COL Spear, Ellis

Ellis Spear​

Born: October 15, 1834

Birthplace: Warren, Maine

Father: James Marston Spear 1806 – 1870

(Buried: Town Cemetery, Warren, Maine)​

Mother: Nancy Cushman 1804 – 1893

(Buried: Town Cemetery, Warren, Maine)​

1st​ Wife: Susie Wilde 1836 – 1874

(Buried: Glenwood Cemetery, Washington, D.C.)​

2nd​ Wife: Sarah Foster Prince 1845 – 1917

(Buried: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia)​

Children:

Julia Marie Spear Boyd 1862 – 1909​

(Buried: Glenwood Cemetery, Washington, D.C.)​

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Arthur Prince Spear 1879 – 1959​

(Buried: Elm Grove Cemetery, Thomaston, Maine)​

Education:

1858: Graduated from Bowdoin College​

Occupation before War:

School Teacher in the State of Maine​

Civil War Career:

1862: Recruiter and Organizer of Company G, 20th​ Maine Infantry Regiment​

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1862 – 1863: Captain of Company G, 20th​ Maine Infantry Regiment​

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1862: Served with the 20th​ Maine Infantry Regiment at Fredericksburg

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1863: Acting Major and 2nd​ in Command of 20th​ Maine at Gettysburg​

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1863: Helped lead 386 men into the Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania​

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1863: Directed the 20th​ Maine left wing on the 2nd​ day of Gettysburg​

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1863 – 1865: Major of 20th​ Maine Infantry Regiment​

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1863 – 1865: Commander of the 20th​ Maine Infantry Regiment​

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1864: Brevetted Lt. Colonel for Gallantry at Battle of Peeble's Farm​

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1865: Brevetted Colonel for Gallantry at Battle of Lewis's Farm​

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1865: Colonel of 20th​ Maine Infantry Regiment​

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1865: Mustered out of Service on July 16th​​

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1866: Confirmed as Brevet Brig. General for his service in the war​

Occupation after War:

1865 – 1877: Patent Attorney in Maine​

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1877 – 1878: United States Commissioner of Patents​

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Author of The Civil War Recollections of General Ellis Spear​

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He Wrote his beliefs about the 20th​ Maine in Battle of Gettysburg​

Died: April 3, 1917

Place of Death: St. Petersburg, Florida

Age at time of Death: 82 years old

Burial Place: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia

 

[Seduzal]

Thanks for sharing this awesome article. He had an awesome career as an military officer in the Civil War and lived to passed away at the age of 82.

 

[JeffFromSyracuse]

I believe he commanded a Brigade for a few hours at Peeble's Farm with the rank of Major. The 20th Maine's Brigade commander, James Gwyn of the 118th PA was wounded and Norval Welch of the 16th Michigan was already KIA, leaving Spears as the brigade's highest ranking officer. His promotion to Lt. Colonel was granted in part for his performance on the field that day.

 

[Pollaco]

The picture certainly doesn't show it but Spear was considered a frail man who wasn't expected to withstand the "rigors of army life".

 

[Pollaco]

I believe he commanded a Brigade for a few hours at Peeble's Farm with the rank of Major. The 20th Maine's Brigade commander, James Gwyn of the 118th PA was wounded and Norval Welch of the 16th Michigan was already KIA, leaving Spears as the brigade's highest ranking officer. His promotion to Lt. Colonel was granted in part for his performance on the field that day.

Actually he was probably an acting major, according to another biography of him, Spear was a captain until August 28, 1863.

 

[JerseyBart]

I am reading his memoirs now!!!

 

[Kurt G]

His memoirs were the last thing I bought from Morningside many years ago.

 

[JeffFromSyracuse]

Actually he was probably an acting major, according to another biography of him, Spear was a captain until August 28, 1863.

Hi Polloco. So Spear was officially promoted to Major on August 28, 1863? Peeble's Farm was September 30, 1864 - October 2, 1864. Obviously, he was a very experienced commander by then, and he seems to have had a knack for performing well above the expectations of his rank!

 

[Pollaco]

Hi Polloco. So Spear was officially promoted to Major on August 28, 1863? Peeble's Farm was September 30, 1864 - October 2, 1864. Obviously, he was a very experienced commander by then, and he seems to have had a knack for performing well above the expectations of his rank!

So sorry, I was not familiar with that battle and I assumed you were still talking about Gettysburg. I just assumed you were referring to one of the many little farms around there. Having never been to that battlefield I "got it wrong". Once again sorry!

 

[JeffFromSyracuse]

So sorry, I was not familiar with that battle and I assumed you were still talking about Gettysburg. I just assumed you were referring to one of the many little farms around there. Having never been to that battlefield I "got it wrong". Once again sorry!

No problem at all. Only a battle I'm recently familiar with myself, and I just wanted to make sure we were on the same page.

Also, one of the few battlefields that is well protected but inaccessible - it's part of the Pamplin Park complex, but is not open to the public.