James B. McPherson

James Birdseye McPherson (November 14, 1828 – July 22, 1864) was a career U.S. Army officer who served as a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was killed at the Battle of Atlanta. Image File history File links Mcpherson. ... Image File history File links Mcpherson. ... November 14 is the 318th day of the year (319th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 47 days remaining. ... 1828 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... July 22 is the 203rd day (204th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 162 days remaining. ... 1864 (MDCCCLXIV) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... The Army is the branch of the United States armed forces which has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. ... A General is an officer of high military rank. ... The 21st Michigan Infantry, a company of Shermans veterans. ... This article is becoming very long. ... Combatants United States of America Confederate States of America Commanders William T. Sherman James B. McPherson† John B. Hood Strength Military Division of the Mississippi Army of Tennessee Casualties 3,641 8,499 The Battle of Atlanta was a battle of the Atlanta campaign fought during the American Civil War...

Early life and career

McPherson was born near Clyde, Ohio. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1853, first in his class, which included John Bell Hood, who would oppose him later in the Western Theater. Clyde is a city located in Sandusky County, Ohio. ... Official language(s) None Capital Columbus Largest city Columbus Largest metro area Cleveland Area  Ranked 34th  - Total 44,825 sq mi (116,096 km²)  - Width 220 miles (355 km)  - Length 220 miles (355 km)  - % water 8. ... USMA redirects here. ... John Bell Hood John Bell Hood (June 1, 1831 – August 30, 1879) was a Confederate general during the American Civil War. ... Western Theater Overview (1861 – 1865) This article presents an overview of major military and naval operations in the Western Theater of the American Civil War. ...

Civil War

At the start of the Civil War, he was stationed in San Francisco, California, but requested a transfer to the Corps of Engineers, rightly thinking that a transfer to the East would further his career. He departed California on August 1, 1861, and arrived soon after in New York. He requested a position on the staff of Major General Henry W. Halleck, one of the senior Western commanders. He received this (while a captain in the Corps of Engineers), and was sent to St. Louis, Missouri. Nickname: The City by the Bay; Fog City; The City; Baghdad by the Bay Location of the City and County of San Francisco, California Coordinates: Country United States of America State California City-County San Francisco Government  - Mayor Gavin Newsom Area  - City  47 sq mi (122 km²)  - Land  46. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... United States Army Corps of Engineers logo The United States Army Corps of Engineers, or USACE, is made up of some 34,600 civilian and 650 military men and women. ... August 1 is the 213th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (214th in leap years), with 152 days remaining. ... 1861 (MDCCCLXI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link with display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar) // January 1 - Benito Juárez captures Mexico City January 2 - Friedrich Wilhelm IV of Prussia dies and is succeeded by... NY redirects here. ... Insignia of a United States Air Force Major General German Generalmajor Insignia Major General is a military rank used in many countries. ... Henry Wager Halleck (1815 - 1872) was an American soldier and politician. ... Captain is a nautical term, an organizational title, and a rank in various uniformed organizations. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

