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Civil War Soldiers - Sickles
| Sickles, Daniel E., major-general,
U.S. Army, was born in the city of New York Oct. 20, 1825, his parents
being George G. and Susan (Marsh) Sickles. He was educated in the
University of New York, after which he learned the printer's trade and
followed that occupation for a few years. He then took up the study of
law, was admitted to the bar in 1846, and began the practice of his
profession in his native city. He soon became active in politics and
held a prominent place in the councils of Tammany Hall. In 1857 he was
elected to the legislature and about the same time was commissioned
major of the 12th regiment, N.G.S.N.Y. In 1853 he was made attorney
for the city, but resigned to become secretary of the legation in
London. In 1855 he returned to New York; was elected to the state
senate in 1856, and to Congress in 1857. When the Civil war broke out
he raised the Excelsior brigade, which in the Peninsular campaign of
1862 was the 2nd brigade, 2nd division, 3d army corps, and
distinguished itself at Williamsburg, Fair Oaks and in the Seven Days'
battles. Gen. Sickles took a prominent part on the battle of Antietam,
soon after which he became commander of a division. In 1863 he was
made a major-general and assigned to the command of the 3d corps. At
Gettysburg he lost a leg but continued in active service until 1865.
In 1865 he was assigned to the command of the military department of
the South and the same year went on a confidential mission to South
Maerica. In 1866 he was appointed colonel of the 42nd U.S. infantry
and assigned to the command of the district composed of the Carolinas.
In 1866 he was appointed minister to Holland, but declined. In 1869 he
was retired with the full rank of major-general and the same year
declined the mission to Mexico, but accepted an appointment to Spain,
where he served as U.S. minister until 1873. For several years he was
president of the state board of civil service commissioners; was
elected sheriff of New York in 1890; served in the lower house of
Congress from 1892 to 1894, and was active in the reorganization of
the New York, Lake Erie & Western Railroad Company. He still lives in
New York, practically retired from the active duties and cares of
life, though he still takes a keen interest in all questions of public
policy. Source: The Union Army: A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal
States 1861-1865, Volume 8 Biographical, 1908
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