★ ★  MOH Stanley, David S.

David Sloane Stanley

Stanley.jpg

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Born: June 1, 1828

Birthplace: Cedar Valley, Ohio

Father: John Bratton Stanley 1799 – 1873
(Buried: Shiloh Cemetery, Wabash, Indiana)​

Mother: Sarah Peterson 1807 – 1839
(Buried: Congress Cemetery, Congress, Ohio)​

Wife: Anna Maria Wright 1830 – 1895
(Buried: U.S. Soldiers and Airmen’s Home, Washington, D.C.)​

Children:

Josephine Huntington Stanley Holbrook 1860 – 1927​
(Buried: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia)​
Sarah Eliza “Lillie” Stanley Rumbough 1861 – 1952​
(Buried: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia)​
Anna Huntington Stanley Holbrook 1864 – 1907​
(Buried: U.S. Soldiers and Airmen’s Home, Washington, D.C.)​
Blanche H. Stanley 1871 – 1951​
(Buried: U.S. Soldiers and Airmen’s Home, Washington, D.C.)​
Colonel David Sheridan Stanley 1873 – 1942​
(Buried: U.S. Soldiers and Airmen’s Home, Washington, D.C.)​

Education:
1852: Graduated from West Point Military Academy – (9th in class)​

Occupation before War:
1852 – 1853: Brevet 2nd Lt. United States Army, 2nd Dragoons​
1852 – 1853: Attended Cavalry School of Practice Carlisle, Pennsylvania​
1853 – 1855: 2nd Lt. United States Army, 2nd Dragoons​
1853 – 1854: Served on Pacific Railroad Reconnaissance​
1854: Frontier Duty at Fort McKavett, Texas​
1854 – 1855: Frontier Duty at Fort Chadbourne, Texas​
1855: 2nd Lt. United States Army, 1st Cavalry Regiment
Stanley 1.jpg
1855 – 1861: 1st Lt. United States Army, 1st Cavalry Regiment​
1856: Conductor of Recruits to Fort Pierre, Dakota Territory​
1856: Served in the Disturbances on the Kansas Border​
1856 – 1857: Frontier Duty at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas​
1857: Served in the Cheyenne Expedition​
1857: Served at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas​
1857 – 1858: Served at Fort Riley, Kansas​
1858: Served in the March to the Arkansas River​
1859: U.S. Army Scout against Comanche Natives​
1859: Served in the Skirmish at Fort Arbuckle, Indian Territory​
1859 – 1860: Served at Fort Cobb, Indian Territory​
1860 – 1861: Served at Fort Smith, Indian Territory​
1861: Served at Fort Washita, Indian Territory​

Civil War Career:
1861: Captain United States Army, 1st Cavalry Regiment​
1861 – 1863: Captain United States Army, 4th Cavalry Regiment​
1861: Served in Successful Evacuation of the Indian Territory​
1861: Served in the Skirmish and Capture of Forsyth​
1861: Served in the Battle of Dug Spring, Missouri​
1861: Guarded trains during Battle of Wilson’s Creek​
1861: Served in the retreat to Rolla​
1861: Served in the Skirmish at Salem​
1861 – 1862: Brigadier General, Union Army Volunteers​
1861: Served in the March from St. Louis to Syracuse and Springfield​
1861 – 1862: Absent from the Army due to broken leg​
1862: Member of Military Commission at St. Louis, Missouri​
1862: Served in the Capture of New Madrid​
1862: Served in the Battle of Island No. 10​
1862: Served in the Expedition to Fort Pillow​
1862: Served in the Advance of Siege of Corinth, Mississippi​
1862: Served in the Battle of Booneville, Mississippi​
1862: Division Commander in Northern Mississippi and Alabama​
1862: Served in the Battle of Iuka, Mississippi​
1862: Served in the Battle of Corinth, Mississippi​
1862 – 1863: Chief of Cavalry for Army of the Cumberland​
1862 – 1866: Major General of Union Army Volunteers​
1862: Served in the Skirmish at Franklin, Tennessee​
1862: Served in the Battle of Nolansville, Tennessee​
1862 – 1863: Served in the Battle of Stones River, Tennessee​
1862: Brevetted Lt. Colonel for Gallantry at Battle of Stones River​
Stanley 2.jpg
1863: Served in the Advance on Tullahoma​
1863: Served in the Expedition to Huntsville, Alabama​
1863: Served in the Passage of Tennessee River & North Georgia Mtns​
1863 – 1866: Major of United States Army, 5th Cavalry Regiment​
1863 – 1864: Division Commander in the Army of the Cumberland​
1864: Division Commander in the invasion of Georgia​
1864 – 1866: Commander of 4th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland​
1864: Served in the Battle of Resaca, Georgia​
1864: Brevetted Colonel for Gallantry at Battle of Resaca, Georgia
Moh_army_orig.gif
1864: Served in the Siege of Atlanta, Georgia​
1864: Wounded in neck during the Battle of Franklin, Tennessee
1864 – 1865: on Sick leave disabled by his wound​
1865: Commander of Union Army, District of Central Texas​
1865: Brevetted Brigadier General for Gallantry at Battle of Ruff’s Station​
1865 – 1866: Leave of Absence from Army awaiting Orders​
1866: Mustered out of the Union Army on February 1st

