Military officer; born in
Manheim, Pa., Sept. 30, 1805; graduated at
West Point in 1826; served in the war with
Mexico, organizing at
Vera Cruz a battalion of recruits and convalescents, with whom he marched to the city of
Mexico.
After the war he commanded in the southern district of
California, and effectually suppressed Indian hostilities.
Soon after the treachery of
Gen. David E.
Twiggs he left
Texas, and was made inspector-general in
Washington, D. C. In May he was commissioned a brigadier-general of volunteers, and commanded a
division under
McDowell in the
battle of Bull Run, where he was severely wounded.
In the campaign on the
Peninsula he commanded an army corps, having been made major-general of volunteers in May.
General Heintzelman commanded the right wing of
Pope's army in the
battle of Manassas, or
second battle of Bull Run, and afterwards took command of the defences of
Washington.
He retired in February, 1869, as colonel, and, by special act of Congress, was promoted to major-general on the retired list, April 29, following.
He died in
Washington, D. C., May 1, 1880.
