★  Merritt, Wesley

Wesley Merritt

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Born: June 16, 1834

Birthplace: New York City, New York

Father: John W. Merritt 1806 – 1878

Mother: Julia Ann de Forest 1808 – 1874

1st Wife: Caroline Warren 1849 – 1893
(Buried: U.S. Military Academy Post Cemetery, West Point, New York)​

2nd Wife: Laura Williams 1871 – 1951
(Buried: River Street Cemetery, Woodstock, Vermont)​

Education:

1860: Graduated from West Point Military Academy – (22nd in class)​

Occupation before War:

1860 – 1861: Brevet 2nd Lt. United States Army Dragoons​
1860 – 1861: Frontier Duty at Fort Crittenden, Utah​

Civil War Career:

1861: 2nd Lt. United States Army, 2nd Dragoons Regiment​
1861: 1st Lt. United States Army, 2nd Dragoons Regiment​
1861 – 1862: 1st Lt. United States Army, 2nd Cavalry Regiment​
1861: Assistant Adjutant General of Utah Forces​
1861 – 1862: Adjutant of United States Army, 2nd Cavalry Regiment​
1861 – 1862: Served in the Defenses of Washington, D.C.​
1862 – 1863: Aide to Brig. General Philip S. Cooke in D.C. Defenses​
1862 – 1866: Captain United States Army, 2nd Cavalry Regiment​
1863: Aide to General Stoneman in Raid towards Richmond, Virginia​
1863 – 1865: Brigadier General of Union Army Volunteers​
1863: Commander of Reserve Cavalry Brigade, Army of the Potomac​
1863: Engaged in battle 3rd day of Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania​
1863: Brevetted Major for Gallantry at Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
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1863: Served in Pursuit of the Enemy to Warrenton, Virginia​
1863: Served in the Battle of Williamsport, Maryland​
1863: Served in the Battle of Boonsboro, Maryland​
1863 – 1864: Cavalry Brigade Commander, Army of the Potomac​
1863: Served in the Battle of Culpeper Courthouse, Virginia​
1864: Cavalry Division Commander, Army of the Potomac​
1864: Reserve Cavalry Brigade Commander in Richmond Campaign​
1864: Served in the Battle of Todd’s Tavern, Virginia​
1864: Served in Sheridan’s raid to Haxall’s Landing​
1864: Served in the Battle of Yellow Tavern, Virginia​
1864: Brevetted Lt. Colonel for Gallantry at Battle of Yellow Tavern​
1864: Served in the Battle of Meadow Bridge, Virginia​
1864: Brevetted Colonel for Gallantry at Battle of Hawes Shop, Virginia​
1864: Served in the Battle of Cold Harbor, Virginia​
1864: Served in Sheridan’s raid towards Charlottesville, Virginia​
1864: Served in the Battle of Trevilian Station, Virginia​
1864: Served in the Battle of Darbytown, Virginia​
1864 – 1865: Cavalry Division Commander in Shenandoah Campaign​
1864: Brevetted Major General for Gallantry, Winchester & Fishers Hill​
1865: Brevetted Brig. General U.S. Army, Gallantry at Five Forks​
1865: Brevetted Major General for the campaign ending the war​
1865: Cavalry Division Commander in Richmond, Virginia​
1865: Served in the Battle of Dinwiddie Courthouse, Virginia​
1865 – 1866: Major General of Union Army Volunteers​
1865: Served in the Battle of Sailor’s Creek, Virginia​
1865: Served in the Battle of Appomattox Station, Virginia​
1865: Served in the Surrender of General Lee at Appomattox​
1865: Served on Movement to Dan River, North Carolina​
1865: Chief of Cavalry, Military Division of the Southwest​
1865: U.S. Army Cavalry Commander, Department of Texas​
1865: Chief of Cavalry for U.S. Army Military, Division of the Gulf​
1866: Mustered out of the Union Army on February 1st

Occupation after War:
1866 – 1876: Lt. Colonel, United States Army, 9th Cavalry Regiment​
1866 – 1867: Inspection Duty at U.S. Army, Department of the Gulf
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1867: Regimental Commander in New Orleans, Louisiana​
1867: Frontier Duty in San Antonio, Texas​
1867: Frontier Duty at Fort Davis, Texas​
1868 – 1870: Member of General Tactics Board in St. Louis, Missouri​
1876: Inspector of Cavalry for U.S. Army, Division of the Missouri​
1876 – 1887: Colonel United States Army 5th Cavalry Regiment​
1876: Served in the action at Indian Creek, Wyoming​
1876: Served with Cavalry Forces, Big Horn & Yellowstone Expedition​
1876: Served in the Battle of Slim Buttes, Dakota Territory​
1876 – 1878: Served at Fort David A. Russell, Wyoming Territory​
1879: Member of the Court of Inquiry at Chicago, Illinois​
1879: Commander of Ute Expedition to relieve Thornburg’s Command​
1882 – 1887: Superintendent of West Point Military Academy​
1887 – 1895: Brigadier General in United States Army​
1887 – 1891: U.S. Army Commander, Department of the Missouri​
1895 – 1900: Major General of United States Army​
1895 – 1897: U.S. Army Commander, Department of Dakota​
1897 – 1898: U.S. Army Commander, Department of the East​
1898 – 1899: U.S. Army Commander of the Philippine Expedition​
1898: Captured the City of Manila, Philippines​
1898: Governor – General of the Philippine Islands​
1899 – 1900: U.S. Army Commander, Department of the East​
1900: Retired from United States Army on June 16th
1906 – 1910: Suffered from the effects of Senility​

Died: December 3, 1910

Place of Death: Natural Bridge, Virginia

Cause of Death: Arteriosclerosis

Age at time of Death: 76 years old

Burial Place: U.S. Military Academy Post Cemetery, West Point, New York
 
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I remember reading a book on the 9th Cavalry, I don't have it on me so not quoting exactly, but the author described Merritt as being as excellent a cavalryman as Custer, minus the flagrant stupidity of Custer. He was not as harsh as that though, but I am.
This man took command of the Eastern Cavalry Corps at only age 30. In 2 years, he jumped from the rank of Captain to Major General.
 
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Merritt proved himself as among the finest of the Union cavalry commanders despite his youth. Unlike his contemporary Custer, he lacked much of the flamboyance and arrogance most cavalrymen had, and instead was a pure tactician. The union would have done much better against Stuart in the early years if men like him had been given higher commands sooner.
 
In April and May of 1863 Meritt's title was "Mustering and Ordnance Officer" of the Cavalry Corps AOP.What were the responsibilities of that Officer?

It was during this time period when he was on General Stoneman's staff that Merritt led a 50 man detachment on a bridge destroying mission while Stoneman conducted the raid toward Richmond.
 
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