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Civil War Soldiers - Morell
| Morell, George W., major-general, U.S.
Army, was born in Cooperstown, N. Y., Jan. 8, 1815. He was graduated
at the United States military academy in 1835 and assigned to the
corps of engineers, but resigned in 1837 to become assistant engineer
in the construction of the Charleston & Cincinnati railroad. He held a
similar position with the Michigan Central railroad in 1838-39, then
removed to New York city, and was admitted to the bar in 1842. From
1854 to 1861 he was commissioner of the United States circuit court
for the Southern district of New York. He had been appointed, in 1846,
major of a New York regiment of volunteers for the Mexican war, but it
was never mustered in, and at the beginning of the Civil war he was
colonel and chief of staff to Gov. Sanford for organizing regiments
and forwarding them to the seat of war. On Aug. 9, 1861, he was
commissioned brigadier-general of volunteers, and in 1861-62 he served
in the defenses of Washington. He served subsequently in the Army of
the Potomac in the Peninsular campaign, commanding a brigade in the
skirmish at Howard's bridge, April 4, 1862, and in the siege of
Yorktown, April to May, 1862. He commanded the 1st division of
Hancock's corps in the capture of Hanover Court House, and at Beaver
Dam creek, Gaines' mill, and Malvern hill. He was promoted
major-general of volunteers, July 4, 1862, but the appointment expired
March 4, 1863, the nomination not being made to the senate. Gen.
Morell subsequently took part in the battles of Manassas, or second
Bull Run, and Antietam, where he pursued Lee's fleeing cavalry after
the battle, and on Sept. 20 was driven back from the heights of the
river bank near Shepherdstown ; and he was in command of troops
guarding the upper Potomac from Oct. to Dec, 1862. He was then on
waiting orders at Washington, 1862-63, in command of a draft
rendezvous at Indianapolis, Ind., 1863-64, and was mustered out of the
service Dec. 15, 1864. He then engaged in farming near Scarborough, N.
Y., and died there, Feb. 12, 1883.
Source: The Union Army: A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal
States 1861-1865, Volume 8 Biographical, 1908
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