| If this website has been useful to you, please consider
making a Donation.
Your support will help keep this website free for everyone, and will allow us to do
more research. Thank you for your support! |
Civil War Soldiers - Vandever
| Vandever, William, brigadier-general,
U.S. Army, was born in Baltimore, Md., March 31, 1817. He received an
academic education, studied law, moved to Illinois in 1839, and
settled in Iowa in 1851. His industry and sterling qualities soon
began to make an impression among the pioneers of those days, with the
result that in 1859-61 he represented the Dubuque district in Congress
as a Republican. After the battle of Bull Run Congressman Vandever
promptly waited on Sec. Cameron and offered to recruit a regiment and
a battery of artillery in Iowa for the defense of the Union, which
offer was promptly accepted. Col. Vandever being authorized to proceed
and have his regiment and artillery company ready for service as soon
as possible. Relinquishing his seat in the house he returned home,
organized his regiment under the title of the 9th Ia. infantry, and
led it to the field with the battery known as the 3d Ia. battery. He
accompanied Gen. Curtis in his southwestern campaign and commanded a
brigade in the battle of Pea ridge. The day before this battle he and
his men accomplished a remarkable march of 45 miles (having been sent
away on reconnoitering duty) in order to reinforce the main body. When
first recommended for a brigadier-general's commission he declined
that honor, modestly intimating that he still lacked experience.
However, he finally accepted the proffered honor after the battle of
Arkansas Post, "for gallant and meritorious services." He participated
in the Vicksburg and Atlanta campaigns under Gen. Sherman and was
stationed at Kennesaw mountain previous to the battle of Allatoona. At
this time he succeeded in signaling over the heads of the Confederates
to the officer commanding at Allatoona, the celebrated message,
"Sherman says. 'Hold on. I am coming.' " On March 19, 1865, he did
gallant work at Bentonville, N. C., in repelling the sudden assault of
Gen. Johnston on Sherman's left wing, for which he was brevetted a
major- general of volunteers. After the war Gen. Vandever resumed the
practice of law for a while and then, from 1873 until 1877, was a
government Indian inspector. In 1886 he moved to California and
settled in San Buenaventura, but was soon discovered in his retirement
by the Republican party, elected to Congress the same year and
reelected in 1888. Gen. Vandever died July 23, 1893. Source: The Union Army: A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal
States 1861-1865, Volume 8 Biographical, 1908
|
|
Whats New
Bibliography
About Us |