George Sears Greene

George Sears Greene (May 6, 1801 – January 28, 1899) was a civil engineer and a Union general during the American Civil War. He was part of the Greene family of Rhode Island, which had a distinguished military record for the United States. His greatest contribution during the war was his defense of the Union right flank at Culp's Hill during the Battle of Gettysburg. As a civilian, he was a founder of the American Society of Civil Engineers and Architects and was responsible for numerous railroads and aqueduct construction projects in the northeastern United States. Image File history File links George_S._Greene. ... Image File history File links George_S._Greene. ... May 6 is the 126th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (127th in leap years). ... The Union Jack, flag of the newly formed United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. ... January 28 is the 28th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1899 (MDCCCXCIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... The 21st Michigan Infantry, a company of Shermans veterans. ... A General is an officer of high military rank. ... Combatants United States of America (Union) Confederate States of America (Confederacy) Commanders Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant Jefferson Davis, Robert Edward Lee Strength 2,200,000 1,064,000 Casualties 110,000 killed in action, 360,000 total dead, 275,200 wounded 93,000 killed in action, 258,000 total... Official language(s) None Capital Providence Largest city Providence Area  Ranked 50th  - Total 1,214* sq mi (3,144* km²)  - Width 37 miles (60 km)  - Length 48 miles (77 km)  - % water 32. ... Battle of Gettysburg Conflict American Civil War Date July 1–3, 1863 Place Adams County Result Union victory The Battle of Gettysburg (July 1–3, 1863), fought in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, as part of the Gettysburg Campaign, was the largest battle ever conducted in... Combatants United States of America (Union) Confederate States of America Commanders George G. Meade Robert E. Lee Strength 93,921 71,699 Casualties 23,055 (3,155 killed, 14,531 wounded, 5,369 captured/missing) 22,231 (4,708 killed, 12,693 wounded, 5,830 captured/missing) The Battle of... The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) is a professional body, founded in 1852, to represent members of the civil engineering profession worldwide. ...

Early life

Greene was born in Apponaug, Rhode Island, one of nine children of Caleb and Sarah Robinson Wicks Greene.^[1] Caleb was the son of American Revolutionary War general Nathaniel Greene. He was a financially shrewd ship owner and merchant, but the Embargo Act of 1807, which prohibited U.S. vessels from carrying goods to other countries, and the War of 1812 left his family in financial difficulties.^[2] Young George attended Wrentham Academy and then a Latin grammar school in Providence and hoped to attend Brown University there, but his impoverished father could not afford it, so he moved to New York City and found work in a dry goods store on Pearl Street.^[3] Apponaug is a neighborhood in central Warwick, Rhode Island, situated on Apponaug Cove, a tributary to Greenwich Bay and nearby Narragansett Bay. ... Combatants American Revolutionaries, France, The Netherlands, Spain, American Indians Great Britain, German mercenaries, Loyalists, American Indians Canadian Indians Commanders George Washington, Comte de Rochambeau, Nathanael Greene, Bernardo de Gálvez Sir William Howe, Sir Henry Clinton, Lord Cornwallis (more commanders) The American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), also known as the... Nathanael Greene Nathanael Greene (July 27, 1742 (O.S.)–June 19, 1786), was a major general of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War. ... The Embargo Act of 1807 was an American law prohibiting all export of cargo from American ports. ... Combatants United States Native Americans United Kingdom Canadian colonial forces Native Americans Native Canadians Commanders James Madison Winfield Scott George Prevost Tecumseh† Strength •U.S. Regular Army: 35,800 •Rangers: 3,049 •Militia: 458,463* •US Navy & US Marines: (at start of war): •Frigates:3 •Other vessels: 14 •Indigenous peoples... Nickname: Beehive of Industry, The Renaissance City Location in Rhode Island Coordinates: Country United States State Rhode Island County Providence Mayor David N. Cicilline (D) Area    - City 20. ... Brown University is a university located in Providence, Rhode Island. ... Nickname: Big Apple Location in the state of New York Coordinates: Country United States State New York Boroughs Bronx (The Bronx) New York (Manhattan) Queens (Queens) Kings (Brooklyn) Richmond (Staten Island) Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) Area    - City 1,214. ...

