ColorizedPast
Corporal
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2016
- Location
- Hangzhou, China (Wisconsin, USA)
Brigadier General Nathan Kimball (USA)
Nathan Kimball was born in Fredericksburg, Indiana on 22 November 1822. He attended the Washington County Seminary and then Indiana Asbury College (DePauw University) from 1839 to 1841 before leaving to teach school and farm in Independence, Missouri. He studied medicine at the University of Louisville Medical School in 1844 and established a private practice in Salem and Livonia.
During the Mexican-American War, Dr. Kimball raised a company from Livonia in the 2nd Indiana Infantry and was elected its captain. Kimball was distinguished at the Battle of Buena Vista, where he rallied his company and held them fast even as the rest of the regiment crumbled and fled in disorder. He mustered out in June 1847 and resumed his medical practice, expanding it to Loogootee. He ran for election as a Whig to the Indiana State Senate but was defeated in 1847. His wife of five years, Martha A. McPheeters, died in 1850, and he married Emily McPheeters in August.
In 1852, he again lost an election, this time for Presidential Elector. Kimball joined the newly formed Republican Party in 1854. His medical practice flourished and he became well known in the region.
At the outbreak of the Civil War, Kimball again raised a company of Indiana soldiers. On 7 June 1861, Governor Oliver Morton appointed him colonel of the 14th Indiana Infantry. He led his regiment under Maj. Gen. George McClellan in the campaigns in western Virginia, seeing his first combat at the Battle of Cheat Mountain in September 1861.
In March 1862, he fought in the Shenandoah Valley, commanding a brigade at the Battle of Kernstown. On the second day of fighting at Kernstown, he assumed command of the division of wounded Brig. Gen. James Shields, and then successfully counterattacked Stonewall Jackson. In recognition of his performance, Kimball was promoted to brigadier general on 16 April 1862. With the victory at Kernstown, Kimball had participated in early Civil War defeats of both Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. Jackson.
In July 1862, Kimball led the 8th Ohio Infantry and the 7th West Virginia Infantry to join the Army of the Potomac. After adding the 4th Ohio to his brigade, Kimball was briefly stationed in Fort Monroe before covering John Pope's retreat from the Second Battle of Bull Run on 1 September. During the Maryland Campaign, he commanded the 1st Brigade of William H. French's third division in the II Corps. His men formed the right of the division during its series of assaults on the Sunken Road at the Battle of Antietam, losing over 600 men. Despite the severe losses, the men held their ground and eventually pushed aside the Confederates in their front. Kimball's brigade became known as the "Gibraltar Brigade" for their steadfast ability to withstand enemy fire.
In December, Kimball's brigade participated in the ill-fated assaults against Marye's Heights during the Battle of Fredericksburg, and Kimball suffered a painful thigh wound. During his absence the Gibraltar Brigade was given to Col. Samuel S. Carroll. In early 1863, Kimball was nominated to run for Lieutenant Governor of Indiana, but he declined to remain in the army.
After recovering from his wound, Kimball was assigned to the Western Theater, reporting in June 1863 to Corinth, Mississippi, assuming command of a division in the XVI Corps. His division joined the Siege of Vicksburg but saw no fighting. In September, most of Kimball's division was ordered to Arkansas becoming incorporated in the VII Corps. He commanded the rear echelon in the Camden Expedition.
In April 1864, Kimball was relieved of duty in the Department of Arkansas and order to report to William T. Sherman, who became a close personal friend. Kimball was on detached duty with Sherman until May when he was given command of a brigade in the IV Corps. Following the Battle of Peachtree Creek in July, Kimball assumed command of a division in the IV Corps.
He returned to Indiana at Governor Morton's request to help subdue the Knights of the Golden Circle, the returned to active field duty in late fall, serving as a division commander in the battles of Franklin and Nashville. He received a brevet as major general on 1 February 1865 and mustered out of the army on 24 August.
He returned to Indiana and served as the first state commander in the Grand Army of the Republic. In 1867, he was elected State Treasurer focusing on banking reform and earning a second term. In 1873, he won election to the Indiana House of Representatives from Marion County. President Ulysses S. Grant appointed Kimball Surveyor General for the Utah Territory in 1873, a post he held until 1878. In 1879, President Rutherford B. Hayes appointed him Postmaster of Ogden, Utah, Kimball's adopted home, a post he held until his death on 21 January 1898.
