George P. Buell
Encyclopedia
George Pearson Buell was an American
civil engineer
and soldier. He served as a Union Army
general during the American Civil War
, and remained in the United States Army
following the conflict.
, in 1833, a first cousin of future Union general Don Carlos Buell
. He attended Norwich University in 1856, and later became City Engineer of Leavenworth, Kansas
. He then mined for gold and later was a civil engineer in Colorado
.
and entered the volunteer ranks of his birth state in 1861. On December 17 he was appointed to the rank of lieutenant colonel
in the 58th Indiana Infantry
. He was promoted to colonel
on June 24, 1862. Buell led the 58th Indiana during the Battle of Perryville
on October 8. Buell then led his regiment during the Battle of Stones River
in late December into January 1863. During the fight he took over command of Brig. Gen. Milo S. Hascall
's brigade when that officer was needed for division command, and Lt. Col. James T. Embree then led the 58th Indiana. After the battle Buell was given brigade
command and led several different brigades in the Army of the Cumberland
throughout 1863 and 1864. He also led a brigade during the Battle of Chickamauga
on September 19–20, 1863.
On January 12, 1865, he was appointed a brevet
brigadier general
in the Union Army for his management of disassembled Federal pontoon
trains used to construct pontoon bridge
s over waterways. Buell commanded various brigades (and for two brief periods a division
) of the Army of Georgia
for the remainder of the war. He led a brigade during the Battle of Bentonville
on March 19–21, consisting of the 13th Michigan Infantry, the 21st Michigan Infantry, and the 69th Ohio Infantry
. The brigade suffered 205 casualties during this fight. Buell was mustered out of the volunteer service on July 25.
on July 28, 1866, in the 29th U.S. Infantry. Buell was appointed a brevet colonel on March 2, 1867, a reward for his performance in November 1863 at Missionary Ridge during the war, and a brevet brigadier general (both in the Regular Army) on that same date.
On March 15, 1869, Buell was transferred to the 11th U.S. Infantry
, and was promoted to colonel on March 20, 1879, in command of the 15th U.S. Infantry. He died in 1883 while on duty in Nashville, Tennessee
, and is buried there at Mount Olivet Cemetery.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
civil engineer
Civil engineer
A civil engineer is a person who practices civil engineering; the application of planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating infrastructures while protecting the public and environmental health, as well as improving existing infrastructures that have been neglected.Originally, a...
and soldier. He served as a Union Army
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...
general 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...
, and remained in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
following the conflict.
Early life and career
George P. Buell was born in Lawrenceburg, IndianaLawrenceburg, Indiana
Lawrenceburg is a city in Dearborn County, Indiana, United States. The population was 5,042 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Dearborn County...
, in 1833, a first cousin of future Union general Don Carlos Buell
Don Carlos Buell
Don Carlos Buell was a career United States Army officer who fought in the Seminole War, the Mexican-American War, and the American Civil War. Buell led Union armies in two great Civil War battles—Shiloh and Perryville. The nation was angry at his failure to defeat the outnumbered...
. He attended Norwich University in 1856, and later became City Engineer of Leavenworth, Kansas
Leavenworth, Kansas
Leavenworth is the largest city and county seat of Leavenworth County, in the U.S. state of Kansas and within the Kansas City, Missouri Metropolitan Area. Located in the northeast portion of the state, it is on the west bank of the Missouri River. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...
. He then mined for gold and later was a civil engineer in Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
.
Civil War service
Buell chose to defend the Union causeUnion (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
and entered the volunteer ranks of his birth state in 1861. On December 17 he was appointed to the rank of 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...
in the 58th Indiana Infantry
58th Regiment Indiana Infantry
The 58th Regiment Indiana Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 58th Indiana Infantry was organized at Princeton and Indianapolis, Indiana beginning November 12 and mustered in for a three year enlistment on December 22, 1861.The...
