★ Dwight, William Jr.

William Dwight Jr.​

Born: July 14, 1831

Birthplace: Springfield, Massachusetts

Father: William Dwight 1805 – 1880
(Buried: Forest Hills Cemetery and Crematory, Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts)

Mother: Elizabeth Amelia White 1809 – 1883

(Buried: Forest Hills Cemetery and Crematory, Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts)​

Wife: Anna Rodman Robinson 1837 – 1911

Children:

William Arthur Dwight 1867 –​

Education:

1849 – 1853: Attended West Point Military Academy​

Occupation before War:

Manufacturer in the City of Boston, Massachusetts​

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Manufacturer in the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania​

Civil War Career:

1861: Captain in 70th​ New York Infantry Regiment​

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1861: Lt. Colonel of 70th​ New York Infantry Regiment​

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1861 – 1862: Colonel of 70th​ New York Infantry Regiment​

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1862: Wounded and Captured at the Battle of Williamsburg, Virginia​

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1862: Prisoner of War held by the Confederate Army​

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1862: Exchanged in Prisoner of War Exchange on November 15th​​

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1862 – 1866: Brigadier General of Union Army Volunteers​

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1863: Brigade Commander in Siege of Port Hudson, Louisiana​

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1864: Chief of Staff to Major General Nathaniel Banks

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1864: Served in the Battle of Mansfield, Louisiana​

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1864: Served in the Battle of Pleasant Hill, Louisiana​

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1864: Participated in the Shenandoah Valley Campaign​

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1864: Served in the Third Battle of Winchester, Virginia​

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1864: Served in the Battle of Fisher's Hill, Virginia​

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1866: Resigned as Brigadier General in the Union Army in January​

Occupation after War:

Manufacturing Businessman in Cincinnati, Ohio​

Died: April 21, 1888

Place of Death: Boston, Massachusetts

Cause of Death: Cirrhosis of liver

Age at time of Death: 56 years old

Burial Place: Forest Hills Cemetery and Crematory, Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts

 

[Pollaco]

He didn't actually graduate from West Point, he was discharged in 1853 for bad grades.He did however get a second chance and was appointed second- in- command of a regiment that would become part of Dan Sickle's Excelsior Brigade.

 

[Pollaco]

He was not only wounded at Williamsburg but wounded three times and left on the field and presumed dead. It was on the staff of General Banks that there were suspiions and charges of speculation over seized Confederate cotton. He was then transferred back to Virginia, this time in the Shenandoah Valley. It states in Stewart Sifakis' book that Dwight spent some time under arrest on charges that he "sought a safe position for his battle-time lunch". Does anyone know exactly what that last sentence means?

 

[NedBaldwin]

He was not only wounded at Williamsburg but wounded three times and left on the field and presumed dead. It was on the staff of General Banks that there were suspiions and charges of speculation over seized Confederate cotton. He was then transferred back to Virginia, this time in the Shenandoah Valley. It states in Stewart Sifakis' book that Dwight spent some time under arrest on charges that he "sought a safe position for his battle-time lunch". Does anyone know exactly what that last sentence means?

At 3rd Winchester, the 19th Corps consisted of two divisions commanded by Grover and Dwight. After the battle, the Corps commander (Emory) arrested Dwight and charged him with neglect of duty for being absent from his command during battle. Apparently he and some of his staff had gone back in the woods for a picnic

 

[gentlemanrob]

Happy Birthday Brig. General William Dwight! Salutes remembering General Dwight on his birthday.

 

[bayouace]

Quite possibly the most hated general in the Union Army by his men. "Cause of Death" only further substantiates the "Whiskey Charge" at Port Hudson, where, acting alone, he drunkenly ordered a bloody charge on Confederate positions which was easily repulsed with significant Union losses. That he was on Banks' Staff in a high position can only be explained by Banks' financial debt to Dwight's father.

 

[NedBaldwin]

Quite possibly the most hated general in the Union Army by his men. "Cause of Death" only further substantiates the "Whiskey Charge" at Port Hudson, where, acting alone, he drunkenly ordered a bloody charge on Confederate positions which was easily repulsed with significant Union losses. That he was on Banks' Staff in a high position can only be explained by Banks' financial debt to Dwight's father.

Dwight had been a brigade commander in Emory's division during early 1864. Banks dismissed his Chief of Staff on April 17 and picked Dwight to replace him. I think it can be explained by the limited options available in the middle of the campaign and that Dwight had rank, education and some talent at administration.
3 months later, when the 19th Corps was sent to Virginia, Dwight left the staff position and rejoined Emory's division, taking command of it when Emory was elevated to Corps command.

 

[gentlemanrob]

Happy (Thursday) Birthday Brig. General William Dwight Jr. ! Salutes remembering General Dwight on his birthday week.

 

[Pollaco]

From August 15, 1863 through Febuary 20, 1864 there is a "gap" in his service. Any idea just what he was doing or where he was for those 5 months?