Augustus Wade Dwight
Encyclopedia
Augustus Wade Dwight was a lawyer who became an officer in the American Civil War
. He served in 21 battles and was wounded three times, the last wound being fatal.
, the oldest of nine children. His father was physician Morris Dwight of the New England Dwight family
, born October 1, 1796, and mother was Minerva Bryant, born February 18, 1800.
In 1829 the family moved to Cummington, Massachusetts
as the father practiced medicine, and in 1839 to Poughkeepsie, New York where his father tried to raise mulberry
trees. In 1840 they moved to LaFayette, New York
.
Dwight enrolled in Yale College
in September 1851; his distant cousin Theodore Dwight Woolsey
was president of Yale at the time. However, he dropped out in February 1852 when he could not afford it. Instead he went to California
to join the California Gold Rush
. He studied law for a while in California. Somehow he ended up on a ship to the Hawaiian Islands
, and from there to China
. Returning to the US, he had circumnavigated the earth.
He studied for the bar and was admitted to practice in Onondaga County, New York
in 1859.
A year into the American Civil War
, additional troops were being raised in Onondaga County.
Dwight volunteered for the Union Army
for what he thought would be a three year enlistment.
He was commissioned as Captain of Company E of the 122nd New York Volunteer Infantry
Regiment on July 8, 1862. By August 28, 1862 was promoted to lieutenant colonel
under Colonel Silas Titus
, and was sent immediately into combat action as part of the Army of the Potomac
.
In its first engagement, the Battle of Antietam
, they were kept in reserve and there were no losses. After a few other skirmishes, they saw heavy fighting at the Battle of Gettysburg
in July 1863. Sickness also took its toll on the regiment. Several times Col. Titus was ill and Dwight had led the troops. Other times, both officers were unable to lead and command passed to Captain Horace Hall Wapole (later promoted to lead the regiment). Titus was also called away to serve as Provost Marshal
.
Dwight would often send reports back to the Syracuse Journal newspaper, and wrote letters notifying relatives of men who were killed in action.
On September 19, 1864 at the Battle of Opequon
, he received his first wound, a severe contusion of his right thigh, but was able to continue in his post.
On October 19, 1864 he was more severely wounded at Battle of Cedar Creek
when a ball shattered his right wrist. He was given a medical discharge and sent home to recover with an effectively useless right arm.
Dwight left home again on January 30, 1865 to rejoin his regiment which was at the Siege of Petersburg
. He officially replaced Titus to command the regiment as acting colonel on February 28, 1865, under Colonel Thomas W. Hyde
who was in turn acting as brigade commander.
On the early morning of March 25, 1865, Confederate forces launched the daring surprise attack on Fort Stedman
near Petersburg. After initially capturing the Union fort, the attack stalled and the fort was retaken. In response, later that day Dwight's regiment was ordered to take some of the weakened trenches on the Confederate's right side. During the operation, he was hit it the head by artillery fire and was instantly killed.
His commission as full colonel was not finalized before his death. He was buried in Oakwood Cemetery
in Syracuse, New York
.
At the dedication of a monument for the regiment in 1888 at the Gettysburg Battlefield
, speeches mentioned Dwight as the one "to whom the efficiency of the regiment was so largely due."
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. He served in 21 battles and was wounded three times, the last wound being fatal.
Life
Augustus Wade Dwight was born February 22, 1827 in Halifax, VermontHalifax, Vermont
Halifax is a town in Windham County, Vermont, in the United States. The town was named for the Earl of Halifax. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 782.-Geography:...
, the oldest of nine children. His father was physician Morris Dwight of the New England Dwight family
New England Dwight family
The New England Dwight family had many members who were military leaders, educators, jurists, authors, businessmen and clergymen.Around 1634 John Dwight came with his wife Hannah, daughter Hannah, and sons Timothy Dwight and John Dwight, from Dedham, Essex, England to North America where the town...
, born October 1, 1796, and mother was Minerva Bryant, born February 18, 1800.
In 1829 the family moved to Cummington, Massachusetts
Cummington, Massachusetts
Cummington is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 978 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
as the father practiced medicine, and in 1839 to Poughkeepsie, New York where his father tried to raise mulberry
Mulberry
Morus is a genus of flowering plants in the family Moraceae. The 10–16 species of deciduous trees it contains are commonly known as Mulberries....
trees. In 1840 they moved to LaFayette, New York
LaFayette, New York
LaFayette is a town in Onondaga County, New York, United States. The population was 4,833 at the 2000 census. The town is named after LaFayette, a national hero of both France and the United States....
.
Dwight enrolled in Yale College
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in September 1851; his distant cousin Theodore Dwight Woolsey
Theodore Dwight Woolsey
Theodore Dwight Woolsey was an American academic, author and president of Yale College from 1846 through 1871.-Biography:Theodore Dwight Woolsey was born October 31, 1801 in New York City...
was president of Yale at the time. However, he dropped out in February 1852 when he could not afford it. Instead he went to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
to join the California Gold Rush
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
. He studied law for a while in California. Somehow he ended up on a ship to the Hawaiian Islands
Hawaiian Islands
The Hawaiian Islands are an archipelago of eight major islands, several atolls, numerous smaller islets, and undersea seamounts in the North Pacific Ocean, extending some 1,500 miles from the island of Hawaii in the south to northernmost Kure Atoll...
