Military officer; born in
Shippensburg, Pa., June 11, 1822; graduated at
West Point in 1846, entering the dragoons.
His first service was in the war with
Mexico, in which he was active.
Before the
battle of Buena Vista he was made prisoner, but was soon exchanged.
For his energy in warfare with the Indians he was promoted to captain in 1855, and was in command of
Fort Smith, Ark., until 1861, when all his officers resigned and joined the
Confederates.
He took an active and important part in the military service during the entire period of the
Civil War—first with
General Lyon in
Missouri; then in command of the fortifications around
Washington; in operations in
Kentucky; as chief of cavalry in the Department of the Ohio; and in conflicts in
Tennessee and
Mississippi.
He was commissioned a brigadiergeneral of volunteers in August, 1861, and was brevetted brigadier-general and major-general, United States army, in March,
1865.
At the battles of
South Mountain,
Antietam, and
Fredericksburg,
General Sturgis was in command of a division.
He was retired in 1886.
He died in
St. Paul.
Minn., Sept. 28, 1889.