McPherson's career began rising after this assignment. He was a lieutenant colonel and the Chief Engineer in Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant's army during the capture of Forts Henry and Donelson. Following the Battle of Shiloh, he was promoted to brigadier general. On October 8, 1862, he was promoted to major general, and was soon after given command of the XVII Corps in Grant's Army of the Tennessee. On March 12, 1864, he was given command of the Army of the Tennessee, after its former commander, Major General William T. Sherman, was promoted to command of all Armies in the West (after Grant was sent to the East). His army was the Right Wing of Sherman's army, alongside the Army of the Cumberland and the Army of the Ohio. On May 5, 1864, Sherman began his Atlanta Campaign. In the U.S. Army, Air Force and Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a commissioned officer superior to a major and inferior to a colonel. ... 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. ... Ulysses S. Grant[2] (born Hiram Ulysses Grant, April 27, 1822 – July 23, 1885) was an American general and the 18th President of the United States (1869–1877). ... The Battle of Fort Henry was fought February 6, 1862, in western Tennessee, during the American Civil War. ... Combatants United States of America Confederate States of America Commanders Ulysses S. Grant Andrew H. Foote John B. Floyd Gideon J. Pillow Simon B. Buckner Strength 24,531 District of Cairo & Western Flotilla 16,171 Casualties 2,691 (507 killed, 1,976 wounded, 208 captured/missing) 13,846 (327 killed... Combatants United States of America Confederate States of America Commanders Ulysses S. Grant Don Carlos Buell Albert Sidney Johnston† P.G.T. Beauregard Strength Army of West Tennessee (48,894) and Army of the Ohio (17,918) Army of Mississippi (44,699) Casualties 13,047 (1,754 killed, 8,408... 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. ... October 8 is the 281st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (282nd in leap years). ... 1862 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Insignia of a United States Air Force Major General German Generalmajor Insignia Major General is a military rank used in many countries. ... XVII Corps was a corps of the Union Army during the American Civil War. ... The Army of the Tennessee was a Union army in the American Civil War, named for the Tennessee River. ... March 12 is the 71st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (72nd in leap years). ... 1864 (MDCCCLXIV) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... Portrait of William Tecumseh Sherman by Mathew Brady William Tecumseh Sherman (February 8, 1820 – February 14, 1891) was an American soldier, businessman, and author. ... Union army in the west during the American Civil War, commanded at various times by Generals Robert Anderson, Don Carlos Buell, William S. Rosecrans, and George Thomas. ... The Army of the Ohio was the name of two Union armies in the American Civil War. ... May 5 is the 125th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (126th in leap years). ... 1864 (MDCCCLXIV) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... Palisades and chevaux-de-frise in front of the Potter House, Atlanta, Georgia, 1864. ...

Lithograph of McPherson

Sherman planned to have the bulk of his forces feint toward Dalton, Georgia, while McPherson would bear the brunt of Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston's attack, and attempt to trap them. However, the Confederate forces eventually escaped, and Sherman blamed McPherson (for being "slow"), although it was mainly faulty planning on Sherman's part that led to the escape. McPherson's troops followed the Confederates "vigorously", and were resupplied at Kingston, Georgia. The troops drew near Pumpkinvine Creek, where they attacked and drove the Confederates from Dallas, Georgia, even before Sherman's order to do so. Johnston and Sherman maneuvered against each other, until the Union disaster at the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain. McPherson then tried a flanking maneuver at the Battle of Marietta, but that failed as well. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1024x1405, 693 KB)Photographed, cropped, and image-enhanced by Hal Jespersen. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1024x1405, 693 KB)Photographed, cropped, and image-enhanced by Hal Jespersen. ... Dalton is a city located in Whitfield County, Georgia. ... 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 (four more states soon followed). ... Born Joseph E. James Karakasians (born February 6, 1977 in Long Island, New York), better knowed by the name of Joseph Erin James Karakasians is a professional wrestler, training in Richmond, Virginia. ... Kingston is a city located in Bartow County, Georgia. ... Dallas is a city located in Paulding County, Georgia, United States. ... Battle of Kennesaw Mountain Conflict American Civil War Date June 27, 1864 Place Kennesaw, Georgia Result Confederate victory The Battle of Kennesaw Mountain was fought on June 27, 1864 during the Atlanta Campaign of the American Civil War. ... The Battle of Marietta of the American Civil War was fought from 9 June through 3 July of 1864 in Cobb County, Georgia between Union and Confederate forces. ...

