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Civil War Soldiers - Torbert
| Torbert, Alfred T. A.,
brigadier-general, U.S. Army, was born in the state of Delaware in
1833, and was the cadet from that state in the military academy at
West Point from Sept. 1, 1851, to July 1, 1855, when he was graduated
and entered the army as brevet second lieutenant of infantry. He
served on frontier duty in conducting recruits to Texas, 1855-56; was
commissioned second lieutenant in the 5th infantry on July 19, 1855;
was engaged in the Florida hostilities against the Seminole Indians,
1856-57; was on frontier duty on the Utah expedition, 1857-60; then in
the march to New Mexico, and was stationed at Fort Stanton, N. M.,
1860-61, being commissioned first lieutenant in the 5th infantry, Feb.
25, 1861. He served during the Civil war, first in mustering New
Jersey volunteers into service from April 17 to Sept. 1, 1861; was
commissioned colonel of the 1st N. J. infantry Sept. 16, captain in
the 5th infantry Sept. 25, 1861, and was in command of his regiment in
the defenses of Washington, stationed near Alexandria, Va., from Sept.
17, 1861, to March 10, 1862. He was in the Peninsular campaign with
the Army of the Potomac, being engaged in the siege of Yorktown, the
action at West Point, and the battles of Gaines' mill and Charles City
cross-roads. He was in command of a brigade in the 6th corps from Aug.
28, 1862, in the northern Virginia campaign, being engaged in the
battle of Manassas; in the Maryland campaign with the Army of the
Potomac, being engaged in the battles of South mountain and Antietam,
and in the march to Falmouth, Va. On Nov. 29, 1862, he was
commissioned brigadier-general of volunteers and participated in the
Rappahannock campaign. In command of a brigade of the 6th corps, Army
of the Potomac, he was in the Pennsylvania campaign, being in the
battle of Gettysburg, the skirmish at Fairfield, Pa., and the pursuit
of the enemy to Warrenton, Va. On July 4, 1863, he was brevetted
major, U. S. A., for gallant and meritorious services at the battle of
Gettysburg. He was engaged in the Rapidan campaign, participating in
the action at Rappahannock station and the operations at Mine run. He
was in command of the 1st cavalry division, Army of the Potomac,
during April and May, 1864, and participated in the Richmond campaign,
being engaged in the actions at Milford Station, the North Anna river,
Hanovertown, where he was in command, Haw's shop, Matadequin creek,
where he was again in command, battle of Cold Harbor, Trevilian
Station, Mallory's cross-roads, Tunstall's station, and at Darbytown.
He was brevetted lieutenant-colonel, U. S. A., on May 28, 1864, for
gallant and meritorious services at the battle of Haw's shop. He
served as chief of cavalry of the middle military division in the
Shenandoah campaign; was in command at the battles of Winchester and
Kearneysville; was brevetted major-general of volunteers Sept. 9,
1864, for distinguished services during the rebellion; and on Sept.
19, 1864, he was given the brevet rank of colonel, U. S. A., for
gallant and meritorious services at the battle of Winchester. He was
in command at the actions of Milford, Luray, Waynesboro, Mount
Crawford and Tom's brook; was engaged in the battle of Cedar creek and
the actions near Middletown, and was in command at Liberty mills and
Gordonsville. He was brevetted brigadier-general, U. S. A., March 13,
1865, for gallant and meritorious services at the battle of Cedar
creek, and on the same date received the brevet rank of major-
general, U. S. A., for gallant and meritorious services in the field
during the rebellion. He was in command of the Army of the Shenandoah,
with headquarters at Winchester, Va., from April 22 to July 12, 1865,
of the District of Winchester from July 12 to Sept. 1, and of the
District of Southeastern Virginia from Sept. 1 to Dec. 31, 1865, and
he was mustered out of the volunteer service Jan. 15, 1866. He
resigned from the regular army Oct. 31, 1866. He served as United
States minister resident to the Central American states from April 21,
1869, to July 10, 1871; was U. S. consul-general at Havana, Cuba, from
July 10, 1871, to Nov. 6, 1873, and served in the same capacity at
Paris, France, from Nov. 6, 1873, to May, 1878. Gen. Torbert was
drowned, Aug. 29, 1880, by the wrecking of the steamer Vera Cruz, off
Cape Canaveral, Fla. Source: The Union Army: A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal
States 1861-1865, Volume 8 Biographical, 1908
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