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Civil War Soldiers - Heintzelman

Heintzelman, Samuel P., major-general, U.S. Army, was born in Manheim, Pa., Sept. 30, 1805. He was graduated at West Point in 1826, served as lieutenant of infantry in the west and in Florida until 1847 when he was promoted captain, and also served in the Mexican war, being brevetted major for gallantry at Huamantla. He was then in California until 1855, engaged against Indians and in establishing Fort Yuma, operated against Mexican marauders on the Rio Grande, 1859-60, was brevetted lieutenant-colonel in May, 1861, for meritorious services against Indians in California, and was ordered to Washington. In the same month he was commissioned colonel of the 17th U. S. infantry and made brigadier-general of volunteers and inspector-general of troops at Washington. He commanded the forces that captured Alexandria, Va., May 24, 1861, and distinguished himself at Bull Run, where he commanded the 3d division of McDowell's army, being wounded in that engagement. He commanded the 3d corps in the Army of the Potomac in March, 1862, before Yorktown, at Malvern hill, Beaver Dam, Oak Grove, Savage Station, and Frazer's farm, and also in the Peninsular campaign. He won promotion to major-general of volunteers for his action in the battle of Williamsburg, May 5, 1862, and at Fair Oaks or Seven Pines, Va., he distinguished himself in both the first and second days' fighting, for which he was brevetted brigadier-general in the regular army. He led the 3d corps in the seven days' fighting about Richmond, subsequently joined Pope in his Virginia campaign, and at the second battle of Bull Run his corps formed the right wing of Pope's army. He was in command of the defenses of Washington during the Maryland campaign, and later he was appointed to the command of the department of Washington and the 23d corps, which appointment he held during the battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. He was relieved of his command in Oct., 1863, and from Jan. to Oct., 1864, he commanded the northern department, including the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Michigan, serving after that on court-martial duty. He was brevetted major-general U. S. A. March 13, 1865, was mustered out of the volunteer service in August of that year, and in September resumed command of his regiment, being stationed first in New York harbor and subsequently in Texas. He was retired with the rank of colonel, Feb. 22, 1869, and on April 29, 1869, was by special act of Congress placed on the retired list with the full rank of major-general to date from his retirement. He died in Washington, D. C., May 1, 1880.

Source: The Union Army: A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal States 1861-1865, Volume 8 Biographical, 1908
 


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