Brigadier General Henry M. Judah (USA)

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Corporal
Joined
Aug 27, 2016
Location
Hangzhou, China (Wisconsin, USA)
Brigadier General Henry Moses Judah (USA)

Judah was born at Snow Hill, Maryland on 12 June 1821. One of his brothers, Theodore, later was chief engineer of the Central Pacific Railroad and was instrumental in constructing the first transcontinental railroad. Henry attended the United States Military Academy, graduating 35th of 39 students in the class of 1843 (U.S. Grant was classmate).

He served on the frontier as a second lieutenant in the U.S. 8th Infantry Regiment. He was commended for bravery during the storming of Monterrey, the Battle of Molino del Rey, and the Battle of Mexico City during the Mexican-American War, earning promotion to first lieutenant 26 September 1847.

He was promoted to captain in the U.S. 4th Infantry Regiment and served in various posts in the Pacific Northwest before being assigned to duty in California. In 1854, Judah participated in an expedition against local Native Americans, but was too inebriated to lead his company in an attack, instead remaining with the pack train. Lieutenant George Crook and other officers discussed pressing charges, but the matter was dropped when Judah promised to transfer to a new post. His difficulty with alcohol would continue into the Civil War.

With the outbreak of the Civil War, Judah was colonel of the 4th California Volunteers at Fort Yuma. In November 1861, he resigned his command and returned to Washington, serving in the defenses of D.C. for several months. He was appointed brigadier general of volunteers 22 March 1862, and he served as Grant's inspector general during the Battle of Shiloh. He commanded a division under Henry W. Halleck during the siege of Corinth and was promoted to major in the regular army in June 1862. He performed adminstrative duties in Cincinnati, before being joining the Army of Kentucky under Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger in October. He returned to staff duty during the winter as acting inspector general of the Army of the Ohio.

In June 1863, Judah was assigned to command the 3rd Division, XXIII Corps, stationed in Cincinnati. During John Hunt Morgan's Raid, Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnside ordered Judah to pursue, and he defeated Morgan at the Battle of Buffington Island but failed to capture the general. Judah was criticized for missing an earlier opportunity to capture Morgan.

In 1864, Judah led an infantry division under Maj. Gen. John M. Schofield during the Atlanta Campaign. Schofield had previously disciplined Judah for poor performance and alcoholism but gave him one last chance at the Battle of Resaca. In his haste to secure victory, Judah did not properly reconnoiter the battlefield or use his artillery in the fight. Schofield removed him from duty.

He was place on administrative duty in the Department of the Cumberland until the end of the war. On 12 May 1865, he received the surrender of Brig. Gen. William T. Wofford's 3000 to 4000 Confederate soldiers. Judah provided aid to the surrounding area until the crop could be harvested.

After the war, Judah reverted to his regular rank of major and served on garrison duty in Plattsburg, New York, until his death 14 February 1866.

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