Civil War Union Brigadier General. An avowed Quaker, he nonetheless decided to take up arms for the Union (and was subsequently ousted from the Society of Friends for it). Served as Mayor of Portland, Maine in 1851 and 1855. Offered his services after the First Bull Run Campaign, and was commissioned Colonel and commander of the 13th Maine Volunteer Infantry. An accident forced him to miss the Union capture of New Orleans (where his regiment fought under junior officers). Promoted to Brigadier General, US Volunteers on April 28, 1862, and given command of the District of West Florida in the Gulf Department following the fall of Pensacola. In February 1863 he was transferred to he Union XIX Corps stationed in Mississippi, and was placed in command of the 1st Brigade of the 2nd Division. On May 27, 1863 during the Siege of Port Hudson, he led his brigade in a failed charge on the Confederate defenses, and was severely wounded and captured. He spent over 10 months in Richmond's Libby Prison before being exchanged for CSA General W.H.F. "Rooney" Lee (son of Robert E. Lee). His long confinement shattered his health, and he resigned in November 1864. A lifetime opponent of alcohol, he was largely responsible for barring it from the State of Maine in 1884. In 1880 he made an unsucessful run for US President on the Prohibition ticket.
Civil War Union Brigadier General. An avowed Quaker, he nonetheless decided to take up arms for the Union (and was subsequently ousted from the Society of Friends for it). Served as Mayor of Portland, Maine in 1851 and 1855. Offered his services after the First Bull Run Campaign, and was commissioned Colonel and commander of the 13th Maine Volunteer Infantry. An accident forced him to miss the Union capture of New Orleans (where his regiment fought under junior officers). Promoted to Brigadier General, US Volunteers on April 28, 1862, and given command of the District of West Florida in the Gulf Department following the fall of Pensacola. In February 1863 he was transferred to he Union XIX Corps stationed in Mississippi, and was placed in command of the 1st Brigade of the 2nd Division. On May 27, 1863 during the Siege of Port Hudson, he led his brigade in a failed charge on the Confederate defenses, and was severely wounded and captured. He spent over 10 months in Richmond's Libby Prison before being exchanged for CSA General W.H.F. "Rooney" Lee (son of Robert E. Lee). His long confinement shattered his health, and he resigned in November 1864. A lifetime opponent of alcohol, he was largely responsible for barring it from the State of Maine in 1884. In 1880 he made an unsucessful run for US President on the Prohibition ticket.
Bio by: RPD2
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