A Beloved Union General…
John Sedgwick (1813 – 1864) was born into a family of Revolutionary War veterans, that included one grandfather who had served as a general alongside George Washington. Sedgwick continued the family tradition of service, and became a respected and competent Union general and corps commander during the Civil War. His kindliness and paternal affection, combined with concern for his soldiers’ welfare, won him the love of his men and the nickname “Uncle John”. Unfortunately, he is more widely remembered for his dramatic demise than for his solid military career.
Sedgwick graduated from West Point in 1837 and was commissioned as an artillery officer. He served ably, and was still in uniform when the Civil War broke out in April, 1861. He was given command of a cavalry regiment, and by August, 1861, was promoted to command his own brigade in the Army of the Potomac. By February, 1862, he was in charge of his own division. He fought bravely in the Peninsula Campaign, and was twice wounded during the Seven Days Battles.