Alfred Pleasonton
Born: July 7, 1824
Birthplace: Washington, D.C.
Father: U.S. Government Auditor Stephen Pleasonton 1776 – 1855
(Buried: Congressional Cemetery, Washington, D.C.)
Mother: Mary Hopkins 1783 – 1851
(Buried: Congressional Cemetery, Washington, D.C.)
Education:
1844: Graduated from West Point Military Academy – (7th in class)
Occupation before War:
1844 – 1845: Brevet 2nd Lt. United States Army, 1st Dragoons
1844 – 1845: Frontier Duty at Fort Atkinson, Iowa
1845 – 1849: 2nd Lt. United States Army, 2nd Dragoons
1846: Served in the Battle of Palo Alto, Mexico
1846: Served in the Battle of Resaca de la Palma, Mexico
1846: Brevetted 1st Lt. for Gallantry in two battles mentioned above
1848 – 1849: Frontier Duty at Santa Fe, New Mexico
1849 – 1855: 1st Lt. United States Army, 2nd Dragoons
1849 – 1851: Frontier Duty at Albuquerque, New Mexico
1851 – 1852: Frontier Duty at Fort Concord, New Mexico
1852 – 1853: Recruiter for United States Army
1855 – 1861: Captain United States Army, 2nd Dragoons
1855 – 1856: Served in the Sioux Expedition
1855 – 1856: Acting Assistant Adjutant of U.S. Army, 2nd Dragoons
1856 – 1857: Acting Assistant Adjutant, Department of the Florida
1857 – 1858: Served in the Disturbances in Kansas Territory
1858 – 1860: Acting Assistant Adjutant, Department of the Oregon
Civil War Career:
1861 – 1862: Captain United States Army, 2nd Cavalry Regiment
1861: Organizer of Volunteers in Wilmington, Delaware
1861: Served in the United States Army, Department of Utah
1861: Regimental Commander in Washington, D.C.
1861 – 1862: Served in the Defenses of Washington, D.C.
1862 – 1868: Major, United States Army, 2nd Cavalry Regiment
1862: Served in the Siege of Yorktown, Virginia
1862: Served in the Seven Days Campaign in Virginia
1862 – 1863: Brigadier General, Union Army Volunteers
1862: Covered Union Withdrawal to Yorktown, Virginia
1862: Brevetted Lt. Colonel for Gallantry at Battle of Antietam
1862: Served in Pursuit of Stuart’s Cavalry, Skirmish at Monocacy
1862: Covered the Rear March to Fredericksburg, Virginia
1862: Served in the Battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia
1863: Served in the Battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia
1863: Union Army Commander at the Battle of Brandy Station
1863 – 1864: Cavalry Commander of the Army of the Potomac
1863 – 1866: Major General of Union Army Volunteers, Cavalry
1863: Cavalry Commander during Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
1863: Brevetted Colonel for Gallantry at Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
1863: Cavalry Commander in Pursuit of the enemy to Warrenton, Virginia
1863: Cavalry Commander in Capture of Culpeper Court House, Virginia
1864 – 1866: Union Army Commander of Department of the Missouri
1864: Commander in the Defense of Jefferson City, Missouri
1864 – 1865: Commander of Cavalry, Pursuing Sterling Price
1864: Routed Sterling Price at the Battle of Marais des Cygnes
1865: Brevetted Brigadier General for Gallantry against Sterling Price
1865: Brevetted Major General for his service in the War
1866: Mustered out of the Union Army on January 15th
Occupation after War:
1862 – 1868: Major, United States Army, 2nd Cavalry Regiment
1866: Declined Lt. Colonel, United States Army, 20th Infantry Regiment
1868: Resigned from United States Army on January 1st
1869 – 1870: Collector of United States Internal Revenue Service
1870 – 1871: Commissioner of United States Internal Revenue Service
President of Terre Haute and Cincinnati Railroad Company
1888: Added to the list of Retired United States Army Major’s
Died: January 17, 1897
Place of Death: Washington, D.C.
Cause of Death: Bright’s Disease, malaria, catarrhal pneumonia
Age at time of Death: 72 years old
Burial Place: Congressional Cemetery, Washington, D.C.
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