In the New York store, Greene met Major Sylvanus Thayer, superintendent of the United States Military Academy, who recommended him to the Secretary of War for appointment to the academy. Greene entered West Point at age 18 and graduated second of 35 cadets in the class of 1823.^[2] (Classmates of Greene's included future Union Adjutant General Lorenzo Thomas, Joseph K. Mansfield, David Hunter, Dennis Hart Mahan, and Albert Sidney Johnston.) Top graduates of the academy generally chose the Engineers as their branch, but Greene decided on the artillery and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the 3rd U.S. Artillery regiment. However, due to his excellent academic performance, he stayed at the academy until 1827 as an assistant professor of mathematics and as a principal assistant professor of engineering. One of the students he taught during this period was Cadet Robert E. Lee.^[4] Major is a military rank denoting an officer of mid-level command status. ... General Sylvanus Thayer (June 9, 1785 - September 7, 1872) was an early superintendent of the United States Military Academy at West Point and an early advocate of engineering education in the United States. ... The United States Military Academy, also known as West Point, or simply USMA (or Army, for NCAA purposes), is a United States Army fort and military academy. ... The Secretary of War was a member of the Presidents Cabinet, beginning with George Washingtons administration. ... Alternate meanings: West Point (disambiguation). ... lpijjihihhjkhhhhyhuhuighuighughbuhhhughughugiguguigiugggggggggggggggiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigggggggggggggiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigggggggggggggggggggguiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiggggggggggggggggggggguiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigggggggggggggggggggggggggiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigggggggggggggggggggggggiuuuuuuuuuuuuugggggggggggggggggggggggggggiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigggggggggggggggggggiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggiuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuugggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg. ... Joseph K. Mansfield Joseph King Fenno Mansfield (December 22, 1803 – September 18, 1862) was a career U.S. Army officer, civil engineer, and a Union general in the American Civil War, mortally wounded at the Battle of Antietam. ... David Hunter David Hunter (July 21, 1802 – February 2, 1886) was a Union general in the American Civil War. ... Dennis Hart Mahan (April 2, 1802 - September 16, 1871) was a noted American military theorist and professor at the United States Military Academy at West Point. ... Albert Sidney Johnston Albert Sidney Johnston (February 2, 1803 – April 6, 1862) was a career U.S. Army officer and a Confederate general during the American Civil War. ... Second Lieutenant is the lowest commissioned rank in many armed forces. ... For the author of Inherit the Wind and other works, see Robert Edwin Lee. ...

In the summer of 1828 Greene married Mary Elizabeth Vinton, sister of his best friend at West Point, David Vinton. Elizabeth gave birth to three children over the next four years: Mary Vinton, George Sears, and Francis Vinton Greene. While assigned to Fort Sullivan in Maine in 1833, tragedy struck Greene's family: Elizabeth and all three of their children died within a seven-month period, probably from tuberculosis. To ease the pain on his mind and to escape the isolation and loneliness of peacetime Army garrison duty, he immersed himself in study of both the law and medicine, coming close to professional certification in both by the time he resigned his commission in 1836 to become a civil engineer.^[5] This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Tuberculosis (abbreviated as TB for Tubercle Bacillus) is a common and deadly infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which most commonly affects the lungs (pulmonary TB) but can also affect the central nervous system, lymphatic system, circulatory system, genitourinary system, bones and joints. ...

Greene built railroads in six states and designed municipal sewage and water systems for Washington, D.C., Detroit, and several other cities. In New York City, he designed the Croton Aqueduct reservoir in Central Park and the enlarged High Bridge over the Harlem River. He was one of twelve founders in New York City of the American Society of Civil Engineers and Architects. While on a trip to Maine for railroad surveying, he met Martha Barrett Dana, daughter of Samuel Dana, a prominent Massachusetts politician. They were married in Charlestown, Massachusetts, on February 21, 1837. They had six children together, including four sons who volunteered for the Union during the Civil War, one daughter, and one son who died in infancy.^[6] Nickname: DC, The District Motto: Justitia Omnibus (Justice for All) Location of Washington, D.C., with regard to the surrounding states of Maryland and Virginia. ... Motto: Speramus Meliora; Resurget Cineribus (We Hope For Better Things; It Shall Rise From the Ashes - this motto was adopted after the disastrous 1805 fire that devastated the city) Nickname: The Motor City and Motown Location in Wayne County, Michigan Founded Incorporated July 24, 1701 1815  County Wayne County Mayor... The Croton Aqueduct was a large and complex water distribution system constructed for New York City between 1837 and 1842. ... A Central Park landscape Central Park ( ) is a large public, urban park (843 acres or 3. ... The High Bridge over the Harlem River as seen in 1890. ... The Harlem River, shown in red, between the Bronx and Manhattan in New York City The Harlem River is a tidal strait in New York City, USA that flows 8 miles between the East River and the Hudson River, separating the borough of Manhattan from the Bronx. ... The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) is a professional body, founded in 1852, to represent members of the civil engineering profession worldwide. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require rewriting and/or reformatting. ... Birdseye view of Boston, Charlestown, and Bunker Hill between 1890 and 1910. ... February 21 is the 52nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... | Queen Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom (1837 - 1901) 1837 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...

