Civil War General

Civil War General Wesley Merritt Union Cavalry General 2

Civil War General Wesley Merritt Union Cavalry General 2
Civil War General Wesley Merritt Union Cavalry General 2

Civil War General Wesley Merritt Union Cavalry General 2   Civil War General Wesley Merritt Union Cavalry General 2
Added by J David Petruzzi. New York, New York County (Manhattan), New York, USA. 3 Dec 1910 (aged 76). Natural Bridge, Rockbridge County, Virginia, USA. United States Military Academy Post Cemetery. West Point, Orange County, New York, USA Show Map.

Section XXII, Row A, Site 009. Civil War Union Army Major General. Born in New York City, New York, he would become one of the lesser-known but most successful "boy generals" of the Civil War. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, placing 22nd in the class of 1860. A dragoon before the war, he held the rank of 1st Lieutenant when the war began.

Until mid-1863 he served mostly on staff duty in Washington, DC including 2 stints as aide to Major General George Stoneman, commander of cavalry in the Army of the Potomac. This, plus his capable performance near Middleburg 11 days later, enabled him to make an unprecedented leap to Brigadier General of Volunteers. During the remainder of the Gettysburg Campaign, he commanded the Reserve Cavalry Brigade, Army of the Potomac, comprising 4 regiments of Regulars and 1 of volunteers. That autumn, in a series of battles and skirmishes, he demonstrated his ability for higher command. Temporarily given a division in May 1864, he served capably at Todd's Tavern, the war's largest dismounted cavalry fight, and during Major General Philip H.

Sheridan's raid on Richmond, especially at Yellow Tavern where Confederate Major General J. That August he received permanent command of the 1st Cavalry Division in Sheridan's Army of the Shenandoah, which he led at Third Winchester, Luray, Cedar Creek, and Tom's Brook. In the last engagement he helped inflict on Major General Thomas L. Rosser's division one of the worst defeats suffered by Confederate cavalry during the war. In 1865 at Waynesborough and during the Appomattox Campaign he commanded Sheridan's cavalry corps as a brevet Major General of Volunteers.

Remaining in the army after the war, he rose to the rank of Major General, fought Indians, served as Superintendent of West Point from 1882 until 1887, and during the Spanish-American War he commanded the first Philippine Expedition of 1898 where he would later serve as the first Military Governor of the Philippines. He also was the officer to accept the Spanish surrender.

He advised the United States Peace Commissioners in Paris. He ended his military career as commander of the Department of the East, retiring on June 16, 1900, having served 40 years in the service of his country. Till the close of his career he remained a highly capable officer, his lack of fame largely owing to his quiet and modest nature. Ten years after his retirement, he died at his home in Natural Bridge, Virginia.

The item "Civil War General Wesley Merritt Union Cavalry General 2" is in sale since Sunday, December 22, 2019. This item is in the category "Collectibles\Autographs\Military". The seller is "civil_war_photos" and is located in Midland, Michigan. This item can be shipped worldwide.
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Civil War General Wesley Merritt Union Cavalry General 2   Civil War General Wesley Merritt Union Cavalry General 2