BMG  ★  Wadsworth, James S.

James Samuel Wadsworth

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Wadsworth.jpg


Born: October 30, 1807

Birthplace: Geneseo, New York

Father: General James Wadsworth 1768 – 1844
(Buried: Temple Hill Cemetery, Geneseo, New York)​

Mother: Naomi Wolcott 1776 – 1831
(Buried: Temple Hill Cemetery, Geneseo, New York)​

Wife: Mary Craig Wharton 1814 – 1874
(Buried: Temple Hill Cemetery, Geneseo, New York)​

Children:

Nannie Wadsworth Rogers Unknown – 1919​
(Buried: Pau Urban Cemetery, Pau, France)​
Brevet Major Charles Frederick Wadsworth 1835 – 1899​
(Buried: Temple Hill Cemetery, Geneseo, New York)​
Cornelia Wadsworth Adair 1837 – 1921​
(Buried: Cremated ashes placed in Ireland)​
Craig Wharton Wadsworth 1841 – 1872​
(Buried: Temple Hill Cemetery, Geneseo, New York)​
U.S. Congressman James Wolcott Wadsworth 1846 – 1926​
(Buried: Temple Hill Cemetery, Geneseo, New York)​
Elizabeth Wadsworth Smith – Berry 1848 – 1930​
(Buried St. Mary and All Saints Churchyard, Cheshire, England)​

Education:

Attended Harvard University and Yale University​

Occupation before War:

Manager of his family estate in Geneseo, New York​
1842 – 1843: President of New York State Agricultural Society​
One of the Organizers of the Free-Soil Political Party​
1856: One of the Organizers of the Republican Political Party​
1860: Republican Party Presidential Elector​

Civil War Career:

1861: Major General of New York State Militia​
1861: Civilian Aide to McDowell at First Battle of Bull Run, Virginia​
1861 – 1864: Brigadier General of Union Army Volunteers​
1861 – 1862: Brigade Commander in 1st Army Corps​
1862: Union Army Commander of District of Washington, D.C.
Wadsworth 1.jpg
1862 – 1863: 1st​ Division Commander in 1st​ Army Corps​
1863: Saw his first duty in battle at the Battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia​
1863: Led his Division at the Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania​
1863 – 1864: Inspected African – American Soldiers in Mississippi Valley​
1864: Lost his direction at the Battle of the Wilderness, Virginia​
1864: Brevetted Major General in the Union Army on May 6th​
1864: Mortally Wounded at the Battle of the Wilderness, Virginia​

Died: May 8, 1864

Place of Death: Spotsylvania County, Virginia

Cause of Death: Gun wounds to his forehead

Age at time of Death: 56 years old

Burial Place: Temple Hill Cemetery, Geneseo, New York
 
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Many colonels and generals were shelved or given smaller commands in the reorganization in tbe spring of 1864, Wadsworth surprisingly was not one of the officers who got downgraded. Even with no military service or experience before the War he retained his division command in the 5th Corps.
 
Many colonels and generals were shelved or given smaller commands in the reorganization in tbe spring of 1864, Wadsworth surprisingly was not one of the officers who got downgraded. Even with no military service or experience before the War he retained his division command in the 5th Corps.

I think part of it was seniority but he was also a capable commander who commanded one of the better divisions in the army (on paper, anyways). Plus, he was politically connected so changing his status would have been a big deal for little gain.

Ryan
 
Many colonels and generals were shelved or given smaller commands in the reorganization in tbe spring of 1864, Wadsworth surprisingly was not one of the officers who got downgraded. Even with no military service or experience before the War he retained his division command in the 5th Corps.
The interesting thing is that he didn’t keep it - he got it back. He left the AoP in Maryland after Gettysburg and didn’t rejoin it until the next spring.
 
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