Civil War

Despite being over 60 years old and having been out of the Army for 25 years, the crisis of the Union compelled Greene to seek to rejoin the service. He was essentially apolitical and was not an abolitionist, but he was a firm believer in restoring the Union. He was appointed colonel of the 60th New York Infantry regiment on January 18, 1862.^[7] The regiment of upstate New Yorkers had been dissatisfied with their colonel and the company commanders had petitioned for his removal. Governor Edwin D. Morgan, although initially reluctant to appoint Greene because of his age, saw his 13 years of regular army experience as a solution to his political/military problem. During this period, Governor John A. Andrew of Massachusetts was also prepared to offer Greene a regiment, but Greene chose to serve New York. The officers of the 60th were dismayed when the elderly, gray-haired man reported for duty. They had requested that their lieutenant colonel be promoted, which would have raised many of them in rank themselves.^[8] This article is about the abolition of slavery. ... Colonel (IPA: or ) is a military rank of a commissioned officer, with the corresponding ranks existing in nearly every country in the world. ... January 18 is the 18th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1862 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Edwin Dennison Morgan (February 8, 1811 - February 14, 1883) was governor of New York in the USA from 1859 to 1862. ... The Regular Army is the name given to the permanent force of the United States Army that is maintained during peacetime. ... John Albion Andrew (1818 - 1867) was a U.S. political figure. ...

On April 28, 1862, Greene was appointed brigadier general of volunteers and served on the staff of Maj. Gen. Nathaniel Banks in the Shenandoah Valley campaign against Stonewall Jackson. At age 61, Greene was one of the oldest generals in the Union army and his troops took to calling him "Old Man" or "Pap" Greene. However, his age did not keep him from being one of the most aggressive commanders in the army. He commanded the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, II Corps, of the Army of Virginia at the Battle of Cedar Mountain during the Northern Virginia Campaign. Attacked by a Confederate force three times the size of his own, Greene and his men refused to give ground, holding out until the neighboring Union units were forced to withdraw. His division commander, Brig. Gen. John W. Geary, received a severe wound during the action and Greene took command of the division temporarily.^[2] April 28 is the 118th day of the year (119th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 247 days remaining. ... 1862 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... A Brigadier General, or one-star general, is the lowest rank of general officer in the United States and some other countries, ranking just above Colonel and just below Major General. ... Insignia of a United States Air Force Major General German Generalmajor Insignia Major General is a military rank used in many countries. ... Nathaniel Prentiss Banks (January 30, 1816–September 1, 1894), American politician and soldier, was born at Waltham, Massachusetts. ... Stonewall Jackson The Valley Campaign was Confederate General Thomas J. Stonewall Jacksons brilliant spring 1862 campaign through the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, during the American Civil War. ... Stonewall Jackson Thomas Jonathan Stonewall Jackson (January 20 or January 21[1], 1824 – May 10, 1863) was a Confederate general during the American Civil War. ... There were five corps in the Union Army designated as II Corps (Second Corps) during the American Civil War. ... The Army of Virginia was organized as a major unit of the Union Army and operated briefly and unsuccessfully in 1862 in the American Civil War. ... Battle of Cedar Mountain Conflict American Civil War Date August 9, 1862 Place Culpeper County, Virginia Result Confederate victory The Battle of Cedar Mountain, also known as the Battle of Slaughters Mountain or Cedar Run, took place on August 9, 1862 in Culpeper County, Virginia as part of the... Union soldiers at the Orange & Alexandria Railroad The Northern Virginia Campaign, also known as the Second Bull Run Campaign or Second Manassas Campaign, was a series of battles fought in Virginia during August and September, 1862, in the American Civil War. ... Some Confederate soldiers The Confederate States Army (CSA) was formed in February 1861 to defend the Confederate States of America, which had itself been formed that same year when seven southern states seceded from the United States (with four more to follow). ... A Brigadier General, or one-star general, is the lowest rank of general officer in the United States and some other countries, ranking just above Colonel and just below Major General. ... John White Geary in the Civil War John White Geary (December 30, 1819 – February 8, 1873) was a lawyer, politician (mayor of San Francisco, governor of the Kansas Territory, and governor of Pennsylvania), and Union general in the American Civil War. ...