On July 17, Confederate President Jefferson Davis became frustrated with Johnston's strategy of maneuver and retreat, and replaced him with Lieutenant General John Bell Hood. Hood was eventually defeated, and retreated into Atlanta. Meanwhile, McPherson had advanced his troops into Decatur, Georgia, and from there, they moved onto the high ground on Bald Hill overlooking Atlanta. On July 22, they noticed that the Confederate troops had left Atlanta. Sherman believed that the Confederates had been defeated and were evacuating; however, McPherson rightly believed that they were moving to attack the Union right and rear. While they were discussing this new development, however, four divisions under Lt. Gen. William J. Hardee flanked Maj. Gen. Grenville Dodge's XVI Corps. While McPherson was riding his horse toward his old XVII Corps, a line of Confederate skirmishers appeared, yelling "Halt!". McPherson raised his hand to his head as if to remove his hat, but suddenly wheeled his horse, attempting to escape. The Confederates opened fire and mortally wounded McPherson. July 17 is the 198th day (199th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 167 days remaining. ... The President of the Confederate States was the Head of State of the short-lived republic of the Confederate States of America, which seceded from the United States. ... Jefferson Davis (June 3, 1808 - December 6, 1889) was an American statesman who was President of the Confederate States of America, as well as a Congress man for Kentucky, for its entire history from 1861 to 1865 during the American Civil War. ... Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. ... John Bell Hood John Bell Hood (June 1, 1831 – August 30, 1879) was a Confederate general during the American Civil War. ... For the south-western Georgia county, see Decatur County, Georgia. ... July 22 is the 203rd day (204th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 162 days remaining. ... William J. Hardee (1817-1873) was a Confederate general in the American Civil War. ... Grenville M. Dodge wearing a colonels uniform Grenville Mullen Dodge[1] was a historical figure throughout several different areas of United States history. ... XVI Corps was a corps of the Union Army during the American Civil War. ... Traditionally light infantry (or skirmishers) were soldiers whose job was to provide a skirmishing screen ahead of the main body of infantry, harassing and delaying the enemy advance. ...

His adversary, John Bell Hood, wrote,

I will record the death of my classmate and boyhood friend, General James B. McPherson, the announcement of which caused me sincere sorrow. Since we had graduated in 1853, and had each been ordered off on duty in different directions, it has not been our fortune to meet. Neither the years nor the difference of sentiment that had led us to range ourselves on opposite sides in the war had lessened my friendship; indeed the attachment formed in early youth was strengthened by my admiration and gratitude for his conduct toward our people in the vicinity of Vicksburg. His considerate and kind treatment of them stood in bright contrast to the course pursued by many Federal officers.

McPherson was well-loved by his troops, and his presence was sorely missed in the Western theater of operations.

Legacy

After the war, Fort McPherson in Atlanta, Georgia, was named in his honor. He's buried in his hometown of Clyde, Ohio. Fort McPherson is a U.S. Army base located in southwest Atlanta, Georgia. ... Nickname: Hotlanta, The Big Peach, The ATL, A-Town Location in Fulton County in the state of Georgia Coordinates: Country United States State Georgia Counties Fulton, Dekalb  - Mayor Shirley Franklin (D) Area    - City  132. ...

McPherson County, South Dakota, created in 1873 and organized in 1885, was also named in his honor. McPherson County is a county located in the state of South Dakota. ...

McPherson Square in Washington, D.C., is named in his honor. At the center of the square is a statue of McPherson mounted on horseback. McPherson Square is a Washington Metro station in Washington, DC on the Blue and Orange Lines. ... Nickname: DC, The District Motto: Justitia Omnibus (Justice for All) Location of Washington, D.C., in relation to the states Maryland and Virginia Coordinates: Country United States Federal District District of Columbia Government  - Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D)  - City Council Chairperson: Vincent C. Gray (D) Ward 1: Jim Graham (D...

Two-dollar Treasury notes, also called Coin notes, of the Series 1890 and 1891, feature portraits of McPherson on the obverse. Treasury securities are government bonds issued by the United States Department of the Treasury through the Bureau of the Public Debt. ...

McPherson County, Kansas, and the city of McPherson are named in honor of General McPherson. There is also an equestrian statue of General McPherson in the courtyard of the McPherson County Courthouse. McPherson County (standard abbreviation: MP) is a county located in the state of Kansas. ... McPherson is a city located in McPherson County, Kansas. ... The equestrian Marcus Aurelius on Capitoline Hill displayed uninterruptedly for eighteen centuries was the prototype of Renaissance equestrian sculptures An equestrian sculpture (from the Latin equus meaning horse) is a statue of a mounted rider. ...

References

• Northern Georgia - James B. McPherson
• James McPherson Biography
• Grave record

External links

• Pictures of US Treasury Notes featuring James B. McPherson, provided by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco.