ColorizedPast
Corporal
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2016
- Location
- Hangzhou, China (Wisconsin, USA)
Major General Frederick Steele (USA)
Frederick Steele was born in Delhi, New York on 14 January 1819. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1843. He served in the Mexican-American War participating and distinguishing himself in many engagements earning promotion to first lieutenant in June 1848. He served in California during the Yuma War until 1853, and then in the Minnesota Territory, Kansas Territory, and Nebraska Territory until the Civil War.
On 14 May 1861, Steele was appointed major in the 11th U.S. Infantry and fought at the Battle of Wilson's Creek. On 23 September 1861, he became colonel of the 8th Iowa Infantry. On 30 January 1862, he was appointed brigadier general of volunteers and commanded the District of Southeast Missouri. Following the Union victory at the Battle of Pea Ridge, he took command of the 1st Division in the Army of the Southwest and briefly commanded the army from 29 August to 7 October. On 17 March 1863, President Lincoln appointed Steele major general of volunteers.
Steele's division was transferred to the Army of the Tennessee becoming the 11th Division in the XIII Corps. He fought at the Battle of Chickasaw Bayou in December 1862 and in the Battle of Arkansas Post in January 1863. His division was renamed the 1st Division in Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman's XV Corps during the Siege of Vicksburg.
On 27 July 1863, he was placed in command of the Army of Arkansas. His army successfully captured Little Rock in September. He was assigned command of VII Corps in the Department of Arkansas in the Trans-Mississippi Theater from 6 January to 22 December 1864. On 23 March, Steele began his march with eight thousand soldiers from Little Rock south to Arkadelphia, where he was joined by John M. Thayer with another four thousand troops. Steele led them on the costly Camden Expedition, a failed attempt to join forces with Nathaniel Banks in the Red River Campaign.
Steele led a force of African American soldiers, officially designated the "Column from Pensacola", in Major General Edward Canby's Army of the West Mississippi between 18 February to 18 May 1865. His troops fought at the battles of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely.
Steele was transferred to Texas in June 1865 and place in command of U.S. forces along the Rio Grande. He then commanded the Department of the Columbia, overseeing the Snake War from December 1865 to November 1867. On 28 July 1866, he was appointed to the permanent grade of colonel of the 20th U.S. Infantry.
In November 1867, Steele took a leave of absence for health reasons. He died two months later on 12 January 1868, in San Mateo, California from an injury suffered in a fall in a buggy accident caused when he suffered an apoplectic fit.
Frederick Steele was born in Delhi, New York on 14 January 1819. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1843. He served in the Mexican-American War participating and distinguishing himself in many engagements earning promotion to first lieutenant in June 1848. He served in California during the Yuma War until 1853, and then in the Minnesota Territory, Kansas Territory, and Nebraska Territory until the Civil War.
On 14 May 1861, Steele was appointed major in the 11th U.S. Infantry and fought at the Battle of Wilson's Creek. On 23 September 1861, he became colonel of the 8th Iowa Infantry. On 30 January 1862, he was appointed brigadier general of volunteers and commanded the District of Southeast Missouri. Following the Union victory at the Battle of Pea Ridge, he took command of the 1st Division in the Army of the Southwest and briefly commanded the army from 29 August to 7 October. On 17 March 1863, President Lincoln appointed Steele major general of volunteers.
Steele's division was transferred to the Army of the Tennessee becoming the 11th Division in the XIII Corps. He fought at the Battle of Chickasaw Bayou in December 1862 and in the Battle of Arkansas Post in January 1863. His division was renamed the 1st Division in Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman's XV Corps during the Siege of Vicksburg.
On 27 July 1863, he was placed in command of the Army of Arkansas. His army successfully captured Little Rock in September. He was assigned command of VII Corps in the Department of Arkansas in the Trans-Mississippi Theater from 6 January to 22 December 1864. On 23 March, Steele began his march with eight thousand soldiers from Little Rock south to Arkadelphia, where he was joined by John M. Thayer with another four thousand troops. Steele led them on the costly Camden Expedition, a failed attempt to join forces with Nathaniel Banks in the Red River Campaign.
Steele led a force of African American soldiers, officially designated the "Column from Pensacola", in Major General Edward Canby's Army of the West Mississippi between 18 February to 18 May 1865. His troops fought at the battles of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely.
Steele was transferred to Texas in June 1865 and place in command of U.S. forces along the Rio Grande. He then commanded the Department of the Columbia, overseeing the Snake War from December 1865 to November 1867. On 28 July 1866, he was appointed to the permanent grade of colonel of the 20th U.S. Infantry.
In November 1867, Steele took a leave of absence for health reasons. He died two months later on 12 January 1868, in San Mateo, California from an injury suffered in a fall in a buggy accident caused when he suffered an apoplectic fit.
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