Greene was again temporarily elevated to command of his division, now designated part of the XII Corps of the Army of the Potomac, at the Battle of Antietam. Even though XII Corps commander Maj. Gen. Joseph K. Mansfield was killed shortly after the fighting began, Greene led a crushing counterattack against the Confederates near the Dunker Church, achieving the farthest penetration of Maj. Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's lines than any Union brigade. Under immense pressure, Greene held his small division (only 1,727 men engaged at the start of the day)^[9] in advance of the rest of the Army for four hours, but eventually withdrew after suffering heavy losses.^[2] While the division was posted to Harpers Ferry, Greene took a three-week sick leave. Maj. Gen. Oliver O. Howard speculated that Greene, like many of his fellow officers, was sickened by the stench of dead and wounded at Antietam. When he returned, there was a new division commander, Brig. Gen. Geary. Greene was disgruntled that Geary, with only a few days seniority over him, was selected for the post; Geary had been wounded at Cedar Mountain and his combat record was not as good, but his political connections and a sentiment that a wounded officer should not be set back in his career unnecessarily, gave him the nod.^[10] The XII Corps (Twelfth Corps) was a corps of the Union Army during the American Civil War. ... Generals Burnside, Hancock, Couch, Ferro, Patrick, Wilcox, Cochrane, Buford and others. ... Combatants United States of America Confederate States of America Commanders George B. McClellan Robert E. Lee Strength 87,000 45,000 Casualties 12,401 (2,108 killed, 9,540 wounded, 753 captured/missing) 10,316 (1,546 killed, 7,752 wounded, 1,018 captured/missing) The Battle of Antietam (also... Joseph K. Mansfield Joseph King Fenno Mansfield (December 22, 1803 – September 18, 1862) was a career U.S. Army officer, civil engineer, and a Union general in the American Civil War, mortally wounded at the Battle of Antietam. ... Stonewall Jackson Thomas Jonathan Stonewall Jackson (January 20 or January 21[1], 1824 – May 10, 1863) was a Confederate general during the American Civil War. ... Harpers Ferry is the name of several places in the United States of America: Harpers Ferry, Iowa Harpers Ferry, West Virginia There was also John Browns raid on the armory at Harpers Ferry, West Virginia as well as a Battle of Harpers Ferry in the American Civil War. ... Portrait of Oliver O. Howard by Mathew Brady, ca. ...

Greene resumed command of the 3rd Brigade, which was involved in minor skirmishes in northern Virginia and not engaged at the Battle of Fredericksburg in December.^[11] At the Battle of Chancellorsville in May 1863, his brigade was in the center of the line. When the Union right—the XI Corps—collapsed, Greene's brigade was subjected to enfilade artillery fire and then infantry assaults. He had ordered his men to fortify their positions 200 yards to their front using abatis and trenches and they were able to hold out against several Confederate assaults, although losing 528 men of 2,032 engaged. During part of the battle, Greene once again assumed temporary command of the division when Geary was wounded again.^[2] --24. ... Combatants United States of America Confederate States of America Commanders Joseph Hooker Robert E. Lee Stonewall Jackson† Strength 133,868 60,892 Casualties 16,839 (1,574 killed, 9,554 wounded, 5,711 missing) 13,156 (1,683 killed, 9,277 wounded, 2,196 missing) The Battle of Chancellorsville was... The XI Corps (Eleventh Corps) was a corps of the Union Army during the American Civil War, best remembered for its humiliating defeats at the battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg in 1863. ... This article incorporates text from the public domain 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica. ...

Gettysburg

Culp's Hill defenses, afternoon, July 2.

