★ Lytle, William Haines

William Haines Lytle​

Born: November 2, 1826

Birthplace: Cincinnati, Ohio

Father: Robert Todd Lytle 1804 – 1839

(Buried: Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati, Ohio)​

Mother: Elizabeth Haines 1805 – 1841

(Buried: Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati, Ohio)​

Education:

Graduated from Cincinnati College​

Occupation before War:

Attorney in Cincinnati, Ohio​

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Served in Mexican – American War as Captain​

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Attorney in Cincinnati, Ohio​

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Ohio State Representative​

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1857: Unsuccessful Candidate for Lt. Governor of Ohio​

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1857 – 1861: Major General in Ohio State Militia​

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Known for his poet writings​

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1858: Author of Antony and Cleopatra, One of his most famous​

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1860: Campaigner for Stephen A. Douglas for President Campaign​

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1860: Unsuccessful Democratic Candidate for U.S. Congress​

Civil War Career:

1861 – 1862: Colonel of 10th​ Ohio Volunteers Infantry Regiment​

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1861: Served in the fighting in Western Virginia​

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1861: Wounded during the Battle of Carnifex Ferry​

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Union Army Commander of Bardstown, Kentucky training camp​

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1862: Wounded and captured at Battle of Perryville, Kentucky​

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1862 – 1863: Prisoner of War held by the Confederate Army​

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1862 – 1863: Brigadier General of Union Army Volunteers​

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1863: Mortally Wounded during Battle of Chickamauga, Georgia​

Died: September 20, 1863

Place of Death: Field hospital at Crawfish Springs, Georgia

Cause of Death: Died from his wounds

Age at time of Death: 36 years old

Burial Place: Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati, Ohio

 

[Pollaco]

It was on the second day of the Chickamauga battle that he was killed while resisting Longstreets soldiers.

 

[Pollaco]

He was a celebrated American poet before the war, his most famous poem was "Anthony and Cleopatra". He even wrote the poem "The Soldier's Death" in 1840 when he was only 14 years old.

 

[Lampasas Bill]

On November 29, 1862, Lytle was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers. In September 1863 the officers of the 10th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which he had originally led, presented him with a jeweled Maltese cross. Eleven days later he was killed at Chickamauga. This cdv from my collection shows him wearing the cross. It was taken by Schwing & Rudd, "Photographers, Army of the Cumberland."

 

[Vicksburger]

I have a warm regard for this General. He was a lawyer in Cincinnati, and was well known as a Poet, and when he was killed, soldiers from both sides were respectful with his body, and If I am not mistaken, the Confederates even guarded his body, and shed a tear. It is said most could recite his "Antony and Cleopatra" by heart. His family and mine were in Cincinnati at the same time and my GGGGrandfather's son (from a first wife) even named one of his sons ( William Haines Lytle Wiseman) after this man. That would have been in 1853, long before he died a soldier's glorious death at Chickamauga.

 

[Seduzal]

Wow! A very respectful soldier and an poet. He also had an awesome military career. Thanks for sharing this awesome article.

 

[Pollaco]

I haven't seen it but in the Chickamauga National Military Park is "Lytle Hill" , the hill where he was killed leading a counterattack on horseback.

 

[Luke Freet]

Bump for Chickamauga.
Wish I knew more about this man.

 

[Buckeye Bill]

Bump for Chickamauga.
Wish I knew more about this man.

Lytle was born near my home in Cincinnati, Ohio. The hospital where I was hatched is located just north of the Old Lytle Homestead (Lytle Park and the site of Fort Washington).

https://civilwartalk.com/threads/federal-brigadier-general-william-haines-lytle.122954/#post-1297447

Bill

 

[Pollaco]

That cemetery where he is buried, Spring Grove, is also the burial place of Salmon P. Chase, Joseph Hooker, and several other generals.

 

[Pollaco]

The shooter of Lytle was never positively identified but the killing was said to have been done by a sniper with a Whitworth rifle in .45 caliber.

 

[Irishtom29]

In the midst of a battle like Chickamauga, with thousands of rifles being fired amid clouds of smoke who could know who shot who? And Longstreet's intense attack doesn't seem a sniperish situation.

"I am dying, Egypt, dying..."

 

[Buckeye Bill]

That cemetery where he is buried, Spring Grove, is also the burial place of Salmon P. Chase, Joseph Hooker, and several other generals.

* My Uncle Steve (USMC Vietnam Vet) standing in front of the Hooker grave at the Spring Grove Cemetery.

 

[gentlemanrob]

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

 

[Pollaco]

His 10th Ohio Infantry was a predominately Irish Regiment but did have 2 companies of German Americans.