★ Taylor, George William

George William Taylor​

Born: November 22, 1808

Birthplace: Solitude Mansion, High Bridge, New Jersey

Father: Archibald Stewart Taylor 1781 – 1860

(Buried: Clinton Presbyterian Churchyard, Clinton, New Jersey)​

Mother: Nancy Ann Bray 1781 – 1835

(Buried: Clinton Presbyterian Churchyard, Clinton, New Jersey)​

Wife: Mary Large King 1813 – 1888

(Buried: Clinton Presbyterian Churchyard, Clinton, New Jersey)​

Children:

Major Archibald Stewart Taylor 1838 – 1917​

(Buried: Prospect Hill Cemetery, Flemington, New Jersey)​

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Caroline Forman Taylor Blauvelt 1840 – 1907​

(Buried: Evergreen Cemetery, Hillside, New Jersey)​

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Mary King Taylor 1842 – 1896​

(Buried: Riverside Cemetery, Clinton, New Jersey)​

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William King Taylor 1844 – 1907​

(Buried: Riverside Cemetery, Clinton, New Jersey)​

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Elizabeth King "Bessie" Taylor White 1852 – 1932​

(Buried: Woodmere Cemetery, Detroit, Michigan)​

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Anne King Taylor 1855 – 1884​

(Buried: Riverside Cemetery, Clinton, New Jersey)​

Education:

Graduated from Private Military Academy at Middletown, Connecticut​

Occupation before War:

Ironworker with Taylor Iron Works​

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1827 – 1831: Served in United States Navy, rising to Midshipman​

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1831 – 1847: Mercantile Businessman in New Jersey​

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1847 – 1848: Captain in United States Army, 10th​ Infantry Regiment​

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1848 – 1850: Participated in the California Gold Rush​

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1850 – 1861: Iron Manufacturer in New Jersey​

Civil War Career:

1861: Recruiter and Organizer of 3rd​ New Jersey Infantry Regiment​

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1861 – 1862: Colonel of 3rd​ New Jersey Infantry Regiment​

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1861: Served in the First Battle of Bull Run, Virginia​

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1862: Served in the Seven Days and Virginia Peninsula Campaigns​

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1862: Brigadier General of Union Army, Volunteers​

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1862: Brigadier General of 1st​ New Jersey Brigade​

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1862: Sent to Bull Run to defend the Railroad Bridge​

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1862: Mortally Wounded in leg from an artillery shell​

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1862: His lower leg was amputated by double flap method​

Died: August 31, 1862

Place of Death: Mansion House Hospital, Alexandria, Virginia

Cause of Death: Exhaustion

Age at time of Death: 53 years old

Burial Place: Clinton Presbyterian Churchyard, Clinton, New Jersey

 

[Pollaco]

That "skirmish" that got him mortally wounded at the Orange and Alexandria Railroad bridge was supposedly to deal with a handful of rebel cavalry raiders. Instead his brigade was met by A.P. Hill's light division.

 

[gentlemanrob]

Happy Birthday Brig. General George William Taylor! Salutes remembering General Taylor on his birthday.

 

[Pollaco]

That "skirmish" that got him mortally wounded at the Orange and Alexandria Railroad bridge was supposedly to deal with a handful of rebel cavalry raiders. Instead his brigade was met by A.P. Hill's light division.

That incident with the "raiders" was when the telegraph went dead at Manassas (Pope's Supply base). On August 27, 1862 Taylor's brigade was sent by the Orange and Alexandria Railroad to investigate what was thought to be the actions of a few raiders. When they unloaded and advanced on the junction they were met by Hill's Division.One biography states it was Jackson's entire Corps but either way Taylor's brigade were vastly outnumbered.Taylor was hit by an artillery shell and died 4 days later.

 

[Pollaco]

The poem "The General's Death" by Joseph O'Conner was based on Taylor's death.