Civil War Union Brigadier General. Entered the Civil War as Colonel and commander of the 12th Maine Volunteer Infantry on November 16, 1861. Assumed command of his brigade in March 1862, which was involved in the campaign to capture of New Orleans. Soon after the city fell to Union forces, he was appointed Louisiana's military governor by his political friend and commander, Maj. Gen. Benjamin Butler. He was promoted to Brigadier General, US Volunteers on July 18, 1862. His jurisdiction consisted only of Union-held areas, which steadily progressed as Federal troops captured more of the state from Confederate hands. During his two-year tenure as Governor he was responsible for much of the excess and graft that was attributed to General Butler. One of his more telling acts was to issue a blanket pardon of all prisoners held in Louisiana civilian prisons. This allowed hundreds of dangerous criminals go free. When Michael Hahn was elected Federalist Governor of the State in 1864, General Shepley accompanied General Butler to Virginia, where he commanded the District of Eastern Virginia. Towards the end of the war he served as Chief of Staff to Army of the James XXV Corps commander Maj. Gen. Godfrey Weitzel. When his corps occupied Richmond, Virginia in April 1865, General Shepley served as that city's military governor until July, when he resigned. After the war he served as Maine's United States circuit court judge until his death in 1878 of Asiatic cholera. His father was influential Maine Senator Ether Shepley.
Civil War Union Brigadier General. Entered the Civil War as Colonel and commander of the 12th Maine Volunteer Infantry on November 16, 1861. Assumed command of his brigade in March 1862, which was involved in the campaign to capture of New Orleans. Soon after the city fell to Union forces, he was appointed Louisiana's military governor by his political friend and commander, Maj. Gen. Benjamin Butler. He was promoted to Brigadier General, US Volunteers on July 18, 1862. His jurisdiction consisted only of Union-held areas, which steadily progressed as Federal troops captured more of the state from Confederate hands. During his two-year tenure as Governor he was responsible for much of the excess and graft that was attributed to General Butler. One of his more telling acts was to issue a blanket pardon of all prisoners held in Louisiana civilian prisons. This allowed hundreds of dangerous criminals go free. When Michael Hahn was elected Federalist Governor of the State in 1864, General Shepley accompanied General Butler to Virginia, where he commanded the District of Eastern Virginia. Towards the end of the war he served as Chief of Staff to Army of the James XXV Corps commander Maj. Gen. Godfrey Weitzel. When his corps occupied Richmond, Virginia in April 1865, General Shepley served as that city's military governor until July, when he resigned. After the war he served as Maine's United States circuit court judge until his death in 1878 of Asiatic cholera. His father was influential Maine Senator Ether Shepley.
Bio by: RPD2
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