American Civil War Brevet Major General and Medal of Honor Recipient. He was issued the award on March 29, 1893 for his actions as a major general on November 30, 1864, at the Battle of Franklin, Tennessee. He received an appointment to the US Military Academy at West Point, New York and graduated in 1852 with a commission as a 2nd lieutenant of infantry, and was assigned to the Western Frontier. When the American Civil War broke out in April 1861, he had attained the rank of captain and participated in the Battle of Wilson's Creek and other Missouri engagements. In September 1861, President Abraham Lincoln appointed him to the rank of brigadier general and over the course of the war he participated in the Battle of Island Number Ten, the Battle of Iuka, the Siege of Corinth, the Second Battle of Corinth, the Battle of Stones River, and the Battle of Franklin. He commanded an infantry division of the Army of the Mississippi and led a cavalry unit during the Tullahoma Campaign. Following the war, he was given the rank of colonel and commanded the 22nd US Infantry and served in the Dakota Territory where he commanded the Yellowstone Expedition of 1873. In 1879 he and his regiment were reassigned to Texas to suppress Indian raids in the western portion of the state. He was then ordered to Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 1882, and placed in command of the District of New Mexico. In March 1884, he was appointed a brigadier general in the regular army, and assigned command of the Department of Texas. He retired in 1892 with 40 years of continuous military service and died ten years later at the age of 73. His Medal of Honor citation reads: "At a critical moment rode to the front of one of his brigades, reestablished its lines, and gallantly led it in a successful assault." Stanley County in South Dakota is named in his honor.
American Civil War Brevet Major General and Medal of Honor Recipient. He was issued the award on March 29, 1893 for his actions as a major general on November 30, 1864, at the Battle of Franklin, Tennessee. He received an appointment to the US Military Academy at West Point, New York and graduated in 1852 with a commission as a 2nd lieutenant of infantry, and was assigned to the Western Frontier. When the American Civil War broke out in April 1861, he had attained the rank of captain and participated in the Battle of Wilson's Creek and other Missouri engagements. In September 1861, President Abraham Lincoln appointed him to the rank of brigadier general and over the course of the war he participated in the Battle of Island Number Ten, the Battle of Iuka, the Siege of Corinth, the Second Battle of Corinth, the Battle of Stones River, and the Battle of Franklin. He commanded an infantry division of the Army of the Mississippi and led a cavalry unit during the Tullahoma Campaign. Following the war, he was given the rank of colonel and commanded the 22nd US Infantry and served in the Dakota Territory where he commanded the Yellowstone Expedition of 1873. In 1879 he and his regiment were reassigned to Texas to suppress Indian raids in the western portion of the state. He was then ordered to Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 1882, and placed in command of the District of New Mexico. In March 1884, he was appointed a brigadier general in the regular army, and assigned command of the Department of Texas. He retired in 1892 with 40 years of continuous military service and died ten years later at the age of 73. His Medal of Honor citation reads: "At a critical moment rode to the front of one of his brigades, reestablished its lines, and gallantly led it in a successful assault." Stanley County in South Dakota is named in his honor.
Bio by: William Bjornstad
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