Civil War Union Brevet Major General, Medal of Honor Recipient. He was born in Owego, New York. He raised the first company of Volunteers for the Civil War on the day of President Abraham Lincoln's call for 75,000 troops. He served as Captain of the 3rd New York Volunteer Infantry, from May 14, 1861, until March 14, 1862, when he resigned. A few months later, he was appointed First Lieutenant and Adjutant of the 109th New York Volunteer Infantry, on August 2, 1862. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on August 28, 1862, and to Colonel, on July 29, 1864. He was Brevetted Brigadier General of Volunteers, on March 13, 1865, "for gallant and meritorious services during the war," and for his actions in the battles before Petersburg, Virginia, in which he lost his right leg. He was honorably mustered out of the army on June 4, 1865. To honor him for his heroic service to the United States, he was appointed Captain of the 45th United States Infantry, on May 6, 1867. Also on that same date he was Brevetted twice, once as a Major for his distinguished conduct during the Battle of the Wilderness, and as a Lieutenant Colonel, again for deeds done at Petersburg. He retired from the military with the rank of Colonel, on May 6, 1870. However he was promoted to Brigadier General, United States Army, on the retired list by act of Congress on April 23, 1904. After his military career, he served as assistant United States District Attorney. With this experience, in 1877, he was elected district attorney, in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York. He was reelected to the post in 1880. He was nominated for mayor of Brooklyn, New York, in 1885, but did not win election. In 1893, he was nominated for Congress, but declined the nomination. Three years later, he was offered another nomination, this time for lieutenant governor of New York. Again he declined. He was originally a Republican, then became a Cleveland Democrat. He supported the war policy of William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt during the Spanish-American War. He was awarded the Medal of Honor on January 13, 1899, for his most distinguished gallantry in action at Petersburg during the explosion of the mine at the Crater. His citation reads: In a heroic effort to rally the disorganized troops was disabled by a severe wound. While being carried from the field he recovered somewhat and bravely started to return to his command, when he received a second wound, which necessitated amputation of his right leg. He later would write a book about his life, "Memoirs of Civil and Military Career" and lived out the rest of his life quietly, dying at his home in Brooklyn.

Civil War Union Brevet Major General, Medal of Honor Recipient. He was born in Owego, New York. He raised the first company of Volunteers for the Civil War on the day of President Abraham Lincoln's call for 75,000 troops. He served as Captain of the 3rd New York Volunteer Infantry, from May 14, 1861, until March 14, 1862, when he resigned. A few months later, he was appointed First Lieutenant and Adjutant of the 109th New York Volunteer Infantry, on August 2, 1862. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on August 28, 1862, and to Colonel, on July 29, 1864. He was Brevetted Brigadier General of Volunteers, on March 13, 1865, "for gallant and meritorious services during the war," and for his actions in the battles before Petersburg, Virginia, in which he lost his right leg. He was honorably mustered out of the army on June 4, 1865. To honor him for his heroic service to the United States, he was appointed Captain of the 45th United States Infantry, on May 6, 1867. Also on that same date he was Brevetted twice, once as a Major for his distinguished conduct during the Battle of the Wilderness, and as a Lieutenant Colonel, again for deeds done at Petersburg. He retired from the military with the rank of Colonel, on May 6, 1870. However he was promoted to Brigadier General, United States Army, on the retired list by act of Congress on April 23, 1904. After his military career, he served as assistant United States District Attorney. With this experience, in 1877, he was elected district attorney, in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York. He was reelected to the post in 1880. He was nominated for mayor of Brooklyn, New York, in 1885, but did not win election. In 1893, he was nominated for Congress, but declined the nomination. Three years later, he was offered another nomination, this time for lieutenant governor of New York. Again he declined. He was originally a Republican, then became a Cleveland Democrat. He supported the war policy of William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt during the Spanish-American War. He was awarded the Medal of Honor on January 13, 1899, for his most distinguished gallantry in action at Petersburg during the explosion of the mine at the Crater. His citation reads: In a heroic effort to rally the disorganized troops was disabled by a severe wound. While being carried from the field he recovered somewhat and bravely started to return to his command, when he received a second wound, which necessitated amputation of his right leg. He later would write a book about his life, "Memoirs of Civil and Military Career" and lived out the rest of his life quietly, dying at his home in Brooklyn.

Bio by: Ugaalltheway