Major General Gordon Granger (USV)

[ColorizedPast]

Major General Gordon Granger (USV)

Gordon Granger was born in Joy, Wayne County, New York, on 6 November 1821. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1845, thirty-fifth in the class of forty-one. Commissioned a brevet second lieutenant, he was assigned to the Second Infantry Regiment stationed in Detroit, Michigan. In 1846, he transferred to the newly constituted Regiment of Mounted Riflemen at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri.

During the Mexican-American War, Granger fought in Winfield Scott's army. He took part in the Siege of Veracruz, the Battle of Cerro Gordo, the Battle of Contreras, the Battle of Churubusco, and the Battle for Mexico City. Granger received two citations for gallantry and in May 1847 received a regular commission as a second lieutenant. After the war, he served on the western frontier in Oregon and Texas. In 1853, he became a first lieutenant.

When the Civil War started, Granger was on sick leave and was temporarily assigned to George B. McClellan's staff in Ohio. After recovering, he returned to the Regiment of Mounted Riflemen and was promoted to captain. As an adjutant for Samuel D. Sturgis, he saw action at the Battle of Dug Springs and observed the Union defeat at Wilson's Creek in August 1861 while serving on Nathaniel Lyon's staff. He was cited for gallantry at Wilson's Creek, became a brevet major, and was made commander of the St. Louis Arsenal.

In November 1861, Granger assumed command of the 2nd Michigan Cavalry at Benton Barracks in St. Louis. Colonel Granger shaped the unit into a fighting force. In February 1862, the 2nd Michigan massed with 20,000 Union troops under Brig. Gen. John Pope at Commerce, Missouri for an advance on New Madrid. Granger assumed command over the Third Cavalry Brigade consisting of the 2nd and 3rd Michigan cavalry. When the 7th Illinois joined, it was reorganized into a cavalry division.

On 26 March, he was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers and commanded the Cavalry Division, Army of the Mississippi during the Battle of New Madrid and the Siege of Corinth. He was promoted to major general of volunteers on 17 September 1862, and took command of the Army of Kentucky. He conducted cavalry operations in central Tennessee before his command was merged into the Army of the Cumberland becoming the Reserve Corps.

Granger distinguished himself at the Battle of Chickamauga. On 20 September 1863, the second day of the battle, he reinforced, without orders, Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas' XIV Corps on Snodgrass Hill by ordering James B. Steedman to send two brigades to help Thomas. This action staved off Confederate attackers until dark, permitting Federal forces to retreat in good order and helping Thomas earn the sobriquet "Rock of Chickamauga".

His effective leadership earned him command of the new IV Corps in the Army of the Cumberland, now commanded by Thomas, and he was promoted brevet lieutenant colonel in the Regular U.S. Army. IV Corps distinguished itself at the Battle of Chattanooga. Thomas J. Wood's and Philip Sheridan's divisions assaulted the reinforced center of the Confederate line on top of Missionary Ridge breaking through and forcing General Braxton Bragg to retreat. Granger then took part in lifting the siege at Knoxville, Tennessee.

However, despite these successes, his outspokenness and bluntness with superiors including Ulysses S. Grant, who disliked Granger, prevented him from gaining more prominent commands in the Eastern Theater in the final years of the war. He was sent to the Department of the Gulf under Maj. Gen. E.R.S. Canby and commanded a division that provided land support to the naval operations conducted by Admiral David Farragut in the Gulf of Mexico. He captured Forts Gaines and Morgan during the Battle of Mobile Bay. He commanded the XIII Corps during the Battle of Fort Blakely, which led to the fall of the city of Mobile, Alabama.

Following the war, Granger commanded the District of Texas. He remained in the Army after mustering out from volunteer service. In July 1866, he was assigned colonel of the reconstituted 25th Infantry Regiment. He then served as colonel of the 15th Infantry. During the 1870s, he commanded the District of New Mexico in two stints. Granger died in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on 10 January 1876.

 

[Jimklag]

View attachment 158726

Major General Gordon Granger (USV)

Gordon Granger was born in Joy, Wayne County, New York, on 6 November 1821. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1845, thirty-fifth in the class of forty-one. Commissioned a brevet second lieutenant, he was assigned to the Second Infantry Regiment stationed in Detroit, Michigan. In 1846, he transferred to the newly constituted Regiment of Mounted Riflemen at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri.

