Hector Tyndale
Encyclopedia
Hector Tyndale was a Union general during the American Civil War
rising to the rank of Brevet
Major General of Volunteers
. He notably led brigades at the battles of Antietam and Wauhatchie
. Apart from the war Tyndale was an expert in porcelain and pottery.
Tyndale became involved in Republican politics in Philadelphia around 1856. Although a Republican he was not an abolitionist and therefore had no sympathy for the fate of John Brown
and his raiders
. Despite this Tyndale agreed to escort the widow of John Brown to pay a last visit to her husband and recover his body after execution. It was believed Mrs. Brown's life was in danger because of her husband's recent actions. Brown's body was delivered to Tyndale who insisted on its identification before accepting it on Mrs. Brown's behalf.
. He was appointed major in the 28th Pennsylvania Volunteers (a.k.a. the Goldstream Regiment) on June 28, 1861. His regiment was sent to garrison duty at Harpers Ferry. On April 25, 1862 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel of his regiment and fought at the Second Battle of Bull Run
. On September 17, 1862 Tyndale, still only a lieutenant colonel, found himself as the senior officer in his brigade. Therefore he assumed command of the 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, XII Corps during the battle of Antietam
. Tyndale led his brigade as part of George S. Greene
's attack against the Dunker Church. Early in the fighting he was wounded in the hip but continued in command until wounded a second time in the head. He left the field to recover and would not return to command until late July, 1863. While recovering he was promoted two grades to that of Brigadier General to date from November 29, 1862 for his conspicuous service at Antietam.
General Tyndale returned to command his brigade in the aftermath of the battle of Gettysburg
. Later that Fall, Joseph Hooker
was assigned to lead reinforcements to the beleaguered Union Army at Chattanooga. Hooker took with him the XI and XII Corps to which Tyndale's brigade was part of. Tyndale led his brigade at the battle of Wauhatchie
, leading a bayonet charge and turning the enemy's flank. He also took part, albeit in a minor role, in the battle of Chattanooga
. On August 26, 1864 Tyndale resigned from the army due to poor health. He was brevetted to Major General on March 13, 1865.
Command History
the scholarship was known as the Hector Tyndale scholarship for physics.
In 1876 Tyndale's prominence in the porcelain business caused his selection as one of the judges for the Centennial Exhibition.
General Tyndale died in Philadelphia in 1880.
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...
rising to the rank of 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...
Major General of Volunteers
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...
. He notably led brigades at the battles of Antietam and Wauhatchie
Battle of Wauhatchie
-References:* Boatner, Mark Mayo, III. The Civil War Dictionary. New York: McKay, 1988. ISBN 0-8129-1726-X. First published 1959 by McKay.* Cozzens, Peter. The Shipwreck of Their Hopes: The Battles for Chattanooga. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1994. ISBN 0-252-01922-9.* Korn, Jerry, and...
. Apart from the war Tyndale was an expert in porcelain and pottery.
Early life
Tyndale's father was a prominent Philadelphia businessman who engaged in the importation of china and glassware. Hector Tyndale eventually followed his father's footsteps and ran the family business in partnership with his brother-in-law. Tyndale made several trips to personally inspect European factories this becoming very familiar with the whole art of pottery and porcelain making. His personal collection became one of the finest in the whole country.Tyndale became involved in Republican politics in Philadelphia around 1856. Although a Republican he was not an abolitionist and therefore had no sympathy for the fate of John Brown
John Brown (abolitionist)
John Brown was an American revolutionary abolitionist, who in the 1850s advocated and practiced armed insurrection as a means to abolish slavery in the United States. He led the Pottawatomie Massacre during which five men were killed, in 1856 in Bleeding Kansas, and made his name in the...
and his raiders
John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry
John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry was an attempt by white abolitionist John Brown to start an armed slave revolt by seizing a United States Arsenal at Harpers Ferry in Virginia in 1859...
. Despite this Tyndale agreed to escort the widow of John Brown to pay a last visit to her husband and recover his body after execution. It was believed Mrs. Brown's life was in danger because of her husband's recent actions. Brown's body was delivered to Tyndale who insisted on its identification before accepting it on Mrs. Brown's behalf.
