Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History
Benson Lossing, Ed.

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Van Cleve, Horatio Phillips 1809-1891

Military officer: born in Princeton, N. J., Nov. 23, 1809; graduated at West Point in 1831, but left the army in 1839. He was employed in civil engineering and agriculture in Michigan and Minnesota until the breaking-out of the Civil War, when he became colonel of the 2d Minnesota volunteers. He commanded these in the battle of Mill Spring in January, 1862; and for his conduct there was made a brigadier-general in March. He commanded a brigade in Crittenden's division in northern Mississippi and Alabama; and when that officer was promoted (Oct. 1, 1862) General Van Cleve took command of the division, with which he did excellent service in the battle of Stone River, where he was wounded. In September, 1863, he performed good service in northern Georgia, particularly in the battle of Chickamauga. From 1863 to 1865 he was in command at Murfreesboro. He was mustered out of the volunteer service as brevet major-general March 13, 1865; and was adjutant-general of the State of Minnesota in 1866-70 and 1876-82. He died in Minneapolis, Minn., April 24, 1891.