Isaac C. Pugh
Encyclopedia
Isaac Campbell Pugh was a United States volunteer soldier who was a veteran of the Black Hawk War
, Mexican War
and American Civil War
rising to the rank of Brevet
brigadier general
.
. He moved to Macon County, Illinois and became a private and served during the Black Hawk War
. In 1846 he became a captain in the 4th Illinois Volunteer Regiment during the Mexican War
and was mustered out of the volunteer service the following year.
fighting with John McArthur
's brigade on the extreme right of the Union line.
's 4th Division of the Army of the Tennessee. Shortly after the fighting began at the Battle of Shiloh
, the 1st Brigade's commander Col. Nelson G. Williams
was severely wounded and command of the brigade was turned over to Pugh. Colonel Pugh ably led the brigade through the two days of fighting at Shiloh in the vicinity of "Bloody Pond".
and Battle of Hatchie's Bridge
. When General Lauman was elevated to command of the 4th Division, Pugh again assumed command of the 1st Brigade. Pugh's 1st Brigade and the rest of the 4th Division were assigned to the XVI Corps
during the Siege of Vicksburg and the following expedition against Jackson, Mississippi. During the siege of Jackson (10–17 July 1863)
, General Lauman ordered Pugh to make an attack against Brig. Gen. Daniel W. Adams' entrenched brigade. This attack resulted in heavy casualties for Pugh's brigade and Lauman was subsequently relieved of command.
which was composed of regiments primarily on guard duty in Georgia. He was mustered out of the volunteer service with the rest of his regiment on August 20, 1864.
Command History
and served as a clerk and postmaster there before his death on November 19, 1874. He is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Decatur.
Black Hawk War
The Black Hawk War was a brief conflict fought in 1832 between the United States and Native Americans headed by Black Hawk, a Sauk leader. The war erupted soon after Black Hawk and a group of Sauks, Meskwakis, and Kickapoos known as the "British Band" crossed the Mississippi River into the U.S....
, 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...
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...
rising to the rank of 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...
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...
.
Early life
Pugh was born in Christian County, KentuckyChristian County, Kentucky
Christian County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed in 1797. As of 2000, its population was 72,265. Its county seat is Hopkinsville, Kentucky...
. He moved to Macon County, Illinois and became a private and served during the Black Hawk War
Black Hawk War
The Black Hawk War was a brief conflict fought in 1832 between the United States and Native Americans headed by Black Hawk, a Sauk leader. The war erupted soon after Black Hawk and a group of Sauks, Meskwakis, and Kickapoos known as the "British Band" crossed the Mississippi River into the U.S....
. In 1846 he became a captain in the 4th Illinois Volunteer Regiment during 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...
and was mustered out of the volunteer service the following year.
Fort Donelson
Pugh's most notable military service came during the American Civil War. In 1861 he became a captain in the 8th Illinois Volunteer Regiment and shortly after was appointed colonel of the 41st Illinois Volunteer Regiment, which he would chiefly be associated with for the rest of the war. Pugh led the regiment into action at the Battle of Fort DonelsonBattle of Fort Donelson
The Battle of Fort Donelson was fought from February 11 to February 16, 1862, in the Western Theater of the American Civil War. The capture of the fort by Union forces opened the Cumberland River as an avenue for the invasion of the South. The success elevated Brig. Gen. Ulysses S...
fighting with John McArthur
John McArthur
John McArthur was a Union general during the American Civil War. McArthur became one of the ablest Federal commanders in the Western Theater.-Early life:...
's brigade on the extreme right of the Union line.
Shiloh
After Fort Donelson the 41st Illinois was assigned to the 1st Brigade in Stephen A. HurlbutStephen A. Hurlbut
Stephen Augustus Hurlbut , was a politician, diplomat, and commander of the U.S. Army of the Gulf in the American Civil War.-Biography:...
's 4th Division of the Army of the Tennessee. Shortly after the fighting began at the Battle of Shiloh
Battle of Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, was a major battle in the Western Theater of the American Civil War, fought April 6–7, 1862, in southwestern Tennessee. A Union army under Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant had moved via the Tennessee River deep into Tennessee and...
