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Civil War Soldiers - Newton
| Newton, John, major-general, U.S.
Army, was born in Norfolk, Va., Aug. 24, 1823. He was graduated at the
United States military academy, second in his class, in 1842, and was
engaged as assistant professor of engineering at that school, and on
various engineering works, until 1860, except in 1858, when he was
chief engineer of the Utah expedition, receiving promotion to captain,
July 1, 1856. He was appointed chief engineer of the Department of
Pennsylvania at the outbreak of the Civil war, then held a similar
position in the Department of the Shenandoah, was promoted major in
Aug., 1861, and from then until March, 1862, was chief engineer in
charge of the defenses of Washington, being in command also of a
brigade for the defence of the capital, and receiving promotion to the
rank of brigadier-general of volunteers, Sept. 23, 1861. He served
during the Peninsular campaign in the Army of the Potomac as commander
of a brigade, and took part in the action at West Point and the
battles of Gaines' mill and Glendale, and he covered the retreat of
Pope's army from Bull Run to Washington, Sept. 1-2, 1862. He then
served in the Maryland campaign, engaging in the battle of South
mountain, and also at Antietam, where he won the brevet promotion to
lieutenant-colonel for gallantry ; and he commanded the 3d division,
6th corps, Army of the Potomac, at Fredericksburg and in the
Chancellorsville campaign, the successful assault on Marye's heights
being under his direction. He was promoted major-general of
volunteers, March 30, 1863, and at Gettysburg on July 2 he succeeded
to the command of the 1st corps after the death of Gen. Reynolds,
being brevetted colonel for his services in this action. He engaged
then in the pursuit of the Confederate army to Warrenton, and was in
the Rapidan campaign, in October-December. He was placed in command of
the 2nd division of the 4th corps of the Army of the Cumberland, under
Gen. Oliver O. Howard, in May, 1864, and took part in all the
important engagements of the invasion of Georgia, including the battle
of Peachtree creek and the siege and occupation of Atlanta. On March
13, 1865, Gen. Newton was brevetted brigadier-general and major-
general in the regular army, and his commission as major-general in
the volunteer army having been revoked April 18, 1864, was brevetted
major- general of volunteers on the same date for gallant and
meritorious services during the war. From Oct., 1864, to Jan. 24,
1866, he was in command of the state and of various districts in the
state of Florida, and was honorably mustered out of the volunteer
service, Jan. 31, 1866. He was promoted lieutenant-colonel of
engineers, Dec. 28, 1865, was promoted colonel in 1879, and on March
6, 1884, became chief of engineers with the rank of brigadier-general.
After the war he was in charge of various engineering works which won
him world-wide fame as an engineer. His most important achievement was
the removing of obstructions from the channel at Hell Gate, East
river, N. Y. These obstructions, known as Hallett's reef and Flood
rock, were duly exploded on Sept. 24, 1876, and Oct. 10, 1885. Gen.
Newton was retired, Aug. 27, 1886, and in 1887-88 was superintendent
of public works in New York city. He died in New York city, May 1,
1895.
Source: The Union Army: A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal
States 1861-1865, Volume 8 Biographical, 1908
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