John Morrison Oliver
Encyclopedia
John Morrison Oliver was a Union general during the Civil War. He fought in many of the battles involving the Army of the Tennessee
, occasionally commanding a brigade.
Oliver graduated from St. John's College in New York. He moved to Michigan and worked as a pharmacist. When the Civil War began he joined the 4th Michigan Volunteer Infantry as a private. He rose to captain in that regiment before being appointed colonel of the 15th Michigan on March 13, 1865. He led his regiment at Shiloh and commanded the 2nd Brigade, 6th Division during the siege
and battle of Corinth
. He returned to command the 15th Michigan during the siege of Vicksburg where he was part of the XVI Corps
. He briefly commanded the 2nd Brigade, 4th Division, XV Corps
and was transferred to Chattanooga in the wake of Ulysses Grant's victory there in 1863
. Oliver was back in command of his regiment during William T. Sherman's preparations for the advance against Atlanta
, but once the campaign got underway Oliver was in command of the 3rd Brigade, 4th Division, XV Corps. He briefly led the 1st Brigade, 4th Division at the battle of Jonesborough
. During the March to the Sea
, Oliver commanded the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, XV Corps. His was one of the brigades which assaulted Fort McAllister in December. On January 12, 1865 he was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers. He was at the battle of Bentonville
, though his brigade did not see much action. He received a brevet promotion to major general of volunteers on March 13, 1865 and was in command of the 2nd Division, XV Corps at the close of the war. He was mustered out of the volunteer service on August 24, 1865.
Following the Civil War he moved to Arkansas where he practiced law and became the post office superintendent in Little Rock.
Army of the Tennessee
The Army of the Tennessee was a Union army in the Western Theater of the American Civil War, named for the Tennessee River. It should not be confused with the similarly named Army of Tennessee, a Confederate army named after the State of Tennessee....
, occasionally commanding a brigade.
Oliver graduated from St. John's College in New York. He moved to Michigan and worked as a pharmacist. When the Civil War began he joined the 4th Michigan Volunteer Infantry as a private. He rose to captain in that regiment before being appointed colonel of the 15th Michigan on March 13, 1865. He led his regiment at Shiloh and commanded the 2nd Brigade, 6th Division during the siege
Siege 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 Corinth
Second Battle of Corinth
The Second Battle of Corinth was fought October 3–4, 1862, in Corinth, Mississippi. For the second time in the Iuka-Corinth Campaign, Union Maj. Gen. William S...
. He returned to command the 15th Michigan during the siege of Vicksburg where he was part of 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:...
. He briefly commanded the 2nd Brigade, 4th Division, XV Corps
XV Corps (ACW)
The XV Army Corps was a corps of the Union Army during the American Civil War. It served in the Army of the Tennessee under Maj. Gens. Ulysses S. Grant and William T. Sherman. It was commanded by Sherman in the Siege of Vicksburg and then by Maj. Gen. John A. Logan in Sherman's Atlanta Campaign. ...
and was transferred to Chattanooga in the wake of Ulysses Grant's victory there in 1863
Battle of Missionary Ridge
The Battle of Missionary Ridge was fought November 25, 1863, as part of the Chattanooga Campaign of the American Civil War. Following the Union victory in the Battle of Lookout Mountain on November 24, Union forces under Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant assaulted Missionary Ridge and defeated the...
. Oliver was back in command of his regiment during William T. Sherman's preparations for the advance against Atlanta
Atlanta Campaign
The Atlanta Campaign was a series of battles fought in the Western Theater of the American Civil War throughout northwest Georgia and the area around Atlanta during the summer of 1864. Union Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman invaded Georgia from the vicinity of Chattanooga, Tennessee, beginning in May...
, but once the campaign got underway Oliver was in command of the 3rd Brigade, 4th Division, XV Corps. He briefly led the 1st Brigade, 4th Division at the battle of Jonesborough
Battle of Jonesborough
-Further reading:...
. During the March to the Sea
Sherman's March to the Sea
Sherman's March to the Sea is the name commonly given to the Savannah Campaign conducted around Georgia from November 15, 1864 to December 21, 1864 by Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman of the Union Army in the American Civil War...
, Oliver commanded the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, XV Corps. His was one of the brigades which assaulted Fort McAllister in December. On January 12, 1865 he was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers. He was at the battle of Bentonville
Battle of Bentonville
At 3 p.m., Confederate infantry from the Army of Tennessee launched an attack and drove the Union left flank back in confusion, nearly capturing Carlin in the process and overrunning the XIV Corps field hospital. Confederates under Maj. Gen. D.H. Hill filled the vacuum left by the retreating...
, though his brigade did not see much action. He received a brevet promotion to major general of volunteers on March 13, 1865 and was in command of the 2nd Division, XV Corps at the close of the war. He was mustered out of the volunteer service on August 24, 1865.
Following the Civil War he moved to Arkansas where he practiced law and became the post office superintendent in Little Rock.