Civil War Union Brigadier General. He was born in Blankenburg in the Duchy of Brunswick, now a state in modern Germany. Coming from a family of Prussian military officers, he went to the Brunswick Military Academy, and came to America in 1847 in an attempt to get a commission in the United States Army. Failing this, he settled in Connecticut. Out the outbreak of the Civil War, he was appointed Colonel and commander of the 29th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment. He rose to the rank of Brigadier General, US Volunteers and was given command of the 2nd Division of the XI Corps in the Army of the Potomac. His division suffered heavy losses at the Second Battle of Bull Run and were routed at Chancellorsville. On July 1, 1863, on the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg, his division put up a strong defense against the Confederate onslaught before being routed along with the rest of the XI Corps. On the third day at Gettysburg, his division was on Cemetery Hill to help repulse Pickett's Charge. He went with the XI when it was sent west in 1864 where they fought at the Battle of Chattanooga. However, in April of 1865, after a reorganization of the army, he was demoted to command of a brigade. Feeling that he was passed over, he resigned his commission. After the war, he taught at Yale University, worked for the government and wrote several books. He died in Buffalo, New York.
Civil War Union Brigadier General. He was born in Blankenburg in the Duchy of Brunswick, now a state in modern Germany. Coming from a family of Prussian military officers, he went to the Brunswick Military Academy, and came to America in 1847 in an attempt to get a commission in the United States Army. Failing this, he settled in Connecticut. Out the outbreak of the Civil War, he was appointed Colonel and commander of the 29th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment. He rose to the rank of Brigadier General, US Volunteers and was given command of the 2nd Division of the XI Corps in the Army of the Potomac. His division suffered heavy losses at the Second Battle of Bull Run and were routed at Chancellorsville. On July 1, 1863, on the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg, his division put up a strong defense against the Confederate onslaught before being routed along with the rest of the XI Corps. On the third day at Gettysburg, his division was on Cemetery Hill to help repulse Pickett's Charge. He went with the XI when it was sent west in 1864 where they fought at the Battle of Chattanooga. However, in April of 1865, after a reorganization of the army, he was demoted to command of a brigade. Feeling that he was passed over, he resigned his commission. After the war, he taught at Yale University, worked for the government and wrote several books. He died in Buffalo, New York.
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