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Civil War Soldiers - McArthur
| McArthur, John, brigadier-general,
U.S. Army, was born in Erskine, Scotland, Nov. 17, 1826. He attended
the public schools and worked in his father's blacksmith shop until
1849, when he immigrated to America and, locating in Chicago, Ill.,
secured employment as a boiler-maker and afterwards established a
business of his own. He was captain of the "Highland Guards" attached
to the state militia, and in 1861 this company volunteered and became
part of the 12th Ill. regiment, of which he became colonel on May 3,
1861. He commanded a brigade under Grant at the assault on Fort
Donelson in Feb., 1862, and for his gallantry was promoted
brigadier-general on March 21 following. At Shiloh he received a wound
in the foot during the first day's fight, but returned to the battle
after the wound had been dressed and succeeded to the command of the
2nd division after Gen. William H. L. Wallace was mortally wounded. He
commanded a brigade at Corinth, Oct. 3-4, 1862, and the 6th division,
17th army corps, Army of the Tennessee, during the Vicksburg campaign,
May 1, 1863, to July 4, 1863. At the battle of Nashville, where he
commanded a division under Gen. A. J. Smith, he took a conspicuous
part and distinguished himself by gallantry, leading his division in
the assault of the salient point in the enemy's line after Gen. Couch
had refused the privilege of charging. For this he was brevetted
major-general of volunteers, Dec. 15, 1864. He was mustered out of the
service, Aug. 24, 1865, and returned to Chicago, where he was
president of the board of commissioners of public works during the
fire of 1871, and postmaster of the city from 1873-77.
Source: The Union Army: A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal
States 1861-1865, Volume 8 Biographical, 1908
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