Wesley Merritt
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
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
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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