Eli Long
Encyclopedia
Eli Long was a General in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
.
, and graduated from the Kentucky Military Institute
in 1855. In 1856, he was appointed second lieutenant in the 1st U.S. Cavalry Regiment, serving in a variety of frontier
outposts and occasionally battling hostile Indians. He was promoted to first lieutenant on March 1, 1861.
. At the outset of the war, on May 24, 1861, Long was promoted to captain in the 1st U.S. Cavalry. On August 3, 1861, he was transferred to the 4th U.S. Cavalry Regiment. On December 31, 1862, Long was wounded in the left shoulder at the Battle of Stones River
(Murfreesboro) while commanding Company K of the regiment.
On February 23, 1863, Long was appointed colonel
of the 4th Ohio Cavalry
, a regiment
which recently had surrendered to the Confederate raider, Brigadier General John Hunt Morgan
. Long improved the morale of the regiment and led it in the Tullahoma Campaign
. He commanded the regiment's brigade, the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, Cavalry Corps
of the Department of the Cumberland between March 1863 and August 20, 1864, including service at the Battle of Chickamauga
. Long was wounded in the left side at the Battle of Farmington, Tennessee, October 7, 1863. He was distinguished in the Atlanta Campaign
where he suffered a head wound at the Battle of Jonesboro, Georgia, August 20, 1864 and wounds in the right arm and right thigh at the Battle of Lovejoy's Station, Georgia, August 21, 1864. Long received brevet
grade appointments as major
, lieutenant colonel
, and colonel in the Regular Army of the United States for "gallant and meritorious services" at the Battle of Farmington and Battle of Fort Sanders
(Knoxville) in Tennessee and Battle of Lovejoy's Station in Georgia, respectively.
On August 18, 1864, President
Abraham Lincoln
appointed Long a brigadier general
in the volunteer army to rank from the same date. The President submitted the nomination to the U.S. Senate on December 12, 1864 and the U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment on February 14, 1865. Between November 16, 1864 and April 2, 1865, Long commanded the 2nd Division of the Cavalry Corps of the Military Division of Mississippi under Major General
James H. Wilson
. On April 2, 1865, during Wilson's Raid
, Long was severely wounded in the head at the Battle of Selma
, Alabama. During that battle he led the 2nd Division in a charge upon the entrenchments that resulted in the capture of that town.
During the Civil War, Long was wounded five times and also cited for gallantry five times. On January 13, 1866, President Andrew Johnson
nominated Long for appointment to the
brevet grade of major general of volunteers, to rank from March 13, 1865, and the U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment on March 12, 1866.
nominated Long for appointment to the brevet grade of brigadier general in the Regular Army of the United States, to rank from March 13, 1865, for gallantry at the Battle of Selma, and the U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment on May 4, 1866. On July 17, 1866, President Andrew Johnson nominated Long for appointment to the brevet grade of major general
in the Regular Army, to rank from March 13, 1865, for his services during the war, and the U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment on July 23, 1866.
After recovering from the wound suffered at the Battle of Selma, Long was assigned to command the Military District of New Jersey. Long retired from the U.S. Army with the full rank of major general, USA, on August 16, 1867. He then lived in Plainfield, New Jersey
, earning a living as a lawyer and borough recorder. He died on January 5, 1903 after an operation in a New York City hospital. Eli Long is buried in Hillside Cemetery at Plainfield.
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Early life
Long was born on June 16, 1837 in Woodford County, KentuckyWoodford County, Kentucky
Woodford County is a county located in the heart of the Bluegrass region of the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 23,208. Its county seat is Versailles. The county is named for General William Woodford, who was with General George Washington at Valley Forge...
, and graduated from the Kentucky Military Institute
Kentucky Military Institute
The Kentucky Military Institute was a military preparatory school in Lyndon, Kentucky and Venice, Florida, in operation from 1845 to 1971....
in 1855. In 1856, he was appointed second lieutenant in the 1st U.S. Cavalry Regiment, serving in a variety of frontier
Frontier
A frontier is a political and geographical term referring to areas near or beyond a boundary. 'Frontier' was absorbed into English from French in the 15th century, with the meaning "borderland"--the region of a country that fronts on another country .The use of "frontier" to mean "a region at the...
outposts and occasionally battling hostile Indians. He was promoted to first lieutenant on March 1, 1861.
American Civil War
Long served in the Western Theater of the American Civil WarWestern Theater of the American Civil War
This article presents an overview of major military and naval operations in the Western Theater of the American Civil War.-Theater of operations:...
. At the outset of the war, on May 24, 1861, Long was promoted to captain in the 1st U.S. Cavalry. On August 3, 1861, he was transferred to the 4th U.S. Cavalry Regiment. On December 31, 1862, Long was wounded in the left shoulder at the Battle of Stones River
Battle of Stones River
The Battle of Stones River or Second Battle of Murfreesboro , was fought from December 31, 1862, to January 2, 1863, in Middle Tennessee, as the culmination of the Stones River Campaign in the Western Theater of the American Civil War...
(Murfreesboro) while commanding Company K of the regiment.
On February 23, 1863, Long was appointed colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
of the 4th Ohio Cavalry
4th Ohio Cavalry
The 4th Ohio Cavalry was a cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The regiment was also known as the "Union Dragoons" and "Cincinnati Union Dragoons".-Service:...
