Civil War Union Army Brigadier General. Nicknamed "Old Brick Top", when the Civil War began he was released from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York for field duty in the fall of 1861. By December he was made Colonel of the 8th Ohio Volunteer Infantry joining his command in West Virginia. Known as a fearless leader, he fought in the Shenandoah Valley Campaign, Cedar Mountain and was wounded at Rapidan River. He then fought at the Battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. In 1863, he was placed in command of a Brigade in the Union's II Corps at Gettysburg. There on Cemetery Hill on the Second Day of the battle, he skillfully positioned his men for the attack, pushed the Confederates off the hill and left one regiment in support that repelled Major General George E. Pickett's charge the next day. In 1864, he was promoted Brigadier General, US Volunteers and at the Battle of Spotsylvania in May, his arm was splintered by a bullet putting him out of action for the rest of the war. For extreme gallantry and devotion to duty, he was brevetted Major General of US Volunteers in 1865.

Civil War Union Army Brigadier General. Nicknamed "Old Brick Top", when the Civil War began he was released from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York for field duty in the fall of 1861. By December he was made Colonel of the 8th Ohio Volunteer Infantry joining his command in West Virginia. Known as a fearless leader, he fought in the Shenandoah Valley Campaign, Cedar Mountain and was wounded at Rapidan River. He then fought at the Battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. In 1863, he was placed in command of a Brigade in the Union's II Corps at Gettysburg. There on Cemetery Hill on the Second Day of the battle, he skillfully positioned his men for the attack, pushed the Confederates off the hill and left one regiment in support that repelled Major General George E. Pickett's charge the next day. In 1864, he was promoted Brigadier General, US Volunteers and at the Battle of Spotsylvania in May, his arm was splintered by a bullet putting him out of action for the rest of the war. For extreme gallantry and devotion to duty, he was brevetted Major General of US Volunteers in 1865.

Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith