Civil War Union Major General, Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. At the beginning of the war, he took part in the defense of Fort Pickens, was present at First Manassas, was assiatant to General William F. Barry, Chief of Artillery for the Army of the Potomac from July 1861 to April 1862, and during the Peninsula Campaign was Barry's acting inspector general. He was Chief of Staff for General Fitz-John Porter's V Corps during the Maryland Campaign in 1862. In January 1863 he became Assistant Inspector General of the V Corps and a few days prior to the Battle of Gettysburg took command of the famous Philadelphia Brigade of the II Corps, being promoted to Brigadier Genera, US Volunteers on the same day (June 23rd). During Pickett's Charge on July 3rd his four regiments were posted at the Clump of Trees at the Union center, the focal point of the Confederate attack. He lost 451 men killed and wounded during the assault. He was wounded as well. For his actions he was award the Congressional Medal of Honor. He was again wounded, this time severely, at the Battle of Spotsylvania in May 1864 and did not return back to duty until January 1865. At this time he assumed the duties of Chief of Staff for Gen. George G. Meade, a position he held until the end of the war. He was breveted Major General, US Volunteers in both the regular and volunteer armies at the end of the war. Appointed Lieutenant Colonel of the 44th United States Regular Infantry in 1866 he taught at West Point and was honorably discharged in 1870. He became President of the College of the City of New York shortly thereafter, a position he held for 33 years.
Civil War Union Major General, Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. At the beginning of the war, he took part in the defense of Fort Pickens, was present at First Manassas, was assiatant to General William F. Barry, Chief of Artillery for the Army of the Potomac from July 1861 to April 1862, and during the Peninsula Campaign was Barry's acting inspector general. He was Chief of Staff for General Fitz-John Porter's V Corps during the Maryland Campaign in 1862. In January 1863 he became Assistant Inspector General of the V Corps and a few days prior to the Battle of Gettysburg took command of the famous Philadelphia Brigade of the II Corps, being promoted to Brigadier Genera, US Volunteers on the same day (June 23rd). During Pickett's Charge on July 3rd his four regiments were posted at the Clump of Trees at the Union center, the focal point of the Confederate attack. He lost 451 men killed and wounded during the assault. He was wounded as well. For his actions he was award the Congressional Medal of Honor. He was again wounded, this time severely, at the Battle of Spotsylvania in May 1864 and did not return back to duty until January 1865. At this time he assumed the duties of Chief of Staff for Gen. George G. Meade, a position he held until the end of the war. He was breveted Major General, US Volunteers in both the regular and volunteer armies at the end of the war. Appointed Lieutenant Colonel of the 44th United States Regular Infantry in 1866 he taught at West Point and was honorably discharged in 1870. He became President of the College of the City of New York shortly thereafter, a position he held for 33 years.
Bio by: EFB III
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