, a regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
which recently had surrendered to the Confederate raider, Brigadier General John Hunt Morgan
John Hunt Morgan
John Hunt Morgan was a Confederate general and cavalry officer in the American Civil War.Morgan is best known for Morgan's Raid when, in 1863, he and his men rode over 1,000 miles covering a region from Tennessee, up through Kentucky, into Indiana and on to southern Ohio...
. Long improved the morale of the regiment and led it in the Tullahoma Campaign
Tullahoma Campaign
The Tullahoma Campaign or Middle Tennessee Campaign was fought between June 24 and July 3, 1863, during the American Civil War. The Union Army of the Cumberland, commanded by Maj. Gen. William S...
. He commanded the regiment's brigade, the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, Cavalry Corps
Cavalry Corps (ACW)
Two corps of the Union Army were called Cavalry Corps during the American Civil War. One served with the Army of the Potomac; the other served in the various armies of the West.- Overview :...
of the Department of the Cumberland between March 1863 and August 20, 1864, including service at the Battle of Chickamauga
Battle of Chickamauga
The Battle of Chickamauga, fought September 19–20, 1863, marked the end of a Union offensive in southeastern Tennessee and northwestern Georgia called the Chickamauga Campaign...
. Long was wounded in the left side at the Battle of Farmington, Tennessee, October 7, 1863. He was distinguished in the Atlanta Campaign
Atlanta Campaign
The Atlanta Campaign was a series of battles fought in the Western Theater of the American Civil War throughout northwest Georgia and the area around Atlanta during the summer of 1864. Union Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman invaded Georgia from the vicinity of Chattanooga, Tennessee, beginning in May...
where he suffered a head wound at the Battle of Jonesboro, Georgia, August 20, 1864 and wounds in the right arm and right thigh at the Battle of Lovejoy's Station, Georgia, August 21, 1864. Long received brevet
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
grade appointments as major
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
, lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
, and colonel in the Regular Army of the United States for "gallant and meritorious services" at the Battle of Farmington and Battle of Fort Sanders
Battle of Fort Sanders
The Battle of Fort Sanders was the decisive engagement of the Knoxville Campaign of the American Civil War, fought in Knoxville, Tennessee, on November 29, 1863. Assaults by Confederate Lt. Gen. James Longstreet failed to break through the defensive lines of Union Maj. Gen...
(Knoxville) in Tennessee and Battle of Lovejoy's Station in Georgia, respectively.
On August 18, 1864, President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
appointed Long a brigadier general
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
in the volunteer army to rank from the same date. The President submitted the nomination to the U.S. Senate on December 12, 1864 and the U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment on February 14, 1865. Between November 16, 1864 and April 2, 1865, Long commanded the 2nd Division of the Cavalry Corps of the Military Division of Mississippi under Major General
Major general (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general...
James H. Wilson
James H. Wilson
James Harrison Wilson was a United States Army topographic engineer, a Union Army Major General in the American Civil War and later wars, a railroad executive, and author.-Early life and engineering:...
. On April 2, 1865, during Wilson's Raid
Wilson's Raid
Wilson's Raid was a cavalry operation through Alabama and Georgia in March–April 1865, late in the American Civil War. Brig. Gen. James H. Wilson led his Union Army Cavalry Corps to destroy Southern manufacturing facilities and was opposed unsuccessfully by a much smaller force under ...
, Long was severely wounded in the head at the Battle of Selma
Battle of Selma
The Battle of Selma was a military engagement near the end of the American Civil War. It was fought in Selma, Alabama, on April 2, 1865. Union Army forces under Major General James H...
, Alabama. During that battle he led the 2nd Division in a charge upon the entrenchments that resulted in the capture of that town.
During the Civil War, Long was wounded five times and also cited for gallantry five times. On January 13, 1866, President Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson was the 17th President of the United States . As Vice-President of the United States in 1865, he succeeded Abraham Lincoln following the latter's assassination. Johnson then presided over the initial and contentious Reconstruction era of the United States following the American...
nominated Long for appointment to the
brevet grade of major general of volunteers, to rank from March 13, 1865, and the U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment on March 12, 1866.
Aftermath
Long was mustered out of the volunteer service on January 15, 1866 On April 10, 1866, President Andrew JohnsonAndrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson was the 17th President of the United States . As Vice-President of the United States in 1865, he succeeded Abraham Lincoln following the latter's assassination. Johnson then presided over the initial and contentious Reconstruction era of the United States following the American...
nominated Long for appointment to the brevet grade of brigadier general in the Regular Army of the United States, to rank from March 13, 1865, for gallantry at the Battle of Selma, and the U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment on May 4, 1866. On July 17, 1866, President Andrew Johnson nominated Long for appointment to the brevet grade of major general
Major general (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general...
in the Regular Army, to rank from March 13, 1865, for his services during the war, and the U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment on July 23, 1866.
After recovering from the wound suffered at the Battle of Selma, Long was assigned to command the Military District of New Jersey. Long retired from the U.S. Army with the full rank of major general, USA, on August 16, 1867. He then lived in Plainfield, New Jersey
Plainfield, New Jersey
Plainfield is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population increased to a record high of 49,808....
, earning a living as a lawyer and borough recorder. He died on January 5, 1903 after an operation in a New York City hospital. Eli Long is buried in Hillside Cemetery at Plainfield.
See also
- List of American Civil War generals