. He was promoted to 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...
on June 24, 1862. Buell led the 58th Indiana during the Battle of Perryville
Battle of Perryville
The Battle of Perryville, also known as the Battle of Chaplin Hills, was fought on October 8, 1862, in the Chaplin Hills west of Perryville, Kentucky, as the culmination of the Confederate Heartland Offensive during the American Civil War. Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg's Army of Mississippi won a...
on October 8. Buell then led his regiment during 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...
in late December into January 1863. During the fight he took over command of Brig. Gen. Milo S. Hascall
Milo Smith Hascall
Milo Smith Hascall was an American soldier, banker, and real estate executive who served as a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Early life and career:...
's brigade when that officer was needed for division command, and Lt. Col. James T. Embree then led the 58th Indiana. After the battle Buell was given brigade
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
command and led several different brigades in the Army of the Cumberland
Army of the Cumberland
The Army of the Cumberland was one of the principal Union armies in the Western Theater during the American Civil War. It was originally known as the Army of the Ohio.-History:...
throughout 1863 and 1864. He also led a brigade during 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...
on September 19–20, 1863.
On January 12, 1865, he was appointed a 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...
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 Union Army for his management of disassembled Federal pontoon
Pontoon (boat)
A pontoon is a flotation device with buoyancy sufficient to float itself as well as a heavy load. A pontoon boat is a flattish boat that relies on pontoons to float. Pontoons may be used on boats, rafts, barges, docks, floatplanes or seaplanes. Pontoons may support a platform, creating a raft. A...
trains used to construct pontoon bridge
Pontoon bridge
A pontoon bridge or floating bridge is a bridge that floats on water and in which barge- or boat-like pontoons support the bridge deck and its dynamic loads. While pontoon bridges are usually temporary structures, some are used for long periods of time...
s over waterways. Buell commanded various brigades (and for two brief periods a division
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
) of the Army of Georgia
Army of Georgia
The Army of Georgia was a Union army that constituted the Left Wing of Major General William T. Sherman's Army Group during the March to the Sea and the Carolinas Campaign.-History:...
for the remainder of the war. He led a brigade during the Battle of Bentonville
Battle of Bentonville
At 3 p.m., Confederate infantry from the Army of Tennessee launched an attack and drove the Union left flank back in confusion, nearly capturing Carlin in the process and overrunning the XIV Corps field hospital. Confederates under Maj. Gen. D.H. Hill filled the vacuum left by the retreating...
on March 19–21, consisting of the 13th Michigan Infantry, the 21st Michigan Infantry, and the 69th Ohio Infantry
69th Ohio Infantry
The 69th Ohio Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 69th Ohio Infantry was organized at Hamilton and Camp Chase in Columbus, Ohio beginning in November 1861. It mustered in for three years service April 1862 under the command of...
. The brigade suffered 205 casualties during this fight. Buell was mustered out of the volunteer service on July 25.
Postbellum
Buell elected to continue in the U.S. Army after the Civil War. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in the regular armyRegular army
A regular army consists of the permanent force of a country's army that is maintained under arms during peacetime.Countries that use the term include:*Australian Army*British Army*Canadian Forces, specifically "Regular Force"*Egyptian army*Indian Army...
on July 28, 1866, in the 29th U.S. Infantry. Buell was appointed a brevet colonel on March 2, 1867, a reward for his performance in November 1863 at Missionary Ridge during the war, and a brevet brigadier general (both in the Regular Army) on that same date.
On March 15, 1869, Buell was transferred to the 11th U.S. Infantry
11th Infantry Regiment (United States)
The 11th Infantry Regiment is a regiment in the United States Army.-The First 11th Infantry:Under the authority granted the President by the Act of July 16, 1798, to raise twelve additional regiments of infantry, the first 11th Infantry came into existence in the Army of the United States in...
, and was promoted to colonel on March 20, 1879, in command of the 15th U.S. Infantry. He died in 1883 while on duty in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, and is buried there at Mount Olivet Cemetery.
See also
- List of American Civil War generals