Nathan Kimball was born in Fredericksburg, Indiana on 22 November 1822. He attended the Washington County Seminary and then Indiana Asbury College (DePauw University) from 1839 to 1841 before leaving to teach school and farm in Independence, Missouri. He studied medicine at the University of Louisville Medical School in 1844 and established a private practice in Salem and Livonia.
During the Mexican-American War, Dr. Kimball raised a company from Livonia in the 2nd Indiana Infantry and was elected its captain. Kimball was distinguished at the Battle of Buena Vista, where he rallied his company and held them fast even as the rest of the regiment crumbled and fled in disorder. He mustered out in June 1847 and resumed his medical practice, expanding it to Loogootee. He ran for election as a Whig to the Indiana State Senate but was defeated in 1847. His wife of five years, Martha A. McPheeters, died in 1850, and he married Emily McPheeters in August.
In 1852, he again lost an election, this time for Presidential Elector. Kimball joined the newly formed Republican Party in 1854. His medical practice flourished and he became well known in the region.
At the outbreak of the Civil War, Kimball again raised a company of Indiana soldiers. On 7 June 1861, Governor Oliver Morton appointed him colonel of the 14th Indiana Infantry. He led his regiment under Maj. Gen. George McClellan in the campaigns in western Virginia, seeing his first combat at the Battle of Cheat Mountain in September 1861.
In March 1862, he fought in the Shenandoah Valley, commanding a brigade at the Battle of Kernstown. On the second day of fighting at Kernstown, he assumed command of the division of wounded Brig. Gen. James Shields, and then successfully counterattacked Stonewall Jackson. In recognition of his performance, Kimball was promoted to brigadier general on 16 April 1862. With the victory at Kernstown, Kimball had participated in early Civil War defeats of both Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. Jackson.
In July 1862, Kimball led the 8th Ohio Infantry and the 7th West Virginia Infantry to join the Army of the Potomac. After adding the 4th Ohio to his brigade, Kimball was briefly stationed in Fort Monroe before covering John Pope's retreat from the Second Battle of Bull Run on 1 September. During the Maryland Campaign, he commanded the 1st Brigade of William H. French's third division in the II Corps. His men formed the right of the division during its series of assaults on the Sunken Road at the Battle of Antietam, losing over 600 men. Despite the severe losses, the men held their ground and eventually pushed aside the Confederates in their front. Kimball's brigade became known as the "Gibraltar Brigade" for their steadfast ability to withstand enemy fire.
In December, Kimball's brigade participated in the ill-fated assaults against Marye's Heights during the Battle of Fredericksburg, and Kimball suffered a painful thigh wound. During his absence the Gibraltar Brigade was given to Col. Samuel S. Carroll. In early 1863, Kimball was nominated to run for Lieutenant Governor of Indiana, but he declined to remain in the army.
After recovering from his wound, Kimball was assigned to the Western Theater, reporting in June 1863 to Corinth, Mississippi, assuming command of a division in the XVI Corps. His division joined the Siege of Vicksburg but saw no fighting. In September, most of Kimball's division was ordered to Arkansas becoming incorporated in the VII Corps. He commanded the rear echelon in the Camden Expedition.
In April 1864, Kimball was relieved of duty in the Department of Arkansas and order to report to William T. Sherman, who became a close personal friend. Kimball was on detached duty with Sherman until May when he was given command of a brigade in the IV Corps. Following the Battle of Peachtree Creek in July, Kimball assumed command of a division in the IV Corps.
He returned to Indiana at Governor Morton's request to help subdue the Knights of the Golden Circle, the returned to active field duty in late fall, serving as a division commander in the battles of Franklin and Nashville. He received a brevet as major general on 1 February 1865 and mustered out of the army on 24 August.
He returned to Indiana and served as the first state commander in the Grand Army of the Republic. In 1867, he was elected State Treasurer focusing on banking reform and earning a second term. In 1873, he won election to the Indiana House of Representatives from Marion County. President Ulysses S. Grant appointed Kimball Surveyor General for the Utah Territory in 1873, a post he held until 1878. In 1879, President Rutherford B. Hayes appointed him Postmaster of Ogden, Utah, Kimball's adopted home, a post he held until his death on 21 January 1898.
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