During the Mexican-American War, Granger fought in Winfield Scott's army. He took part in the Siege of Veracruz, the Battle of Cerro Gordo, the Battle of Contreras, the Battle of Churubusco, and the Battle for Mexico City. Granger received two citations for gallantry and in May 1847 received a regular commission as a second lieutenant. After the war, he served on the western frontier in Oregon and Texas. In 1853, he became a first lieutenant.

When the Civil War started, Granger was on sick leave and was temporarily assigned to George B. McClellan's staff in Ohio. After recovering, he returned to the Regiment of Mounted Riflemen and was promoted to captain. As an adjutant for Samuel D. Sturgis, he saw action at the Battle of Dug Springs and observed the Union defeat at Wilson's Creek in August 1861 while serving on Nathaniel Lyon's staff. He was cited for gallantry at Wilson's Creek, became a brevet major, and was made commander of the St. Louis Arsenal.

In November 1861, Granger assumed command of the 2nd Michigan Cavalry at Benton Barracks in St. Louis. Colonel Granger shaped the unit into a fighting force. In February 1862, the 2nd Michigan massed with 20,000 Union troops under Brig. Gen. John Pope at Commerce, Missouri for an advance on New Madrid. Granger assumed command over the Third Cavalry Brigade consisting of the 2nd and 3rd Michigan cavalry. When the 7th Illinois joined, it was reorganized into a cavalry division.

On 26 March, he was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers and commanded the Cavalry Division, Army of the Mississippi during the Battle of New Madrid and the Siege of Corinth. He was promoted to major general of volunteers on 17 September 1862, and took command of the Army of Kentucky. He conducted cavalry operations in central Tennessee before his command was merged into the Army of the Cumberland becoming the Reserve Corps.

Granger distinguished himself at the Battle of Chickamauga. On 20 September 1863, the second day of the battle, he reinforced, without orders, Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas' XIV Corps on Snodgrass Hill by ordering James B. Steedman to send two brigades to help Thomas. This action staved off Confederate attackers until dark, permitting Federal forces to retreat in good order and helping Thomas earn the sobriquet "Rock of Chickamauga".

His effective leadership earned him command of the new IV Corps in the Army of the Cumberland, now commanded by Thomas, and he was promoted brevet lieutenant colonel in the Regular U.S. Army. IV Corps distinguished itself at the Battle of Chattanooga. Thomas J. Wood's and Philip Sheridan's divisions assaulted the reinforced center of the Confederate line on top of Missionary Ridge breaking through and forcing General Braxton Bragg to retreat. Granger then took part in lifting the siege at Knoxville, Tennessee.

However, despite these successes, his outspokenness and bluntness with superiors including Ulysses S. Grant, who disliked Granger, prevented him from gaining more prominent commands in the Eastern Theater in the final years of the war. He was sent to the Department of the Gulf under Maj. Gen. E.R.S. Canby and commanded a division that provided land support to the naval operations conducted by Admiral David Farragut in the Gulf of Mexico. He captured Forts Gaines and Morgan during the Battle of Mobile Bay. He commanded the XIII Corps during the Battle of Fort Blakely, which led to the fall of the city of Mobile, Alabama.

Following the war, Granger commanded the District of Texas. He remained in the Army after mustering out from volunteer service. In July 1866, he was assigned colonel of the reconstituted 25th Infantry Regiment. He then served as colonel of the 15th Infantry. During the 1870s, he commanded the District of New Mexico in two stints. Granger died in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on 10 January 1876.

View attachment 158725

Good one, CP. Interesting looking guy.

 

[mofederal]

Great colorization and the facts about Granger's career. Good work as usual. I am always impressed by these threads.

 

[Irishtom29]

The way I understand it Granger lost command of the 4th Corps because Grant thought him too slow moving to relieve Knoxville. And that Grant also thought Granger wasn't in proper control of his corps at Missionary Ridge.

 

[AndyHall]

Very nicely done. It was Granger who took command of the District of Texas in June 1865 and issued his famous General Order No. 3, announcing emancipation in Texas and forming the basis for the holiday of Juneteenth, now widely celebrated around the country.

On a more personal note, Granger provided an endorsement to a relative of mine's postwar application for a pardon, writing that "I have the honor to state that I have personally known him for twenty years & further that he is a man of the highest integrity & great moral worth & I further [illegible] believe your clemency in his behalf is dictated by Sound policy & the best interests of the Country & I do urgently recommend him to your Early & favorable consideration."

Did my man a solid, Granger did.

 

[JOHN42768]

Vert nice.

