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Civil War Soldiers - Saxton

Saxton, Rufus, brigadier-general, U.S. Army, was born in Greenfield, Mass., Oct. 19, 1824. He received an academic education, and was graduated at the West Point military academy in 1849. He was assigned to the 3d artillery, took part in an exploring expedition to the Rocky mountains in 1853 and 1854, and in 1855 was promoted to be first lieutenant. Between 1855 and 1861 he was engaged on the coast survey and as instructor at West Point. At the opening of the Civil war he served under Gen. McClellan in western Virginia, and as quartermaster to Gen. T. W. Sherman in the Port Royal expedition, and on April 15, 1862, was raised to the rank of brigadier- general of volunteers. For a few weeks in 1862 he was commander at Harper's Ferry, where he repulsed an attack by Gen. Ewell, and then, until 1865, was military governor of the Department of the South. On Jan. 12, 1865, he was brevetted major-general of volunteers, on April 9 he was given the brevet rank of brigadier-general in the regular army "for faithful and meritorious services during the war," and in July, 1866, was appointed quartermaster with the rank of major. He was made lieutenant-colonel and deputy quartermaster-general in June, 1872, and colonel and assistant quartermaster- general in March, 1882. From 1883 until 1888 he was stationed at Louisville, Ky., and in October of the latter year was placed on the retired list.

Source: The Union Army: A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal States 1861-1865, Volume 8 Biographical, 1908
 


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