Occupation after War:
1866 – 1884: Colonel of United States Army, 22nd Infantry Regiment​
1866 – 1867: Commander of Fort Leavenworth, Kansas​
1867 – 1874: Commander of Fort Sully, Dakota Territory​
1873: Commander of Yellowstone Expedition​
1874 – 1876: Commander of Fort Wayne, Michigan​
1876 – 1878: Superintendent of General Recruiting Service​
1878 – 1879: Regimental Commander at Fort Porter, New York​
1879: Commander of U.S. Army District of North Texas​
1879 – 1880: Commander of U.S. Army District of Nueces​
1880 – 1881: Commander of U.S. Army Department of Texas​
1881 – 1882: Regimental Commander at Fort Clark, Texas​
1882 – 1883: Regimental Commander at Santa Fe, New Mexico​
1883: Regimental Commander at Fort Marcy, New Mexico​
1883: Regimental Commander at Fort Lewis, Colorado​
1883 – 1884: Commander of U.S. Army District of New Mexico​
1884 – 1892: Brigadier General in United States Army​
1884 – 1892: Commander of U.S. Army Department of Texas​
1892: Retired from United States Army on June 1st
1893: Recipient of the Medal of Honor for Battle of Franklin, Tennessee​
1893 – 1898: Governor of Soldier’s Home in Washington, D.C.​
1898: Resigned as Governor of Soldier’s Home on April 15th
1898 – 1902: Lived in Washington, D.C. as retired Military Officer​

Died:
March 13, 1902

Place of Death: Washington, D.C.

Cause of Death: Chronic interstitial nephritis

Age at time of Death: 74 years old

Burial Place: U.S. Soldiers and Airmen’s Home, Washington, D.C.


Medal of Honor
Citation
The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Major General David Sloane Stanley, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 30 November 1864, while serving with U.S. Volunteers, in action at Franklin, Tennessee. At a critical moment Major General Stanley rode to the front of one of his brigades, reestablished its lines, and gallantly led it In a successful assault.
 
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David Sloane Stanley:
Born: June 1, 1828
Birthplace: Cedar Valley OhioView attachment 360818
Father: John Bratton Stanley 1799 – 1873
(Buried: Shiloh Cemetery Wabash Indiana)
Mother: Sarah Peterson 1807 – 1839
(Buried: Congress Cemetery Congress Ohio)
Wife: Anna Maria Wright 1830 – 1895
(Buried: U.S. Soldiers and Airmen’s Home Washington D.C.)
Children:
Josephine Huntington Stanley Holbrook 1860 – 1927
(Buried: Arlington National Cemetery Arlington Virginia)
Sarah Eliza “Lillie” Stanley Rumbough 1861 – 1952
(Buried: Arlington National Cemetery Arlington Virginia)
Anna Huntington Stanley Holbrook 1864 – 1907
(Buried: U.S. Soldiers and Airmen’s Home Washington D.C.)
Blanche H. Stanley 1871 – 1951
(Buried: U.S. Soldiers and Airmen’s Home Washington D.C.)
Colonel David Sheridan Stanley 1873 – 1942
(Buried: U.S. Soldiers and Airmen’s Home Washington D.C.)