 

[WJC]

View attachment 158726

Major General Gordon Granger (USV)

Gordon Granger was born in Joy, Wayne County, New York, on 6 November 1821. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1845, thirty-fifth in the class of forty-one. Commissioned a brevet second lieutenant, he was assigned to the Second Infantry Regiment stationed in Detroit, Michigan. In 1846, he transferred to the newly constituted Regiment of Mounted Riflemen at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri.

During the Mexican-American War, Granger fought in Winfield Scott's army. He took part in the Siege of Veracruz, the Battle of Cerro Gordo, the Battle of Contreras, the Battle of Churubusco, and the Battle for Mexico City. Granger received two citations for gallantry and in May 1847 received a regular commission as a second lieutenant. After the war, he served on the western frontier in Oregon and Texas. In 1853, he became a first lieutenant.

When the Civil War started, Granger was on sick leave and was temporarily assigned to George B. McClellan's staff in Ohio. After recovering, he returned to the Regiment of Mounted Riflemen and was promoted to captain. As an adjutant for Samuel D. Sturgis, he saw action at the Battle of Dug Springs and observed the Union defeat at Wilson's Creek in August 1861 while serving on Nathaniel Lyon's staff. He was cited for gallantry at Wilson's Creek, became a brevet major, and was made commander of the St. Louis Arsenal.

In November 1861, Granger assumed command of the 2nd Michigan Cavalry at Benton Barracks in St. Louis. Colonel Granger shaped the unit into a fighting force. In February 1862, the 2nd Michigan massed with 20,000 Union troops under Brig. Gen. John Pope at Commerce, Missouri for an advance on New Madrid. Granger assumed command over the Third Cavalry Brigade consisting of the 2nd and 3rd Michigan cavalry. When the 7th Illinois joined, it was reorganized into a cavalry division.

On 26 March, he was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers and commanded the Cavalry Division, Army of the Mississippi during the Battle of New Madrid and the Siege of Corinth. He was promoted to major general of volunteers on 17 September 1862, and took command of the Army of Kentucky. He conducted cavalry operations in central Tennessee before his command was merged into the Army of the Cumberland becoming the Reserve Corps.

Granger distinguished himself at the Battle of Chickamauga. On 20 September 1863, the second day of the battle, he reinforced, without orders, Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas' XIV Corps on Snodgrass Hill by ordering James B. Steedman to send two brigades to help Thomas. This action staved off Confederate attackers until dark, permitting Federal forces to retreat in good order and helping Thomas earn the sobriquet "Rock of Chickamauga".

His effective leadership earned him command of the new IV Corps in the Army of the Cumberland, now commanded by Thomas, and he was promoted brevet lieutenant colonel in the Regular U.S. Army. IV Corps distinguished itself at the Battle of Chattanooga. Thomas J. Wood's and Philip Sheridan's divisions assaulted the reinforced center of the Confederate line on top of Missionary Ridge breaking through and forcing General Braxton Bragg to retreat. Granger then took part in lifting the siege at Knoxville, Tennessee.

However, despite these successes, his outspokenness and bluntness with superiors including Ulysses S. Grant, who disliked Granger, prevented him from gaining more prominent commands in the Eastern Theater in the final years of the war. He was sent to the Department of the Gulf under Maj. Gen. E.R.S. Canby and commanded a division that provided land support to the naval operations conducted by Admiral David Farragut in the Gulf of Mexico. He captured Forts Gaines and Morgan during the Battle of Mobile Bay. He commanded the XIII Corps during the Battle of Fort Blakely, which led to the fall of the city of Mobile, Alabama.

Following the war, Granger commanded the District of Texas. He remained in the Army after mustering out from volunteer service. In July 1866, he was assigned colonel of the reconstituted 25th Infantry Regiment. He then served as colonel of the 15th Infantry. During the 1870s, he commanded the District of New Mexico in two stints. Granger died in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on 10 January 1876.

View attachment 158725

Thanks for yet another amazing colorization!

 

[chucksr]

The way I understand it Granger lost command of the 4th Corps because Grant thought him too slow moving to relieve Knoxville. And that Grant also thought Granger wasn't in proper control of his corps at Missionary Ridge.

Interesting that Grant did not apply that same lack of "proper control" to Sheridan's performance at Missionary Ridge. One of the real problems I have with Grant is the arbitrary nature of his treatment of efficient, successful officers. Thomas is an example of Grant's lack of appreciation of a fine officer and certainly one that deserved much better treatment than he received at Nashville. Granger, like Thomas, and eventually, Warren certainly deserved better respect than he received from Grant.