Civil War
Tyndale was on another inspection trip to Europe when the Civil War began. He returned to the U.S. and volunteered for the Union ArmyUnion 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...
. He was appointed major in the 28th Pennsylvania Volunteers (a.k.a. the Goldstream Regiment) on June 28, 1861. His regiment was sent to garrison duty at Harpers Ferry. On April 25, 1862 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel of his regiment and fought at the Second Battle of Bull Run
Second Battle of Bull Run
The Second Battle of Bull Run or Second Manassas was fought August 28–30, 1862, as part of the American Civil War. It was the culmination of an offensive campaign waged by Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia against Union Maj. Gen...
. On September 17, 1862 Tyndale, still only a lieutenant colonel, found himself as the senior officer in his brigade. Therefore he assumed command of the 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, XII Corps during the battle of Antietam
Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam , fought on September 17, 1862, near Sharpsburg, Maryland, and Antietam Creek, as part of the Maryland Campaign, was the first major battle in the American Civil War to take place on Northern soil. It was the bloodiest single-day battle in American history, with about 23,000...
. Tyndale led his brigade as part of George S. Greene
George S. Greene
George Sears Greene was a civil engineer and a Union general during the American Civil War. He was part of the Greene family of Rhode Island, which had a distinguished military record for the United States. His greatest contribution during the war was his defense of the Union right flank at Culp's...
's attack against the Dunker Church. Early in the fighting he was wounded in the hip but continued in command until wounded a second time in the head. He left the field to recover and would not return to command until late July, 1863. While recovering he was promoted two grades to that of Brigadier General to date from November 29, 1862 for his conspicuous service at Antietam.
General Tyndale returned to command his brigade in the aftermath of the battle of Gettysburg
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg , was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle with the largest number of casualties in the American Civil War, it is often described as the war's turning point. Union Maj. Gen. George Gordon Meade's Army of the Potomac...
. Later that Fall, Joseph Hooker
Joseph Hooker
Joseph Hooker was a career United States Army officer, achieving the rank of major general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Although he served throughout the war, usually with distinction, Hooker is best remembered for his stunning defeat by Confederate General Robert E...
was assigned to lead reinforcements to the beleaguered Union Army at Chattanooga. Hooker took with him the XI and XII Corps to which Tyndale's brigade was part of. Tyndale led his brigade at the battle of Wauhatchie
Battle of Wauhatchie
-References:* Boatner, Mark Mayo, III. The Civil War Dictionary. New York: McKay, 1988. ISBN 0-8129-1726-X. First published 1959 by McKay.* Cozzens, Peter. The Shipwreck of Their Hopes: The Battles for Chattanooga. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1994. ISBN 0-252-01922-9.* Korn, Jerry, and...
, leading a bayonet charge and turning the enemy's flank. He also took part, albeit in a minor role, in the battle of Chattanooga
Battle of Missionary Ridge
The Battle of Missionary Ridge was fought November 25, 1863, as part of the Chattanooga Campaign of the American Civil War. Following the Union victory in the Battle of Lookout Mountain on November 24, Union forces under Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant assaulted Missionary Ridge and defeated the...
. On August 26, 1864 Tyndale resigned from the army due to poor health. He was brevetted to Major General on March 13, 1865.
Command History
- 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, XII Corps (17 Sept 1862).
- 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, XI Corps (13 July-19 Sept 1863).
- 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, XI Corps (12 Oct 1863-15 Feb 1865).
- 3rd Division, XI Corps (15 Feb-16 Apr 1864).
- 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, XX Corps (16 Apr-3 May 1864).
Later life
After his career in the army, Tyndale returned to his business in Philadelphia. He unsuccessfully ran for mayor in 1868. A relative, Professor John Tyndale of England, lectured in the U.S. and devoted the proceeds to fund for the promotion of science education and named General Tyndale as one of the trustees. Eventually the fund became a scholarship and at the University of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
the scholarship was known as the Hector Tyndale scholarship for physics.
In 1876 Tyndale's prominence in the porcelain business caused his selection as one of the judges for the Centennial Exhibition.
General Tyndale died in Philadelphia in 1880.