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Civil War Soldiers - Kearny
| Kearny, Philip, major-general, U.S.
Army, was born in New York city, June 2, 1815. He was graduated at
Columbia in 1833 and studied law, but in 1837 accepted a commission as
2nd lieutenant in the 1st dragoons, commanded by his uncle, Gen.
Stephen Watts Kearny, and served at Jefferson barracks and on the
frontier. In 1839 he went to France with two other officers to study
military tactics at the Royal cavalry school, at Saumur. After six
months of this experience he went to Algiers as honorary aide-de-camp
to the Duke of Orleans, and was present in several notable exploits
while attached to the First Chasseurs d'Afrique in the campaign
against Abdel-Kader, the Arab chief. On returning to the United States
in the autumn of 1840 he was made aide-de-camp to Gen. Alexander
Macomb, commander-in-chief of the U. S. army, and to his successor,
Gen. Winfield Scott, 1840-44. He was at Fort Leavenworth and
accompanied the expedition through the South Pass, 1844-46, resigned
his commission, April 2, 1846, and at the outbreak of the Mexican war
was reinstated. He recruited his company up to the war footing at
Springfield, equipped it magnificently and operated at first along the
Rio Grande, but later joined Gen. Scott on his march to Mexico, the
company acting as body-guard to the general-in-chief. Kearny was
promoted captain in Dec, 1846, and distinguished himself at Contreras
and Churubusco, and at the close of the latter battle, as the Mexicans
were retreating into the capital, Capt. Kearny, at the head of his
dragoons, followed them into the city itself. While retreating he was
shot in the left arm, which caused that member to be amputated. For
this action he was brevetted major, and, on returning to New York, he
was presented with a splendid sword by the Union club. After being
stationed in New York on recruiting service he was engaged, in 1851,
in the campaign against the Rogue river Indians, but resigned in
October of that year and took a trip around the world. In 1859 he was
again in France, and, joining his old comrades in the 1st Chasseurs
d'Afrique, participated in the war in Italy, winning by his gallantry
on the field of Solferino the decoration of the cross of the Legion of
Honor. Returning to the United States shortly after the beginning of
the Civil war, he offered his services to the national government and
to his native state, and, no command being conceded him, entered the
volunteer service as commander of the 1st N. J. brigade. He was
subsequently given by President Lincoln a commission as
brigadier-general of volunteers, to date from May 17, 1861, and was
assigned to command the 1st N. J. brigade in Gen. William B.
Franklin's division, Army of the Potomac. Gen. Kearny was present at
the battle of Williamsburg, where, arriving at 2:30 p. m., he
reinforced Gen. Hooker's division, recovered the ground lost and
turned defeat into victory. He served through the engagements of the
Peninsula, then, with the Army of Virginia, from Rapidan to Warrenton.
He was given command of a division in May, 1862, and was given a
commission as major-general of volunteers to bear the date of July 4,
which, however, never reached him. At the second battle of Bull Run he
was in command on the right and forced Jackson's corps back against
Gen. Longstreet's men. He was killed on the battleground of Chantilly,
Va., Sept. 1, 1862. Gen. Kearny had, while reconnoitering,
inadvertently penetrated the Confederate lines and was trying to
escape when he was shot through the spine and instantly killed. His
remains were sent by Lee under flag of truce to Gen. Hooker, and in
City Park, Newark, N. J., the citizens of New Jersey erected a statue
to his memory. Gen. Scott said of Kearny, "He was the bravest man I
ever knew and the most perfect soldier." Source: The Union Army: A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal
States 1861-1865, Volume 8 Biographical, 1908
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