Johnson's attack, evening, July 2. ██ Confederate ██ Union

The Battle of Gettysburg was the highlight of Greene's military career. On July 2, 1863, Maj. Gen. George G. Meade shifted almost the entire XII Corps from the Union right to strengthen the left flank, which was under heavy attack. Greene's lone brigade of 1,350 New Yorkers (five regiments) was left to defend a one-half-mile line on Culp's Hill when an entire Confederate division attacked.^[12] Fortunately, Greene had previously demonstrated good sense (as befits a civil engineer) by insisting that his troops construct strong field fortifications, despite a lack of interest in doing so from his division commander, Geary, and corps commander, Maj. Gen. Henry W. Slocum. In Greene's finest moment of the war, his preparations proved decisive and his brigade held off multiple attacks for hours. He was active the entire engagement rallying his men to defend their positions in the darkness. Late at night the rest of the XII Corps returned to Culp's Hill. The fighting resumed the next morning and raged for over seven hours, but the Union troops held Culp's Hill.^[2] Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (780x696, 186 KB)Map of actions in the Battle of Gettysburg, second day, Culps Hill, initial defenses. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (780x696, 186 KB)Map of actions in the Battle of Gettysburg, second day, Culps Hill, initial defenses. ... July 2 is the 183rd day of the year (184th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 182 days remaining. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (787x654, 180 KB)Map of actions in the Battle of Gettysburg, second day, Culps Hill, evening battle. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (787x654, 180 KB)Map of actions in the Battle of Gettysburg, second day, Culps Hill, evening battle. ... July 2 is the 183rd day of the year (184th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 182 days remaining. ... Combatants United States of America (Union) Confederate States of America Commanders George G. Meade Robert E. Lee Strength 93,921 71,699 Casualties 23,055 (3,155 killed, 14,531 wounded, 5,369 captured/missing) 22,231 (4,708 killed, 12,693 wounded, 5,830 captured/missing) The Battle of... July 2 is the 183rd day of the year (184th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 182 days remaining. ... 1863 (MDCCCLXIII) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar). ... George Gordon Meade (December 31, 1815 - November 6, 1872) was an American military officer during the American Civil War. ... Battle of Gettysburg Conflict American Civil War Date July 1–3, 1863 Place Adams County Result Union victory The Battle of Gettysburg (July 1–3, 1863), fought in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, as part of the Gettysburg Campaign, was the largest battle ever conducted in... Portrait of General Henry W. Slocum by Mathew Brady, ca. ...

The desperate fighting on the Union right flank was as important as the more famous defense of the Union left flank on July 2, by Col. Strong Vincent's brigade on Little Round Top. In fact, given that the Union line was only 400 yards from the vital Union supply line on the Baltimore Pike, it can be argued that it was more important. However, Greene's contribution to this critical battle have never been widely heralded, principally because of a dispute between Meade and Slocum over the filing of their official reports. But a member of Greene's brigade wrote:^[13] July 2 is the 183rd day of the year (184th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 182 days remaining. ... Strong Vincent Strong Vincent (June 17, 1837 – July 7, 1863) was a lawyer who became famous as a hero of the Battle of Little Round Top at Gettysburg, where he was mortally wounded in the American Civil War. ... Little Round Top, western slope, photographed by Timothy H. OSullivan, 1863 Little Round Top is the smaller of two rocky hills south of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. ...

Had the breastworks not been built, and had there only been the thin line of our unprotected brigade, that line must have been swept away like leaves before the wind, by the oncoming of so heavy a mass of troops, and the [Baltimore] pike would have been reached by the enemy.

