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Civil War Soldiers - Gresham
| Gresham, Walter Q., brigadier-general,
U.S. Army, was born in Lanesville, Harrison county, Ind., March 17,
1833. He was educated at Corydon seminary and the University of
Indiana, studied law in the office of Judge William A. Porter, and was
admitted to the bar in 1854, entering a partnership with Judge Thomas
C. Slaughter. He canvassed the state in that year in the interest of
his partner, who was candidate for Congress on the anti- Nebraska bill
ticket, canvassed the state in 1856 for John C. Fremont, and in 1860
was elected to the state legislature, where he was chairman of the
military committee. At the beginning of the Civil war he offered his
services to the government, and, on being refused a commission,
organized a company at Corydon, of which he was chosen captain,
becoming later lieutenant-colonel of the 38th Ind. volunteers. He was
promoted colonel of the 53d regiment in December, and was present at
Shiloh, the siege of Corinth, and the siege of Vicksburg, and then, on
recommendation of Gen. Grant, he was promoted brigadier-general of
volunteers, Aug. 11, 1863. Being then assigned to Sherman's army, he
commanded the 4th division of the 17th corps at Atlanta, and for
gallantry at Atlanta was brevetted major-general of volunteers, March
13, 1865. He was shot in the knee in the engagement at Bald hill, Ga.,
July 22, 1864 and his wound incapacitated him for further active
service. After the war Gen. Gresham attained prominence as a
politician and statesman. He was an unsuccessful candidate for
Congress in 1864 and 1866, was financial agent at New York for the
state of Indiana, 1867-68, and from 1869-82 United States district
judge for Indiana under appointment from President Grant. He was, then
postmaster-general under President Arthur, for three months secretary
of the treasury after the death of Secretary Folger, and then United
States judge for the Seventh judicial district until 1893, when he
resigned to accept the portfolio of state in President Cleveland's
cabinet. This office he held at the time of his death, which occurred
in Washington, D. C., May 28, 1895. Source: The Union Army: A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal
States 1861-1865, Volume 8 Biographical, 1908
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