George Cadwalader
Encyclopedia
George Cadwalader was a general in the United States Army
during the Mexican-American War and American Civil War
.
, studied law, and was admitted to the bar. He served in the Pennsylvania state militia
and suppressed anti-foreign riots
in Philadelphia.
His father was Thomas Cadwalader (1779–1841), not to be confused with his cousin Thomas McCall Cadwalader
(1795–1873) who was a general from New Jersey
. His mother was Mary Biddle (1781–1850), who was daughter of Clement Biddle
(1740–1818) who served in the American Revolutionary War
.),
He was married in 1830 to Frances Butler Mease. They had one daughter, Frances who died young.
and took command of a brigade
of reinforcements being sent to Winfield Scott
in central Mexico
. His brigade was designated the 2nd Brigade in the newly formed 3rd Division under Gideon Pillow. He participated in the battles of Contreras
, Churubusco
, and Chapultepec
. For his services at Chapultepec he as brevetted major general
in the Regular army
.
When the Civil War broke out, Cadwalader immediately volunteered his services to the Union cause. Due to his distinguished military experience, he was appointed major general
of Pennsylvania Volunteers by Governor Andrew Curtin in April 1861.
On May 15, he was appointed military commander in Maryland
, where Union communications were threatened by local Confederate sympathizers. On May 25, he ordered the arrest of John Merryman
, who had been recruiting soldiers for the Confederate army. When Chief Justice Taney issued a writ of habeas corpus
for Merryman, Cadwalader ignored him, stating that he was authorized by the President to suspend habeas corpus. This dispute resulted in the important case of Ex parte Merryman
.
Cadwalader later took command of the 1st Division in Robert Patterson
's Army of the Shenandoah.
On May 25, 1862, he was commissioned major general of volunteers in the U.S. Army.
Cadwalader later commanded of the post at Corinth, Mississippi
. He returned to Pennsylvania and commanded the post at Philadelphia and successively the District of Philadelphia, the District of the Brandywine, and the District of the Susquehanna before resigning in July 1865. He spent the remainder of his life in Philadelphia.
In April 1865, General Cadwalader helped found the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States
, a major fraternal organization for former Union army and navy officers. He served as Commander-in-Chief of the Loyal Legion until his death.
He died in Philadelphia on February 3, 1879.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during the Mexican-American War and 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...
.
Biography
He was born and raised in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, studied law, and was admitted to the bar. He served in the Pennsylvania state militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
and suppressed anti-foreign riots
Philadelphia Nativist Riots
The Philadelphia Nativist Riots were a series of riots that took place between May 6 and 8 and July 6 and 7, 1844, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, and the adjacent districts of Kensington and Southwark...
in Philadelphia.
His father was Thomas Cadwalader (1779–1841), not to be confused with his cousin Thomas McCall Cadwalader
Thomas McCall Cadwalader
-Life:Thomas McCall Cadwalader was born on the family estate called Greenwood in Trenton, New Jersey on September 11, 1795. His father was Lambert Cadwalader and mother was Mary McCall ; he was their only child, except for a brother who died in childhood.His cousin Elizabeth Cadwalader married...
(1795–1873) who was a general from New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. His mother was Mary Biddle (1781–1850), who was daughter of Clement Biddle
Clement Biddle
Colonel Clement Biddle was an American Revolutionary War soldier.- Life :Biddle was born May 10, 1740 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to John Biddle and Sarah Owen . He was the younger brother of Owen Biddle, Sr...
(1740–1818) who served in the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
.),
He was married in 1830 to Frances Butler Mease. They had one daughter, Frances who died young.
Mexican-American War
On March 3, 1847, he was appointed brigadier generalBrigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
and took command of a brigade
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
of reinforcements being sent to Winfield Scott
Winfield Scott
Winfield Scott was a United States Army general, and unsuccessful presidential candidate of the Whig Party in 1852....
in central Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. His brigade was designated the 2nd Brigade in the newly formed 3rd Division under Gideon Pillow. He participated in the battles of Contreras
Battle of Contreras
The Battle of Contreras, also known as the Battle of Padierna, took place during August 19–20, 1847, in the final encounters of the Mexican-American War. In the Battle of Churubusco, fighting continued the following day.-Background:...
, Churubusco
Battle of Churubusco
The Battle of Churubusco took place on August 20, 1847, in the immediate aftermath of the Battle of Contreras during the Mexican-American War. After defeating the Mexican army at Churubusco, the U.S. Army was only 5 miles away from Mexico City, the capital of the nation...
, and Chapultepec
Battle of Chapultepec
The Battle of Chapultepec, in September 1847, was a United States victory over Mexican forces holding Chapultepec Castle west of Mexico City during the Mexican-American War.-Background:On September 13, 1847, in the costly Battle of Molino del Rey, U.S...
. For his services at Chapultepec he as brevetted major general
Major general (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general...
in the Regular army
Regular army
A regular army consists of the permanent force of a country's army that is maintained under arms during peacetime.Countries that use the term include:*Australian Army*British Army*Canadian Forces, specifically "Regular Force"*Egyptian army*Indian Army...
.
Civil War
Major general (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general...
of Pennsylvania Volunteers by Governor Andrew Curtin in April 1861.
On May 15, he was appointed military commander in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, where Union communications were threatened by local Confederate sympathizers. On May 25, he ordered the arrest of John Merryman
John Merryman
John Merryman was the petitioner in one of the best known habeas corpus cases of the American Civil War, a militia officer during the Civil War, and a Maryland politician.-Early life:...
, who had been recruiting soldiers for the Confederate army. When Chief Justice Taney issued a writ of habeas corpus
Habeas corpus
is a writ, or legal action, through which a prisoner can be released from unlawful detention. The remedy can be sought by the prisoner or by another person coming to his aid. Habeas corpus originated in the English legal system, but it is now available in many nations...
for Merryman, Cadwalader ignored him, stating that he was authorized by the President to suspend habeas corpus. This dispute resulted in the important case of Ex parte Merryman
Ex parte Merryman
Ex parte Merryman, 17 F. Cas. 144 , is a well-known U.S. federal court case which arose out of the American Civil War. It was a test of the authority of the President to suspend "the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus"...
.
Cadwalader later took command of the 1st Division in Robert Patterson
Robert Patterson
Robert Patterson was a United States major general during the Mexican-American War and at the beginning of the American Civil War...
's Army of the Shenandoah.
On May 25, 1862, he was commissioned major general of volunteers in the U.S. Army.
Cadwalader later commanded of the post at Corinth, Mississippi
Corinth, Mississippi
Corinth is a city in Alcorn County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 14,054 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Alcorn County. Its ZIP codes are 38834 and 38835.- History :...
. He returned to Pennsylvania and commanded the post at Philadelphia and successively the District of Philadelphia, the District of the Brandywine, and the District of the Susquehanna before resigning in July 1865. He spent the remainder of his life in Philadelphia.
In April 1865, General Cadwalader helped found the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States
Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States
The Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, also known by its acronym MOLLUS or simply as the Loyal Legion, is a United States patriotic order, organized April 15, 1865, by officers of the Army, Navy, or Marine Corps of the United States who "had aided in maintaining the honor,...
, a major fraternal organization for former Union army and navy officers. He served as Commander-in-Chief of the Loyal Legion until his death.
He died in Philadelphia on February 3, 1879.
See also
- List of American Civil War generals
External links
- Portrait of General George Cadwalader by Thomas EakinsThomas EakinsThomas Cowperthwait Eakins was an American realist painter, photographer, sculptor, and fine arts educator...