, and from there to China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. Returning to the US, he had circumnavigated the earth.
He studied for the bar and was admitted to practice in Onondaga County, New York
Onondaga County, New York
Onondaga County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 467,026. The county seat is Syracuse.Onondaga County is part of the Syracuse, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area....
in 1859.
A year into the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, additional troops were being raised in Onondaga County.
Dwight volunteered for the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
for what he thought would be a three year enlistment.
He was commissioned as Captain of Company E of the 122nd New York Volunteer Infantry
122nd New York Volunteer Infantry
The 122nd New York Volunteer Infantry known as the "Onondagas", was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-History:A year into the American Civil War, additional troops were being raised in Onondaga County, New York....
Regiment on July 8, 1862. By August 28, 1862 was promoted to lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
under Colonel Silas Titus
Silas Titus
Silas Titus was a military officer who fought in the American Civil War in the Union Army. He was active in the organization of the city of Syracuse, New York, and served as an alderman for two years and as a supervisor in 1865...
, and was sent immediately into combat action as part of the Army of the Potomac
Army of the Potomac
The Army of the Potomac was the major Union Army in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War.-History:The Army of the Potomac was created in 1861, but was then only the size of a corps . Its nucleus was called the Army of Northeastern Virginia, under Brig. Gen...
.
In its first engagement, the Battle of Antietam
Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam , fought on September 17, 1862, near Sharpsburg, Maryland, and Antietam Creek, as part of the Maryland Campaign, was the first major battle in the American Civil War to take place on Northern soil. It was the bloodiest single-day battle in American history, with about 23,000...
, they were kept in reserve and there were no losses. After a few other skirmishes, they saw heavy fighting at the Battle of Gettysburg
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg , was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle with the largest number of casualties in the American Civil War, it is often described as the war's turning point. Union Maj. Gen. George Gordon Meade's Army of the Potomac...
in July 1863. Sickness also took its toll on the regiment. Several times Col. Titus was ill and Dwight had led the troops. Other times, both officers were unable to lead and command passed to Captain Horace Hall Wapole (later promoted to lead the regiment). Titus was also called away to serve as Provost Marshal
Provost Marshal
The Provost Marshal is the officer in the armed forces who is in charge of the military police .There may be a Provost Marshal serving at many levels of the hierarchy and he may also be the public safety officer of a military installation, responsible for the provision of fire, gate security, and...
.
Dwight would often send reports back to the Syracuse Journal newspaper, and wrote letters notifying relatives of men who were killed in action.
On September 19, 1864 at the Battle of Opequon
Battle of Opequon
The Battle of Opequon, more commonly known as the Third Battle of Winchester, was fought in Winchester, Virginia, on September 19, 1864, during the Valley Campaigns of 1864 in the American Civil War....
, he received his first wound, a severe contusion of his right thigh, but was able to continue in his post.
On October 19, 1864 he was more severely wounded at Battle of Cedar Creek
Battle of Cedar Creek
The Battle of Cedar Creek, or Battle of Belle Grove, October 19, 1864, was one of the final, and most decisive, battles in the Valley Campaigns of 1864 during the American Civil War. The final Confederate invasion of the North, led by Lt. Gen. Jubal A. Early, was effectively ended...
when a ball shattered his right wrist. He was given a medical discharge and sent home to recover with an effectively useless right arm.
Dwight left home again on January 30, 1865 to rejoin his regiment which was at the Siege of Petersburg
Siege of Petersburg
The Richmond–Petersburg Campaign was a series of battles around Petersburg, Virginia, fought from June 9, 1864, to March 25, 1865, during the American Civil War...
. He officially replaced Titus to command the regiment as acting colonel on February 28, 1865, under Colonel Thomas W. Hyde
Thomas W. Hyde
Thomas Worcester Hyde was a Union Army colonel who subsequently received brevets of brigadier general of volunteers and major general of volunteers in the American Civil War, a state senator from Maine, and the founder of Bath Iron Works, one of the major shipyards in the United States...
who was in turn acting as brigade commander.
On the early morning of March 25, 1865, Confederate forces launched the daring surprise attack on Fort Stedman
Battle of Fort Stedman
The Battle of Fort Stedman was fought on March 25, 1865, during the final days of the American Civil War. The Union Army fortification in the siege lines around Petersburg, Virginia, was attacked in a pre-dawn Confederate assault by troops led by Maj. Gen. John B. Gordon. The attack was the last...
near Petersburg. After initially capturing the Union fort, the attack stalled and the fort was retaken. In response, later that day Dwight's regiment was ordered to take some of the weakened trenches on the Confederate's right side. During the operation, he was hit it the head by artillery fire and was instantly killed.
His commission as full colonel was not finalized before his death. He was buried in Oakwood Cemetery
Oakwood Cemetery
Oakwood Cemetery may refer to:*Historic Oakwood Cemetery, a cemetery in Raleigh, North Carolina*Oakwood Cemetery , burial site of Henry C...
in Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
.
At the dedication of a monument for the regiment in 1888 at the Gettysburg Battlefield
Gettysburg Battlefield
The Gettysburg Battlefield is the area of the July 1–3, 1863, military engagements of the Battle of Gettysburg within and around the borough of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Locations of military engagements extend from the 4 acre site of the first shot & at on the west of the borough, to East...
, speeches mentioned Dwight as the one "to whom the efficiency of the regiment was so largely due."