Hannibal Day
Encyclopedia
Hannibal Day served as an officer in the regular army before and during the American Civil War
, briefly commanding a brigade in the Army of the Potomac
.
Hannibal Day was born in Montpelier, Vermont
on February 15, 1804. He attended the United States Military Academy
at West Point, New York
, graduating 23rd in a class of 35 in 1823. Day was assigned to the infantry, serving in Indian wars, including the Seminole War and in the Mexican War
. Day was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel
of the 2nd U.S. Infantry on February 25, 1861. He was serving at Fort Abercrombie
in the Dakota Territory
when the Civil War erupted. He was on recruiting duty in the early months of the conflict. During that time of service Day became colonel
of the 6th U.S. Infantry on June 7, 1862.
Colonel Day joined the Army of the Potomac
on June 28, 1863. He served as a brigade commander in the second division of V Corps
under BG Romeyn B. Ayres
at the Battle of Gettysburg
. His brigade of regulars lost substantial casualties when it was attacked during deployment into the Wheatfield
on July 2, 1863. The attack was executed by the brigade of Brig Gen William T. Wofford
, and it cost Day's brigade 382 casualties. (Afterwards, Day's brigade was combined with that of Sidney Burbank
, serving under Burbank in the Bristoe Campaign
and the Mine Run Campaign. The regulars later were made part of a brigade under Ayers in General Charles Griffin's first division V Corps.)
Day was elderly, one of the oldest officers commanding at Gettysburg. (Only George S. Greene
was older.) He left the Army of the Potomac on August 22, 1863 for less demanding assignments. Col Day commanded Fort Hamilton
in New York from August 1863 until June 8, 1864. He played minor administrative roles after that. A Brevet
rank of brigadier general
was awarded to him on March 13, 1865. According to Newell & Shrader (p. 216), Day had already retired as colonel of the 6th Infantry August 1, 1863.
Day lived long after the war. He was one of the oldest graduates of West Point when he died, a widower, in Morristown, New Jersey
on March 26, 1891. He was buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Leominster, Massachusetts
.
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...
, briefly commanding a brigade in 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...
.
Hannibal Day was born in Montpelier, Vermont
Montpelier, Vermont
Montpelier is a city in the U.S. state of Vermont that serves as the state capital and the shire town of Washington County. As the capital of Vermont, Montpelier is the site of the Vermont State House, seat of the legislative branch of Vermont government. The population was 7,855 at the 2010...
on February 15, 1804. He attended the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
at West Point, New York
West Point, New York
West Point is a federal military reservation established by President of the United States Thomas Jefferson in 1802. It is a census-designated place located in Town of Highlands in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 7,138 at the 2000 census...
, graduating 23rd in a class of 35 in 1823. Day was assigned to the infantry, serving in Indian wars, including the Seminole War and in the Mexican War
Mexican–American War
The Mexican–American War, also known as the First American Intervention, the Mexican War, or the U.S.–Mexican War, was an armed conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848 in the wake of the 1845 U.S...
. Day was promoted to the rank of 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...
of the 2nd U.S. Infantry on February 25, 1861. He was serving at Fort Abercrombie
Fort Abercrombie
Fort Abercrombie, in North Dakota, was an American fort established by authority of an act of Congress, March 3, 1857. The act allocated twenty-five square miles of land on the Red River in Dakota Territory to be used for a military outpost, but the exact location was left to the discretion of...
in the Dakota Territory
Dakota Territory
The Territory of Dakota was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 2, 1861, until November 2, 1889, when the final extent of the reduced territory was split and admitted to the Union as the states of North and South Dakota.The Dakota Territory consisted of...
when the Civil War erupted. He was on recruiting duty in the early months of the conflict. During that time of service Day became 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...
of the 6th U.S. Infantry on June 7, 1862.
Colonel Day joined 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...
on June 28, 1863. He served as a brigade commander in the second division of V Corps
V Corps (ACW)
The V Corps was a unit of the Union Army of the Potomac during the American Civil War.-1862:The corps was first organized briefly under Nathaniel P. Banks, but then permanently on May 18, 1862, designated as the "V Corps Provisional"...
under BG Romeyn B. Ayres
Romeyn B. Ayres
Romeyn Beck Ayres was a Union Army general in the American Civil War.-Early life:Ayres was born at East Creek, New York, along the Mohawk River in Montgomery County. He was the son of a small-town doctor who urged all of his sons into professional careers...
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...
. His brigade of regulars lost substantial casualties when it was attacked during deployment into the Wheatfield
Wheatfield
-Locations:* The Bloody Wheatfield, site of fierce fighting in the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg, American Civil War* Wheatfield, Indiana, USA* Wheatfield, New York, USA**Niagara-Wheatfield Central School District* Wheatfield, Oxfordshire, UK...
on July 2, 1863. The attack was executed by the brigade of Brig Gen William T. Wofford
William T. Wofford
William Tatum Wofford was an officer during the Mexican-American War and a general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.-Early life and career:...
, and it cost Day's brigade 382 casualties. (Afterwards, Day's brigade was combined with that of Sidney Burbank
Sidney Burbank
Sidney Burbank served as an officer in the regular army before and during the American Civil War. For a time he led a brigade in the Army of the Potomac.-Pre War:...
, serving under Burbank in the Bristoe Campaign
Bristoe Campaign
The Bristoe Campaign was a series of minor battles fought in Virginia during October and November 1863, in the American Civil War. Maj. Gen. George G. Meade, commanding the Union Army of the Potomac, began to maneuver in an unsuccessful attempt to defeat Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern...
and the Mine Run Campaign. The regulars later were made part of a brigade under Ayers in General Charles Griffin's first division V Corps.)
Day was elderly, one of the oldest officers commanding at Gettysburg. (Only George S. Greene
George S. Greene
George Sears Greene was a civil engineer and a Union general during the American Civil War. He was part of the Greene family of Rhode Island, which had a distinguished military record for the United States. His greatest contribution during the war was his defense of the Union right flank at Culp's...
was older.) He left the Army of the Potomac on August 22, 1863 for less demanding assignments. Col Day commanded Fort Hamilton
Fort Hamilton
Historic Fort Hamilton is located in the southwestern corner of the New York City borough of Brooklyn surrounded by the communities of Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, and Bensonhurst, and is one of several posts that are part of the region which is headquartered by the Military District of Washington...
in New York from August 1863 until June 8, 1864. He played minor administrative roles after that. A Brevet
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
rank of 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...
was awarded to him on March 13, 1865. According to Newell & Shrader (p. 216), Day had already retired as colonel of the 6th Infantry August 1, 1863.
Day lived long after the war. He was one of the oldest graduates of West Point when he died, a widower, in Morristown, New Jersey
Morristown, New Jersey
Morristown is a town in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town population was 18,411. It is the county seat of Morris County. Morristown became characterized as "the military capital of the American Revolution" because of its strategic role in the...
on March 26, 1891. He was buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Leominster, Massachusetts
Leominster, Massachusetts
Leominster is a city in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. It is the second-largest city in Worcester County, with a population of 40,759 at the 2010 census. Leominster is located north of Worcester and west of Boston. Both Route 2 and Route 12 pass through Leominster. Interstate 190,...
.