and was brevetted to Brigadier General. From 1862 to 1864, he took part in operations against Charleston, Fort Sumter, Fort Wagner, Fort Gregg, James Island, and fought at Stone River, Chester Station, Drewey Bluff, Bermuda Hundred, Pettersburg, Fort Harrison, New Market, and Williamsburg. In January 1865, he performed one of the most brilliant exploits of the war by capturing Fort Fisher, North Carolina, after a major failed attempt by General Benjamin Butler. He took over 2,000 prisoners and 167 cannon. This victory was rewarded by making him a Brigadier General in the post-Civil War Army. He was brevetted to Major General for his capture of Wilmington, North Carolina. After the war, he commanded the Departments of the South, and the Dakotas, where he participated in numerous campaigns to secure peace with the Indians. In 1876, he was the Commanding Officer of George A. Custer, who was killed at the Battle of the Little Big Horn. On March 3, 1886, he was promoted to Major General, Regular Army, and made Commander of the Department of the Missouri. He retired in April 1888, and died two years later.
Bio by: Kit and Morgan Benson
Family Members
Advertisement
See more Terry memorials in:
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
