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Civil War Soldiers - Cullum
| Cullum, George W., brigadier-general,
U.S. Army, was born in New York city, Feb. 25, 1809, was graduated in
the military academy at West Point in 1833, standing third in his
class, and, being assigned to the engineer corps, was promoted captain
in 1838, and superintended the construction of government works at New
London, Conn., and in Boston harbor. He organized platoon trains for
use in the Mexican war, was instructor in engineering at West Point
from 1848 to 1855 and then, until 1861, superintended the construction
of government works at New York city, Charleston, S. C, New Bedford,
Mass., Newport, R. I., and New London, Conn. He was ordered to
Washington, April 9, 1861, as aide-de-camp of Gen. Scott, then
commander-in-chief of the army, was promoted major of engineers, Aug.
6, 1861, and, upon the resignation of Gen. Scott, Oct. 31, 1861, was
commissioned brigadier-general of volunteers the next day. He was
appointed chief engineer of the Department of the Missouri, and was
made chief of staff to Gen. Halleck, commanding that department. He
directed engineering operations on the western rivers, was for some
time in command at Cairo, was engaged as chief of engineers in the
siege of Corinth, and then, after accompanying Gen. Halleck to
Washington, was employed in inspecting fortifications, examining
engineering inventions, and on various engineer boards. He was also
from 1861 to 1864 member of the U. S. sanitary commission, and in the
autumn of 1864 was employed in projecting fortifications for
Nashville, Tenn., which had been selected as a base of operations and
depot of supplies for the western armies. He was then, from Sept.,
1864, until Aug., 1866, superintendent of the U. S. military academy
at West Point. He was brevetted major-general U. S. A., March 13,
1865. He served on various boards for national defense until 1874, and
on Jan. 13, 1874, retired from active service on account of his age.
He then devoted himself to military, literary and scientific studies.
He married the widow of Gen. Halleck, and, in conjunction with his
wife, gave $200,000 to the New York cancer hospital. By his will he
bequeathed over a quarter of a million dollars to the U. S. military
academy to build a memorial hall. He died in New York city, Feb. 29,
1892.
Source: The Union Army: A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal
States 1861-1865, Volume 8 Biographical, 1908
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