Education:
1852: Graduated from West Point Military Academy – (9th​ in class)

Occupation before War:
1852 – 1853: Brevet 2nd​ Lt. United States Army 2nd​ Dragoons
1852 – 1853: Attended Cavalry School of Practice Carlisle Pennsylvania
1853 – 1855: 2nd​ Lt. United States Army 2nd​ Dragoons
1853 – 1854: Served on Pacific Railroad Reconnaissance
1854: Frontier Duty at Fort McKavett Texas
1854 – 1855: Frontier Duty at Fort Chadbourne Texas
1855: 2nd​ Lt. United States Army 1st​ Cavalry RegimentView attachment 360819
1855 – 1861: 1st​ Lt. United States Army 1st​ Cavalry Regiment
1856: Conductor of Recruits to Fort Pierre Dakota Territory
1856: Served in the Disturbances on the Kansas Border
1856 – 1857: Frontier Duty at Fort Leavenworth Kansas
1857: Served in the Cheyenne Expedition
1857: Served at Fort Leavenworth Kansas
1857 – 1858: Served at Fort Riley Kansas
1858: Served in the March to the Arkansas River
1859: U.S. Army Scout against Comanche Natives
1859: Served in the Skirmish at Fort Arbuckle Indian Territory
1859 – 1860: Served at Fort Cobb Indian Territory
1860 – 1861: Served at Fort Smith Indian Territory
1861: Served at Fort Washita Indian Territory

Civil War Career:
1861: Captain United States Army 1st​ Cavalry Regiment
1861 – 1863: Captain United States Army 4th​ Cavalry Regiment
1861: Served in Successful Evacuation of the Indian Territory
1861: Served in the Skirmish and Capture of Forsyth
1861: Served in the Battle of Dug Spring Missouri
1861: Guarded trains during Battle of Wilson’s Creek
1861: Served in the retreat to Rolla
1861: Served in the Skirmish at Salem
1861 – 1862: Brigadier General Union Army Volunteers
1861: Served in the March from St. Louis to Syracuse and Springfield
1861 – 1862: Absent from the Army due to broken leg
1862: Member of Military Commission at St. Louis Missouri
1862: Served in the Capture of New Madrid
1862: Served in the Battle of Island No. 10
1862: Served in the Expedition to Fort Pillow
1862: Served in the Advance of Siege of Corinth Mississippi
1862: Served in the Battle of Booneville Mississippi
1862: Division Commander in Northern Mississippi and Alabama
1862: Served in the Battle of Iuka Mississippi
1862: Served in the Battle of Corinth Mississippi
1862 – 1863: Chief of Cavalry for Army of the Cumberland
1862 – 1866: Major General of Union Army Volunteers
1862: Served in the Skirmish at Franklin Tennessee
1862: Served in the Battle of Nolansville Tennessee
1862 – 1863: Served in the Battle of Stones River Tennessee
1862: Brevetted Lt. Colonel for Gallantry at Battle of Stones RiverView attachment 360820
1863: Served in the Advance on Tullahoma
1863: Served in the Expedition to Huntsville Alabama
1863: Served in the Passage of Tennessee River & North Georgia Mtns
1863 – 1866: Major of United States Army 5th​ Cavalry Regiment
1863 – 1864: Division Commander in the Army of the Cumberland
1864: Division Commander in the invasion of Georgia
1864 – 1866: Commander of 4th​ Army Corps Army of the Cumberland
1864: Served in the Battle of Resaca Georgia
1864: Brevetted Colonel for Gallantry at Battle of Resaca Georgia
1864: Served in the Siege of Atlanta Georgia
1864: Wounded in neck during the Battle of Franklin Tennessee
1864 – 1865: on Sick leave disabled by his wound
1865: Commander of Union Army District of Central Texas
1865: Brevetted Brigadier General Gallantry at Battle of Ruff’s Station
1865 – 1866: Leave of Absence from Army awaiting Orders
1866: Mustered out of the Union Army on February 1st​

