George Dietzler
Encyclopedia
George Washington Deitzler (November 30, 1826 – April 11, 1884) was a Union Army
General during the American Civil War
.
where he received a common school education and then moved to Kansas
, and “grew up with the state.” He was a farmer and realtor. From 1857-1858, and again in 1859-1860, he was a member of the Kansas House of Representatives
, and during the former period was elected speaker. Later he was elected mayor
of Lawrence, Kansas
, and was also treasurer of the University of Kansas
.
At the outbreak of the Civil War, Deitzler raised the 1st Kansas Infantry
and was appointed its colonel
. He led his regiment in Missouri
and commanded the 3rd Brigade at the Battle of Wilson's Creek
, where he was wounded. On April 4, 1863, he was appointed brigadier general
of volunteers, to rank from November 29, 1862. President Abraham Lincoln
nominated Deitzler for the promotion on March 4, 1863 and the U.S. Senate confirmed the nomination on March 9, 1863. Deitzler commanded the 1st Brigade, 6th Division, XVII Corps
, during the Vicksburg campaign
. After the fall of Vicksburg, on August 27, 1863, he resigned due to ill health and returned to Kansas
.
In Kansas, Deitzler received a commission as major general
of Kansas militia
. During Confederate Major General Sterling Price's
Missouri Expedition in 1864, Deitzler commanded 10,000 Kansas State Militia units in the Army of the Border
. Deitzler's units were reluctant to fight in Missouri, therefore it was not until the Confederates reached the town of Westport
, near the Kansas/Missouri state line, that Deitzler brought his troops into action. The additional troops proved decisive as the Confederates, then outnumbered more than 2 to 1, were defeated at the Battle of Westport
.
After the war, Deitzler promoted railroads
and died in Tucson, Arizona
.
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...
General during 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...
.
Biography
Deitzler was born in Pine Grove, PennsylvaniaPine Grove, Pennsylvania
Pine Grove, Pennsylvania may refer to more than one place:*Pine Grove, Cambria County, Pennsylvania*Pine Grove, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania*Pine Grove, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania*Pine Grove, Perry County, Pennsylvania...
where he received a common school education and then moved to Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, and “grew up with the state.” He was a farmer and realtor. From 1857-1858, and again in 1859-1860, he was a member of the Kansas House of Representatives
Kansas House of Representatives
The Kansas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Kansas Legislature, the legislative body of the U.S. State of Kansas. Composed of 125 state representatives from districts with roughly equal populations of at least 19,000, its members are responsible for crafting and voting on...
, and during the former period was elected speaker. Later he was elected mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence is the sixth largest city in the U.S. State of Kansas and the county seat of Douglas County. Located in northeastern Kansas, Lawrence is the anchor city of the Lawrence, Kansas, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Douglas County...
, and was also treasurer of the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
.
At the outbreak of the Civil War, Deitzler raised the 1st Kansas Infantry
1st Regiment Kansas Volunteer Infantry
The 1st Kansas Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 1st Kansas Infantry was organized at Camp Lincoln near Leavenworth, Kansas, May 20 - June 30, 1861 and mustered in for three years. The greatest number of...
and was appointed its colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
. He led his regiment in Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
and commanded the 3rd Brigade at the Battle of Wilson's Creek
Battle of Wilson's Creek
The Battle of Wilson's Creek, also known as the Battle of Oak Hills, was fought on August 10, 1861, near Springfield, Missouri, between Union forces and the Missouri State Guard, early in the American Civil War. It was the first major battle of the war west of the Mississippi River and is sometimes...
, where he was wounded. On April 4, 1863, he was appointed brigadier general
Brigadier 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...
of volunteers, to rank from November 29, 1862. President Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
nominated Deitzler for the promotion on March 4, 1863 and the U.S. Senate confirmed the nomination on March 9, 1863. Deitzler commanded the 1st Brigade, 6th Division, XVII Corps
XVII Corps (ACW)
XVII Corps was a corps of the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was organized December 18, 1862 as part of Ulysses S. Grant's Army of the Tennessee. It was most notably commanded by Maj. Gen. James B. McPherson and Maj. Gen. Francis P. Blair II, and served in the Western...
, during the Vicksburg campaign
Battle of Vicksburg
The Siege of Vicksburg was the final major military action in the Vicksburg Campaign of the American Civil War. In a series of maneuvers, Union Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and his Army of the Tennessee crossed the Mississippi River and drove the Confederate army of Lt. Gen. John C...
. After the fall of Vicksburg, on August 27, 1863, he resigned due to ill health and returned to Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
.
In Kansas, Deitzler received a commission as 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...
of Kansas 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...
. During Confederate Major General Sterling Price's
Sterling Price
Sterling Price was a lawyer, planter, and politician from the U.S. state of Missouri, who served as the 11th Governor of the state from 1853 to 1857. He also served as a United States Army brigadier general during the Mexican-American War, and a Confederate Army major general in the American Civil...
Missouri Expedition in 1864, Deitzler commanded 10,000 Kansas State Militia units in the Army of the Border
Army of the Border
The Army of the Border was a Union army during the American Civil War. It was created from units in the Department of Kansas to oppose Sterling Price's Raid in 1864. Samuel R. Curtis was in command of the army throughout its duration.Major General James G...
. Deitzler's units were reluctant to fight in Missouri, therefore it was not until the Confederates reached the town of Westport
Westport, Kansas City
Westport is a historic neighborhood in Kansas City, Missouri, USA. Originally its own town, it was annexed by Kansas City in 1897. Today, it is one of Kansas City's main entertainment districts.-Background:...
, near the Kansas/Missouri state line, that Deitzler brought his troops into action. The additional troops proved decisive as the Confederates, then outnumbered more than 2 to 1, were defeated at the Battle of Westport
Battle of Westport
The Battle of Westport, sometimes referred to as the "Gettysburg of the West," was fought on October 23, 1864, in modern Kansas City, Missouri, during the American Civil War. Union forces under Major General Samuel R. Curtis decisively defeated an outnumbered Confederate force under Major General...
.
After the war, Deitzler promoted railroads
Rail transport
Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
and died in Tucson, Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
.
See also
- List of American Civil War generals (Union)