Military officer; born in
Cadiz, Spain, Dec. 31, 1815; graduated at
West Point in 1835, served in the war with the Seminoles, and resigned from the army in 1836.
He practised civil engineering until May, 1842, when he was appointed a second lieutenant of topographical engineers, serving through the war against
Mexico, attached to the staff, first of
General Taylor, and then of
General Scott.
The citizens of
Philadelphia presented him with an elegant sword on his return from
Mexico.
In the summer of 1861 he was made a brigadier-general of volunteers, having been in charge of the surveys on the northern lakes until that year as captain of engineers.
He was in the Army of the Potomac, active and efficient, from 1861 until the close of the war. In June, 1862, he was made major-general of volunteers, and was in command of the Army of the Potomac in the summer of 1863.
On July 1, 2, and 3, of that year he fought the decisive
battle of Gettysburg.
In 1864 he was made major-general in the United States army; and from July, 1865, to
August, 1866, was in command of the Military Division of the Atlantic, and subsequently of the Department of the East and the military district comprising the States of
Florida,
Georgia, and
Alabama.
In 1865 he received the degree of Ll.D. from Harvard University.
He died in
Philadelphia, Nov. 6, 1872.
The citizens of
Philadelphia presented to his wife the house in which he died, and $100,000 was afterwards raised for his family.
See
Adams, Charles Francis;
Everett, Edward;
Gettysburg, battle of.
