John Wheeler (colonel)
Encyclopedia
John Wheeler was a Union colonel during the American Civil War
. Wheeler's regiment suffered heavy losses at Gettysburg where he was killed in action near Devil's Den
.
where he worked as a farmer and teacher. He and his father worked at draining swamplands in the region. He was elected County Surveyor in 1853 and later established a newspaper called the Crown Point Register.
Wheeler used his own money and influence to raise a company of local volunteers for service in the Civil War. This company elected him captain and joined the 20th Indiana Volunteer Regiment
in 1861 where it was being organized at Lafayette, Indiana
. He was transferred to eastern Virginia and posted at Fortress Monroe during the battle of Hampton Roads
. Wheeler and his regiment joined the III Corps
and participated in the Peninsula Campaign and the second Battle of Bull Run
. At Bull Run, Wheeler, (now a major) temporarily assumed command of the regiment after Colonel William L. Brown was killed. Due to heavy losses the entire III Corps was taken out of active duty during the Maryland Campaign to regain lost numbers. Wheeler and the rest of the III Corps returned to the Army of the Potomac during the battle of Fredericksburg
. In 1863 Wheeler was now promoted to colonel and assumed command of the regiment. He led it into action at the battles of Chancellorsville
and Gettysburg
. At Gettysburg Wheeler was part of J. H. Hobart Ward's
Brigade of David B. Birney's
Division in the vicinity of Devil's Den
. During James Longstreet
's attack, on the second day
, the 20th Indiana was hit hard. While riding on horseback with his men Colonel Wheeler was hit in the temple and killed instantly. His body was returned to Indiana and buried in Maplewood Cemetery in Crown Point
.
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...
. Wheeler's regiment suffered heavy losses at Gettysburg where he was killed in action near Devil's Den
Devil's Den
Devils Den is a boulder-strewn Gettysburg Battlefield hill used by artillery and infantry during the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg, Second Day...
.
Early life
John Wheeler was born in Connecticut but moved to Indiana in 1847. He settled in Lake County, IndianaLake County, Indiana
Lake County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. In 2010, its population was 496,005, making it Indiana's second-most populous county. The county seat is Crown Point. This county is part of Northwest Indiana and the Chicago metropolitan area. The county contains a mix of urban,...
where he worked as a farmer and teacher. He and his father worked at draining swamplands in the region. He was elected County Surveyor in 1853 and later established a newspaper called the Crown Point Register.
Civil War Service
20th Regiment Indiana Infantry
The 20th Indiana Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:*The 20th Indiana Volunteer Infantry was organized at Lafayette, Indiana on July 22, 1861.*Peninsular Campaign...
in 1861 where it was being organized at Lafayette, Indiana
Lafayette, Indiana
Lafayette is a city in and the county seat of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, United States, northwest of Indianapolis. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 67,140. West Lafayette, on the other side of the Wabash River, is home to Purdue University, which has a large impact on...
. He was transferred to eastern Virginia and posted at Fortress Monroe during the battle of Hampton Roads
Battle of Hampton Roads
The Battle of Hampton Roads, often referred to as either the Battle of the Monitor and Merrimack or the Battle of Ironclads, was the most noted and arguably most important naval battle of the American Civil War from the standpoint of the development of navies...
. Wheeler and his regiment joined the III Corps
III Corps (ACW)
There were four formations in the Union Army designated as III Corps during the American Civil War.Three were short-lived:*In the Army of Virginia:**Irvin McDowell ;**James B...
and participated in the Peninsula Campaign and the second Battle of Bull Run
Second Battle of Bull Run
The Second Battle of Bull Run or Second Manassas was fought August 28–30, 1862, as part of the American Civil War. It was the culmination of an offensive campaign waged by Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia against Union Maj. Gen...
. At Bull Run, Wheeler, (now a major) temporarily assumed command of the regiment after Colonel William L. Brown was killed. Due to heavy losses the entire III Corps was taken out of active duty during the Maryland Campaign to regain lost numbers. Wheeler and the rest of the III Corps returned to the Army of the Potomac during the battle of Fredericksburg
Battle of Fredericksburg
The Battle of Fredericksburg was fought December 11–15, 1862, in and around Fredericksburg, Virginia, between General Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army of Northern Virginia and the Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside...
. In 1863 Wheeler was now promoted to colonel and assumed command of the regiment. He led it into action at the battles of Chancellorsville
Battle of Chancellorsville
The Battle of Chancellorsville was a major battle of the American Civil War, and the principal engagement of the Chancellorsville Campaign. It was fought from April 30 to May 6, 1863, in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, near the village of Chancellorsville. Two related battles were fought nearby on...
and 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...
. At Gettysburg Wheeler was part of J. H. Hobart Ward's
J. H. Hobart Ward
John Henry Hobart Ward , most commonly referred to as J.H. Hobart Ward, was a career United States Army soldier who fought in the Mexican–American War and served in the New York state militia...
Brigade of David B. Birney's
David B. Birney
David Bell Birney was a businessman, lawyer, and a Union General in the American Civil War.-Early life:Birney was born in Huntsville, Alabama, the son of an abolitionist from Kentucky, James G. Birney. The Birney family returned to Kentucky in 1833, and James Birney freed his slaves...
Division in the vicinity of Devil's Den
Devil's Den
Devils Den is a boulder-strewn Gettysburg Battlefield hill used by artillery and infantry during the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg, Second Day...
. During James Longstreet
James Longstreet
James Longstreet was one of the foremost Confederate generals of the American Civil War and the principal subordinate to General Robert E. Lee, who called him his "Old War Horse." He served under Lee as a corps commander for many of the famous battles fought by the Army of Northern Virginia in the...
's attack, on the second day
Battle of Gettysburg, Second Day
The Battle of Gettysburg, Second Day was an attempt by Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee to capitalize on his first day's success. He launched the Army of Northern Virginia in multiple Gettsyburg Battlefield attacks on the flanks of the Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by Maj. Gen. George G...
, the 20th Indiana was hit hard. While riding on horseback with his men Colonel Wheeler was hit in the temple and killed instantly. His body was returned to Indiana and buried in Maplewood Cemetery in Crown Point
Crown Point, Indiana
As of the census of 2010, there were 27,317 people and 10,976 households in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 88.20% White, 6.30% African American, 0.20% Native American, 1.80% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 1.90% from other races, and 1.60% from two or more races...
.