Joel Dewey
Encyclopedia
Joel Allen Dewey was a brigadier general
in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
, and a lawyer.
, the son of Horace and Harriet (Peck) Dewey. He entered Oberlin College
in 1858, but withdrew in October 1861 when he accepted a commission as 2nd Lieutenant
in the 58th Ohio Infantry
. He was promoted to captain and served in the 43rd Ohio Infantry
. Dewey was engaged at New Madrid, Iuka
, Corinth
, and on garrison duty in Tennessee
.
He was commissioned lieutenant colonel
of the 111th U.S. Colored Infantry. He led a brigade
in operations in Alabama, and was captured by Nathan Forrest's cavalry
near Athens, Georgia
. After he was exchanged, he served in Alabama
and Tennessee for the remainder of the war. He was promoted to brigadier general of U.S. Volunteers on December 13, 1865, at the young age of 25. He resigned from the volunteer service on January 1, 1866, having declined a captaincy in the Regular Army.
After the war, he studied law at the Albany, New York
, Law School, graduating in 1867, and moved to Dandridge, Tennessee
, where he practiced law. He was Attorney General
of Tennessee from 1869 until his death in 1873, in Knoxville, Tennessee
. He is buried in Dandridge, Tennessee.
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
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...
, and a lawyer.
Biography
Dewey was born in Georgia, VermontGeorgia, Vermont
Georgia is a town in Franklin County, Vermont, United States. The population was 4,375 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 45.2 square miles , of which, 39.5 square miles of it is land and 5.7 square miles of it ...
, the son of Horace and Harriet (Peck) Dewey. He entered Oberlin College
Oberlin College
Oberlin College is a private liberal arts college in Oberlin, Ohio, noteworthy for having been the first American institution of higher learning to regularly admit female and black students. Connected to the college is the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, the oldest continuously operating...
in 1858, but withdrew in October 1861 when he accepted a commission as 2nd Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
in the 58th Ohio Infantry
58th Ohio Infantry
The 58th Ohio Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 58th Ohio Infantry was organized at Camp Chase in Columbus, Ohio and mustered in for three years service on January 28, 1862 under the command of Colonel Valentine Bausenwein.The...
. He was promoted to captain and served in the 43rd Ohio Infantry
43rd Ohio Infantry
The 43rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 43rd Ohio Infantry was organized in Mount Vernon, Ohio September 28, 1861 through February 1, 1862 and mustered in for three years service under the command of Colonel Joseph L...
. Dewey was engaged at New Madrid, Iuka
Battle of Iuka
The Battle of Iuka was fought on September 19, 1862, in Iuka, Mississippi, during the American Civil War. In the opening battle of the Iuka-Corinth Campaign, Union Maj. Gen. William S. Rosecrans stopped the advance of the army of Confederate Maj. Gen. Sterling Price.Maj. Gen. Ulysses S...
, Corinth
Siege of Corinth
The Siege of Corinth was an American Civil War battle fought from April 29 to May 30, 1862, in Corinth, Mississippi.-Background:...
, and on garrison duty in Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
.
He was commissioned 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...
of the 111th U.S. Colored Infantry. He led a 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...
in operations in Alabama, and was captured by Nathan Forrest's cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
near Athens, Georgia
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
. After he was exchanged, he served in Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
and Tennessee for the remainder of the war. He was promoted to brigadier general of U.S. Volunteers on December 13, 1865, at the young age of 25. He resigned from the volunteer service on January 1, 1866, having declined a captaincy in the Regular Army.
After the war, he studied law at the Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
, Law School, graduating in 1867, and moved to Dandridge, Tennessee
Dandridge, Tennessee
Dandridge is a town in Jefferson County, Tennessee, United States. It is the county seat of Jefferson County. It is part of the Morristown, Tennessee Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, where he practiced law. He was Attorney General
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
of Tennessee from 1869 until his death in 1873, in Knoxville, Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
. He is buried in Dandridge, Tennessee.
See also
- List of American Civil War generals
- List of Ohio's American Civil War generals