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Civil War Soldiers - Webb
| Webb, Alexander S., brigadier-general,
U.S. Army, was born in New York city Feb. 15, 1835, a son of Gen.
James Watson Webb, and was educated at private schools and at West
Point academy, where he was graduated in 1855. He was then
commissioned lieutenant in the 2nd artillery; served in the Florida
campaign and on frontier duty in Minnesota during the period from
1855-57; was then appointed assistant professor of mathematics at West
Point, and in Feb., 1861, was detailed to form a new battery from
among the soldiers there. It was from this company that young Webb was
detailed to guard, with soldiers in citizens' clothes, the
headquarters of Gen. Scott, the old soldier refusing to allow any
guard around his house. He was then detailed to light battery A and
proceeded to Fort Pickens, Fla., then in a state of siege. He left
Fort Pickens to take part with this battery in the first Bull Run
battle; remained at Centerville to cover the retreat the night after
McDowell's defeat; was then made assistant chief of artillery of the
Army of the Potomac; was next major of the 1st R. I. infantry, but
never joined the regiment; served with the Army of the Potomac during
the summer of 1862; was appointed assistant inspector-general with the
rank of lieutenant-colonel, and shortly afterward chief of staff of
the 5th army corps on the special recommendation of Gen. McClellan. In
Nov., 1862, he was appointed inspector of artillery and assigned to
duty at Camp Barry, Washington, where he remained till Jan., 1863,
when he returned to the field and served as assistant
inspector-general, 5th corps, until June 29, when he was commissioned
brigadier-general of volunteers and placed in command of the 2nd
brigade, 2nd division, 2nd corps. He was present with his brigade at
the battle of Gettysburg, and in repulsing Pickett's famous charge on
the third day was conspicuous for his bravery and military skill,
being wounded while leading his men. Subsequently he was awarded by
Gen. Meade a bronze medal for "distinguished personal gallantry on
that ever memorable field." and was brevetted major, U. S. A., for the
part he took in that struggle. He was in command of the 2nd division,
2nd corps, for one year, and at Bristoe Station during the Rapidan
campaign, his division, leading the 2nd corps, received the attack of
the whole of Hill's corps. From this Confederate corps he took 6 guns
and more than 2,000 prisoners. For this he was brevetted
lieutenant-colonel, U. S. A. He was in the battles of the Wilderness
and at Spottsylvania, was severely wounded during the last day's fight
and forced to retire from active service for the rest of the year,
being brevetted colonel, U. S. A., for gallant and meritorious
services at Spottsylvania. While on sickdeave, Aug. 1, 1864, he was
brevetted major-general of volunteers for gallant and distinguished
conduct at Gettysburg, Bristoe Station, the battles in the Wilderness,
and Spottsylvania. On Jan. 11, 1865, he returned to active service as
chief-of-staff to Gen. George G. Meade, commanding the Army of the
Potomac in the operations before Petersburg, and so served during the
campaign which resulted in the surrender of the Confederates under
Gen. Lee. He was brevetted brigadier-general, U. S. A., for gallant
and meritorious services in the campaign which terminated with the
surrender of Gen. Lee, and at the same time was brevetted
major-general, U. S. A., for gallant and meritorious services during
the Civil war. In June, 1865, he was assigned to duty by the president
with the rank of major-general, U. S. A., to act as inspector- general
of the military division of the Atlantic. Gen. Webb was mustered out
of the volunteer service on Jan. 15, 1866, and became principal
assistant professor of geography, history and ethics, at West Point.
On the reorganization of the army he was appointed lieutenant-colonel
of the 44th infantry, which regiment he commanded in the Department of
Washington, then as major-general, U. S. A., commanded the first
military district, and was, at his own request, honorably discharged
from the service on Dec. 3, 1870. To finish his military career it is
well to state that the retiring board, before which he appeared in
1870, wanted evidence of Gen. Webb's disability, which he did not know
it was necessary for him to furnish. Through this misunderstanding the
board failed to recommend his retirement and Gen. Webb resigned.
Source: The Union Army: A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal
States 1861-1865, Volume 8 Biographical, 1908
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