, the 1st Brigade's commander Col. Nelson G. Williams
Nelson G. Williams
Nelson G. Williams was a New York City customs agent and Union Army officer during the American Civil War.-Early life:Williams was born in New York and was appointed to West Point in 1839. He resigned a year later due to poor math grades. He worked as an importer in New York City before moving to...
was severely wounded and command of the brigade was turned over to Pugh. Colonel Pugh ably led the brigade through the two days of fighting at Shiloh in the vicinity of "Bloody Pond".
Vicksburg and Jackson
After Shiloh, General Jacob G. Lauman was transferred to command the 1st Brigade and Pugh returned to command of his regiment. He led his regiment in the subsequent Siege of CorinthSiege of Corinth
The Siege of Corinth was an American Civil War battle fought from April 29 to May 30, 1862, in Corinth, Mississippi.-Background:...
and Battle of Hatchie's Bridge
Battle of Hatchie's Bridge
The Battle of Hatchie's Bridge, also known as Davis's Bridge or Matamora, was fought on October 5, 1862, in Hardeman County and McNairy County, Tennessee, as the final engagement of the Iuka–Corinth Campaign of the American Civil War...
. When General Lauman was elevated to command of the 4th Division, Pugh again assumed command of the 1st Brigade. Pugh's 1st Brigade and the rest of the 4th Division were assigned to the XVI Corps
XVI Corps (ACW)
The XVI Army Corps was a corps of the Union Army during the American Civil War. The corps rarely fought as one unified unit, as its divisions were often scattered across the country.-Creation and Vicksburg:...
during the Siege of Vicksburg and the following expedition against Jackson, Mississippi. During the siege of Jackson (10–17 July 1863)
Jackson Expedition
The Jackson Expedition occurred in the aftermath of the surrender of Vicksburg, Mississippi in July 1863. Union Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman led the expedition to clear General Joseph E. Johnston's relief effort from the Vicksburg area.-Background:...
, General Lauman ordered Pugh to make an attack against Brig. Gen. Daniel W. Adams' entrenched brigade. This attack resulted in heavy casualties for Pugh's brigade and Lauman was subsequently relieved of command.
Furlough and Atlanta Campaign
Pugh continued in brigade command until October 1863 when the veteran officers and soldiers of the 41st Illinois were granted a furlough while the new recruits in the regiment fought in the Red River Campaign and at Tupelo. Pugh returned to active duty with the veterans of the regiment in 1864. Instead of reuniting the entire regiment in Mississippi, Pugh commanded the so called "Veterans Battalion" of the 41st Illinois and was sent to Georgia to join William T. Sherman's campaign against Atlanta. Pugh's Veteran Battalion was assigned to railroad guard duty near Marietta, Georgia. Pugh briefly commanded the 2nd Brigade, 4th Division in the XVII CorpsXVII 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...
which was composed of regiments primarily on guard duty in Georgia. He was mustered out of the volunteer service with the rest of his regiment on August 20, 1864.
Command History
- 1st Brigade, 4th Division, Army of the Tennessee (6–7 April 1862)
- 1st Brigade, 4th Division, XIII Corps (1 Nov-18 Dec 1862)
- 1st Brigade, 4th Division, XVII Corps (18 Dec 1862-20 Jan 1863)
- 1st Brigade, 4th Division, XVI Corps (20 Jan-28 July 1863)
- 1st Brigade, 4th Division, XIII Corps (28 July-17 Aug 1863)
- 1st Brigade, 4th Division, XVII Corps (17 Aug-24 Oct 1863)
- 2nd Brigade, 4th Division, XVIII Corps (4–19 July 1864)
Later life
Pugh returned to his home in Decatur, IllinoisDecatur, Illinois
Decatur is the largest city and the county seat of Macon County in the U.S. state of Illinois. The city, sometimes called "the Soybean Capital of the World", was founded in 1823 and is located along the Sangamon River and Lake Decatur in Central Illinois. In 2000 the city population was 81,500,...
and served as a clerk and postmaster there before his death on November 19, 1874. He is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Decatur.
See also
- List of American Civil War generals