Western Theater

In the fall of 1863, the XII Corps was transferred to the West to reinforce the Union forces besieged at Chattanooga. At the Battle of Wauhatchie, during a surprise night attack by the Confederate forces, Greene was wounded in the face, with his jaw crushed and some teeth carried away. Subsequent surgery was not able to correct his condition and he suffered from the effects of his wound for the rest of his life. After six weeks of medical leave, he was assigned to light court-martial duty until January 1865, when he joined Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman's army in North Carolina. Serving initially on the staff of Maj. Gen. Jacob D. Cox, he participated in the battle at Kinston, where he had his horse shot out from under him. At the very end of the war Greene was in command of the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, XX Corps, and participated in the capture of Raleigh and the pursuit of Gen. Joseph E. Johnston's army until its surrender.^[12] The third Battle of Chattanooga (popularly known as The Battle of Chattanooga) was fought November 23–25, 1863, in the American Civil War. ... Battle of Wauhatchie Conflict American Civil War Date October 28-29, 1863 Place Hamilton County, Tennessee Result Union victory The Battle of Wauhatchie, also known as Browns Ferry, was fought October 28–29, 1863, in Hamilton County, Marion County, and Dade County, Tennessee, in the American Civil War. ... Portrait of William Tecumseh Sherman by Mathew Brady William Tecumseh Sherman (February 8, 1820 – February 14, 1891) was an American soldier, businessman, and author. ... This article is the current U.S. Collaboration of the Week. ... Jacob Dolson Cox (October 27, 1828 - August 4, 1900) was an officer in the Union Army during the Civil War and later a Republican politician from Ohio. ... Kinston is a city located in Lenoir County, North Carolina. ... Two corps of the Union Army were called XX Corps during the American Civil War. ... Nickname: City of Oaks Motto: You Can See the Whole State from Here Map of Wake County, North Carolina Coordinates: Country State County United States North Carolina Wake County Founded 1792 Mayor Charles Meeker (D) Area    - City 299. ... Joseph E. Johnston Joseph Eggleston Johnston (February 3, 1807 – March 21, 1891) was a career U.S. Army officer and one of the most senior generals in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. ...

Postbellum career

After the war, Greene served on court-martial duty for a year and then returned to civil engineering in New York and Washington, D.C. From 1867 to 1871 he was the chief engineer commissioner of the Croton Aqueduct Department in New York. At the age of 86, he inspected the entire 30-mile Croton Aqueduct structure on foot.^[14] He served as president of the American Society of Civil Engineers from 1875 to 1877 and president of the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society. He was appointed to West Point's Board of Visitors in 1881.^[2] The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) is a professional body, founded in 1852, to represent members of the civil engineering profession worldwide. ...

By 1892, Greene was the oldest surviving Union general and the oldest living graduate of West Point. He petitioned the United States Congress for an engineer captain's pension that would be of help to his family after his death. The best that Congress was willing to do was arranged by Congressman and Gettysburg veteran Daniel E. Sickles of New York, a first lieutenant's pension, based on the highest rank Greene had achieved in the regular army. On August 18, 1894, Greene took the oath of office as a first lieutenant of artillery and became, at 93, the oldest lieutenant in the U.S. Army for 48 hours. Veterans in MOLLUS declared that he was the oldest lieutenant in world history.^[12] Seal of the U.S. Congress. ... Portrait of Daniel Sickles during the Civil War Daniel Edgar Sickles (October 20, 1825–May 3, 1914) was an American soldier, statesman and diplomat. ... The Regular Army is the name given to the permanent force of the United States Army that is maintained during peacetime. ... August 18 is the 230th day of the year (231st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1894 (MDCCCXCIV) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... The Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (MOLLUS) was a fraternity comprised of former Union Army officers organized in the wake of the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. ...

Legacy

Monument to Greene on Culp's Hill at Gettysburg National Military Park

Greene died at age 98 in Morristown, New Jersey, and was buried in the Greene family cemetery in Warwick, Rhode Island, with a two-ton boulder from Culp's Hill placed above his grave.^[12] He is memorialized with a statue erected in 1906 by the State of New York on Culp's Hill in Gettysburg National Military Park.^[14] Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (800x872, 136 KB) I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (800x872, 136 KB) I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Morristown is a Town located in Morris County, New Jersey. ... Location of Warwick, Rhode Island. ... Gettysburg Map The Gettysburg Battlefield was the site of the Battle of Gettysburg, fought in 1863 in and around the borough of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, the county seat of Adams County, which had approximately 2,400 residents at the time. ...

