William F. Cloud
Encyclopedia
William F. Cloud was an officer in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
who participated in many battles in the Trans-Mississippi Theater.
and enlisted in a company that became part of the 2nd Ohio Infantry in 1846 for the war with Mexico
. After the Mexican War Cloud returned to Ohio and served in a local militia company, the Columbus Videttes, in which he was elected captain. In 1859 he moved to Michigan, where he lived briefly before moving to Lawrence, Kansas
, then Emporia, Kansas
.
as major
and distinguished himself at the battle of Wilson's Creek
. After his infantry enlistment expired, Cloud organized the 2nd Kansas Cavalry
in 1862, and was commissioned major of the regiment. In March 1862 he was appointed colonel of the 10th Kansas Infantry
, but was later transferred to command of the 2nd Kansas Cavalry. He commanded a brigade in James G. Blunt
's division at the battles of Old Fort Wayne, Cane Hill and Prairie Grove. Afterward he commanded the District of Southwest Missouri.
Cloud reverted back to regimental command and fought at Honey Springs and was the senior Union officer on the field at the battle of Devil's Backbone. In 1864 he commanded a cavalry brigade under John M. Thayer
at the battle of Jenkins' Ferry. He served as aide-de-camp
to Samuel R. Curtis at the battle of Westport
and was mustered out of the volunteer service on January 19, 1865.
. He became a noted speaker and author. Around 1899, he moved to Kansas City, Missouri
, where he lived until his death on March 4, 1905.
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...
who participated in many battles in the Trans-Mississippi Theater.
Early life and career
Cloud was born near Columbus, OhioColumbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
and enlisted in a company that became part of the 2nd Ohio Infantry in 1846 for the war with Mexico
Mexican–American War
The Mexican–American War, also known as the First American Intervention, the Mexican War, or the U.S.–Mexican War, was an armed conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848 in the wake of the 1845 U.S...
. After the Mexican War Cloud returned to Ohio and served in a local militia company, the Columbus Videttes, in which he was elected captain. In 1859 he moved to Michigan, where he lived briefly before moving to Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence is the sixth largest city in the U.S. State of Kansas and the county seat of Douglas County. Located in northeastern Kansas, Lawrence is the anchor city of the Lawrence, Kansas, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Douglas County...
, then Emporia, Kansas
Emporia, Kansas
Emporia is a city in and the county seat of Lyon County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 24,916. Emporia lies between Topeka and Wichita at the intersection of U.S. Route 50 with Interstates 335 and 35 on the Kansas Turnpike...
.
Civil War
With the outbreak of the Civil War, Cloud enlisted in the 2nd Kansas Infantry2nd Regiment Kansas Volunteer Infantry
The 2nd Kansas Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 2nd Kansas Infantry was organized at Lawrence, Kansas and mustered in for three months...
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...
and distinguished himself at the battle of Wilson's Creek
Battle of Wilson's Creek
The Battle of Wilson's Creek, also known as the Battle of Oak Hills, was fought on August 10, 1861, near Springfield, Missouri, between Union forces and the Missouri State Guard, early in the American Civil War. It was the first major battle of the war west of the Mississippi River and is sometimes...
. After his infantry enlistment expired, Cloud organized the 2nd Kansas Cavalry
2nd Regiment Kansas Volunteer Cavalry
The 2nd Kansas Volunteer Cavalry Regiment was a cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 2nd Kansas Cavalry was organized at Kansas City, Kansas beginning on November 8, 1861 but its designation was changed to 9th Kansas Infantry on February 4, 1862....
in 1862, and was commissioned major of the regiment. In March 1862 he was appointed colonel of the 10th Kansas Infantry
10th Regiment Kansas Volunteer Infantry
The 10th Kansas Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 10th Kansas Infantry was organized at Paola, Kansas by consolidating the 3rd Kansas Infantry and 4th Kansas Infantry, which had recruits, but were never...
, but was later transferred to command of the 2nd Kansas Cavalry. He commanded a brigade in James G. Blunt
James G. Blunt
James Gillpatrick Blunt was a physician and abolitionist who rose to Union major general during the American Civil War.-Early life & career:...
's division at the battles of Old Fort Wayne, Cane Hill and Prairie Grove. Afterward he commanded the District of Southwest Missouri.
Cloud reverted back to regimental command and fought at Honey Springs and was the senior Union officer on the field at the battle of Devil's Backbone. In 1864 he commanded a cavalry brigade under John M. Thayer
John Milton Thayer
John Milton Thayer was a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War and a postbellum United States Senator from Nebraska, as well as governor of Wyoming Territory and governor of Nebraska.-Early life and career:...
at the battle of Jenkins' Ferry. He served as aide-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to Samuel R. Curtis at the battle of Westport
Battle of Westport
The Battle of Westport, sometimes referred to as the "Gettysburg of the West," was fought on October 23, 1864, in modern Kansas City, Missouri, during the American Civil War. Union forces under Major General Samuel R. Curtis decisively defeated an outnumbered Confederate force under Major General...
and was mustered out of the volunteer service on January 19, 1865.
Later life
Soon after the Civil War ended, Cloud moved to Carthage, MissouriCarthage, Missouri
Carthage is a city in Jasper County, Missouri, United States. The population was 14,378 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Jasper County and is nicknamed "America's Maple Leaf City."...
. He became a noted speaker and author. Around 1899, he moved to Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, where he lived until his death on March 4, 1905.
Works
- Church and State; or, Mexican politics from Cortez to Diaz (Kansas City, Missouri: Peck & Clark), 1896.
- The Heart of Mexico: Politics! Religion! War! Spain and Her Methods Overthrown (Kansas City, Missouri: Hailman & Co.), 1898.
- Webster Davis on Toast: Facts, Not Fiction, Sense, Not Sobs, About the Boer-British War, with Strictures on the Flop (Kansas City, Missouri: s.n.), 1900.