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Civil War Soldiers - McClernand
| McClernand, John A., major-general,
U.S. Army, was born near Hardinsburg, Ky., May 30, 1812. He moved with
his mother, after the death of his father in 1816, to Shawneetown,
Ill., where he was brought up on a farm, studied law, and was admitted
to the bar in 1832. In the same year he volunteered for the Black Hawk
war, and on his return engaged in trade for a time, and then, in 1835,
established at Shawneetown a paper called the "Democrat," which he
edited, at the same time practicing law. He was a representative in
the state legislature, 1836-42, and was appointed by the legislature
commissioner and treasurer of the Illinois & Michigan canal. He was a
presidential elector on the Van Buren and Johnson ticket in 1840, and
was a Democratic representative in Congress in 1843-51, and again in
1859-61. He resigned his seat in the 37th Congress to enter the United
States volunteer army, and with N. B. Buford, John A. Logan and Philip
B. Fouke he raised the McClernand brigade and was appointed by
President Lincoln brigadier-general, May 17, 1861. At the battle of
Belmont he commanded the 1st brigade of Grant's army, and at Fort
Donelson he did good service, commanding the right of the national
line. He was made major-general of volunteers March 21, 1862;
commanded the 1st division, Army of the Tennessee at Shiloh, and in
Jan., 1863, relieved Gen. Sherman in command of the expedition for the
capture of Vicksburg. He afterwards took part in the storming and
capture of Arkansas Post, and was at Port Gibson, Champion's hill, and
Big Black river, and also at the siege of Vicksburg. He was charged by
Grant with failing to support the troops engaged in the battle of
Champion's hill, and he was relieved of his command in July, 1863. He
was reinstated by President Lincoln, Jan. 31, 1864, but resigned from
the army on account of ill health, Nov. 30, 1864, and in 1865 resumed
his law practice in Springfield. He was circuit judge for the Sangamon
district 1870-73 ; chairman of the Democratic national convention in
St. Louis in 1876, and was appointed a member of the Utah commission
by President Cleveland in 1888. Gen. McClernand died in Springfield,
Ill., Sept. 20, 1890.
Source: The Union Army: A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal
States 1861-1865, Volume 8 Biographical, 1908
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