Greene's wife Martha died in 1883 at an age of 74. Their oldest son, Lieutenant Samuel Dana Greene, was the executive officer on the ironclad ship USS Monitor during the famous Battle of Hampton Roads. Another of their sons, Francis V. Greene, commanded a brigade at the Battle of Manila during the Spanish-American War. A third, Charles Thurston Greene, was a lieutenant on his father's staff at Culp's Hill. Later in 1863, Charles was wounded by an artillery shell and his leg was amputated, but he remained on active service until 1870. George Sears Greene, Jr., volunteered to serve but was not allowed to do so by his father so he could survive and carry on the family name.^[15] Ironclad warships, frequently shortened to just ironclads, were ships sheathed with thick iron plates for protection. ... USS Monitor was an ironclad warship (the first ever) of the United States Navy. ... Combatants United States of America Confederate States of America Commanders John L. Worden Franklin Buchanan Catesby R. Jones Strength 1 ironclad, 3 wooden warships 1 ironclad, 2 wooden warships, 1 gunboat, 2 tenders Casualties 2 wooden warships sunk, 1 wooden warship damaged 261 killed 108 wounded 1 ironclad damaged 7... Francis Vinton Greene (1850-1921) was a United States military officer who fought in the Spanish-American War. ... Combatants United States Spain Commanders Wesley Merritt George Dewey Fermin Juadenes Strength 10,700 U.S. soldiers 10,000 Filipinos 15,000 Casualties 122 150 The Battle of Manila was the land battle between the United States and Spain during the Spanish-American War, not to be confused with the... Combatants United States Republic of Cuba First Philippine Republic Spain Commanders Nelson A. Miles William R. Shafter George Dewey Máximo Gómez Emilio Aguinaldo Patricio Montojo Pascual Cervera Casualties 379 U.S. dead; considerably higher although undetermined Cuban and Filipino casualties Unknown[1] The Spanish-American War took place...

A description of George Sears Greene from Lt. George K. Collins of the 149th New York Infantry sums up the general:^[16]

He was a West Point graduate, about 60 years old, thick set, five feet ten inches high, dark complexioned, iron gray hair, full gray beard and mustache, gruff in manner and stern in appearance, but with all an excellent officer and under a rough exterior possessing a kind heart. In the end the men learned to love and respect him as much as in the beginning they feared him, and this was saying a good deal on the subject. He knew how to drill, how to command, and in the hour of peril how to care for his command, and the men respected him accordingly.

—Lt. George K. Collins

Trivia

• The battle for Culp's Hill at Gettysburg featured the two oldest generals in each army, Greene at 62 and Brig. Gen. William "Extra Billy" Smith at 65.
• There were 17 general officers in the Civil War older than Greene.^[2]

William Smith (September 6, 1797 – May 18, 1887), known as Extra Billy, was a lawyer, Governor of Virginia, U.S. Congressman, and one of the oldest Confederate generals in the American Civil War. ...

References

• Eicher, John H., & Eicher, David J., Civil War High Commands, Stanford University Press, 2001, ISBN 0-8047-3641-3.
• Kuhl, Paul E., "George Sears Greene", Encyclopedia of the American Civil War: A Political, Social, and Military History, Heidler, David S., and Heidler, Jeanne T., eds., W. W. Norton & Company, 2000, ISBN 0-393-04758-X.
• Motts, Wayne E., "To Gain a Second Star: The Forgotten George S. Greene", Gettysburg Magazine, July 1990, pp. 63-75.
• Murray, R. L., A Perfect Storm of Lead, George Sears Greene's New York Brigade in Defense of Culp's Hill, Benedum Books, 2000, ISBN 0-9646261-2-8.
• Palmer, David W., The Forgotten Hero of Gettysburg, Xlibris, 2004, ISBN 1-4134-6633-8.
• Tagg, Larry, The Generals of Gettysburg, Savas Publishing, 1998, ISBN 1-882810-30-9.

Notes

1. ^ Palmer, p. 21. Other sources spell Sarah's maiden name as Weeks or Wickes.
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h} Motts, pp. 63-75.
3. ^ Palmer, pp. 22-23.
4. ^ Palmer, pp. 28-29.
5. ^ Palmer, pp. 31-33.
6. ^ Palmer, pp. 34-47.
7. ^ Eicher, p. 266.
8. ^ Palmer, pp. 54-55.
9. ^ Palmer, p. 80.
10. ^ Palmer, pp. 99-100.
11. ^ Palmer, pp. 105-07.
12. ^ ^a b c d Kuhl, pp. 880-83.
13. ^ Murray, p. 55.
14. ^ ^a b Murray, p. 61.
15. ^ Murray, pp. 59-61.
16. ^ Murray, p. 4.

External links

• Greene's entry at Find-A-Grave