Occupation after War:
1866 – 1884: Colonel of United States Army 22nd​ Infantry Regiment
1866 – 1867: Commander of Fort Leavenworth Kansas
1867 – 1874: Commander of Fort Sully Dakota Territory
1873: Commander of Yellowstone Expedition
1874 – 1876: Commander of Fort Wayne Michigan
1876 – 1878: Superintendent of General Recruiting Service
1878 – 1879: Regimental Commander at Fort Porter New York
1879: Commander of U.S. Army District of North Texas
1879 – 1880: Commander of U.S. Army District of Nueces
1880 – 1881: Commander of U.S. Army Department of Texas
1881 – 1882: Regimental Commander at Fort Clark Texas
1882 – 1883: Regimental Commander at Santa Fe New Mexico
1883: Regimental Commander at Fort Marcy New Mexico
1883: Regimental Commander at Fort Lewis Colorado
1883 – 1884: Commander of U.S. Army District of New Mexico
1884 – 1892: Brigadier General in United States Army
1884 – 1892: Commander of U.S. Army Department of Texas
1892: Retired from United States Army on June 1st​
1893: Recipient of the Medal of Honor for Battle of Franklin TN.
1893 – 1898: Governor of Soldier’s Home in Washington D.C.
1898: Resigned as Governor of Soldier’s Home on April 15th​
1898 – 1902: Lived in Washington D.C. as retired Military Officer


Died:
March 13, 1902
Place of Death: Washington D.C.
Cause of Death: Chronic interstitial nephritis
Age at time of Death: 74 years old
Burial Place: U.S. Soldiers and Airmen’s Home Washington D.C.
Stanley was probably one of the finest Union commanders of the war, at least in my book. He was certainly much better than 4th Corps' prior commander Howard.
 
What exactly did Stanley do or didn't do at Jonesboro that disappointed Sherman enough to send the 4th Corps back to Tennessee instead of allowing them to accompany his March to the Sea?
I believe it was a random choice based on the positioning of the Corps at the time, it was convenient to detach it and 23rd to deal with Hood.
 
I believe it was a random choice based on the positioning of the Corps at the time, it was convenient to detach it and 23rd to deal with Hood.
Apparently it was just more than a "random choice". From what I've read, Sherman felt that Stanley "did not measure up" as a major general or as a Corps Commander and was also disappointed by Stanley's performance at Jonesboro. The biography does not state that his performance at Jonesboro was the reason for Stanley's being sent back to Tennessee. But it does say it very well may be the reason.
 
What exactly did Stanley do or didn't do at Jonesboro that disappointed Sherman enough to send the 4th Corps back to Tennessee instead of allowing them to accompany his March to the Sea?
Well, according to Sherman, he left the two weakest corp's back.
 
Stanley was a capable and versatile Union commander - ably leading a Cavalry Corps, Infantry Divisions, then an Army Corps. Perhaps his best command performances were as a Corps commander at Spring Hill and Franklin. For his leadership performance at Franklin in rallying a Brigade to counterattack to repair a breach near the Union center, he received the Medal of Honor.

Apparently near Jonesboro, Stanley received a slight but painful bullet wound in his groin that caused him to feel ill.

At Franklin, he received another non life threatening and painful bullet wound that gashed the back of his neck . (The gash was reportedly three inches long and equal in depth to half the diameter of the ball). This wound caused Stanley shortly afterwards to leave the field of his own volition to seek medical attention.
 
In that case it's interesting that subsequently the 4th and 23rd Corps did the most and hardest fighting of the corps that campaigned down to Atlanta.

Stanley was a good man.
23rd Corps may have been the least engaged of Sherman's units in the campaign. 4th Corps definitely got the brunt of it at Reseca, Pickett's Mill, and Kennesaw. 23rd Corps meanwhile really only was heavily involved at Reseca, Kolb's Farm and Utoy Creek, of which I'd say Resaca was their bloodiest action.
 

A link to his grave in Soldiers Home National Cemetery
 
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23rd Corps may have been the least engaged of Sherman's units in the campaign. 4th Corps definitely got the brunt of it at Reseca, Pickett's Mill, and Kennesaw. 23rd Corps meanwhile really only was heavily involved at Reseca, Kolb's Farm and Utoy Creek, of which I'd say Resaca was their bloodiest action.

Indeed, though I'm referring to after the splitting of Sherman's force when the 14th, 20th, 15th and 17th Corps went to the Sea and Carolinas with Uncle Billy and the 4th and 23rd went to Tennessee with Thomas. Looking back I see I wrote my response to rbasin somewhat clumsily.
 
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