Joseph Dana Webster
Encyclopedia
Joseph Dana Webster was a United States civil engineer
and soldier most noted for administrative services during the American Civil War
where he served as chief of staff
to both Ulysses S. Grant
and William T. Sherman.
Webster was born in New Hampshire
in 1811. He graduated from Dartmouth College
in 1832 and worked as a civil engineer. He joined the U.S. army in 1838, serving as 2nd lieutenant in the U.S. Topographical Engineers
. He fought in the Mexican–American War
and by 1853 was captain of the U.S. Engineers. Webster resigned from the army in 1854.
A few years later the outbreak of the Civil War brought Webster back into the service of the army. On June 1, 1861 he was appointed major in the U.S. Army Paymaster
s. In September he became chief of staff to Ulysses S. Grant. On February 1, 1862 Webster was appointed colonel of the 1st Illinois Light Artillery Regiment, but remained as Grant's chief of staff through the battles of Belmont
, Fort Henry
, Fort Donelson
, and Shiloh
. On the eve of the first day's fighting at Shiloh, Webster was instrumental in massing the artillery in support of Grant's last line of defense near Pittsburg Landing
. On November 29, 1862 he was promoted to brigadier general
of U.S. volunteers.
In early November 1862, Webster was assigned as the superintendent of railroads in the Department of the Tennessee. He next served as the Chief of Transportation for the Army of the Tennessee, during the siege of Vicksburg, and later for the entire Military Division of Mississippi.
When William T. Sherman became commander of the Military Division of Mississippi he selected General Webster as his chief of staff. Webster served Sherman in this capacity through the Atlanta Campaign
, March to the Sea
and the Carolinas Campaign
. On March 13, 1865 Webster was brevetted to major general of U.S. volunteers and resigned on November 6, 1865. After the war he worked as a collector for the Bureau of Internal Revenue
.
Civil engineer
A civil engineer is a person who practices civil engineering; the application of planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating infrastructures while protecting the public and environmental health, as well as improving existing infrastructures that have been neglected.Originally, a...
and soldier most noted for administrative services 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...
where he served as chief of staff
Chief of Staff
The title, chief of staff, identifies the leader of a complex organization, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a Principal Staff Officer , who is the coordinator of the supporting staff or a primary aide to an important individual, such as a president.In general, a chief of...
to both Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...
and William T. Sherman.
Webster was born in New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
in 1811. He graduated from Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
in 1832 and worked as a civil engineer. He joined the U.S. army in 1838, serving as 2nd lieutenant in the U.S. Topographical Engineers
Corps of Topographical Engineers
The U.S. Army Corps of Topographical Engineers, was separately authorized on 4 July 1838, consisted only of officers, and was used for mapping and the design and construction of federal civil works such as lighthouses and other coastal fortifications and navigational routes. It included such...
. He fought in the Mexican–American 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 by 1853 was captain of the U.S. Engineers. Webster resigned from the army in 1854.
A few years later the outbreak of the Civil War brought Webster back into the service of the army. On June 1, 1861 he was appointed major in the U.S. Army Paymaster
Paymaster
A paymaster often is, but is not required to be, a lawyer . When dealing with commission payments on contracts dealing with large amounts of money , most banks in the United States are very wary of handling such large amounts of money...
s. In September he became chief of staff to Ulysses S. Grant. On February 1, 1862 Webster was appointed colonel of the 1st Illinois Light Artillery Regiment, but remained as Grant's chief of staff through the battles of Belmont
Battle of Belmont
The Battle of Belmont was fought on November 7, 1861, in Mississippi County, Missouri. It was the first combat test in the American Civil War for Brig. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, the future Union Army general in chief and eventual U.S...
, Fort Henry
Battle of Fort Henry
The Battle of Fort Henry was fought on February 6, 1862, in western Tennessee, during the American Civil War. It was the first important victory for the Union and Brig. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant in the Western Theater....
, Fort Donelson
Battle 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...
, and 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...
. On the eve of the first day's fighting at Shiloh, Webster was instrumental in massing the artillery in support of Grant's last line of defense near Pittsburg Landing
Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee
Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee is a historic river landing on the west bank of the Tennessee River in Hardin County, Tennessee. It was named for "Pitts" Tucker who operated a tavern at the site in the years preceding the American Civil War...
. On November 29, 1862 he was promoted to brigadier general
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
of U.S. volunteers.
In early November 1862, Webster was assigned as the superintendent of railroads in the Department of the Tennessee. He next served as the Chief of Transportation for the Army of the Tennessee, during the siege of Vicksburg, and later for the entire Military Division of Mississippi.
When William T. Sherman became commander of the Military Division of Mississippi he selected General Webster as his chief of staff. Webster served Sherman in this capacity through the Atlanta Campaign
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...
, 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...
and the Carolinas Campaign
Carolinas Campaign
The Carolinas Campaign was the final campaign in the Western Theater of the American Civil War. In January 1865, Union Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman advanced north from Savannah, Georgia, through the Carolinas, with the intention of linking up with Union forces in Virginia. The defeat of ...
. On March 13, 1865 Webster was brevetted to major general of U.S. volunteers and resigned on November 6, 1865. After the war he worked as a collector for the Bureau of Internal Revenue
Internal Revenue Service
The Internal Revenue Service is the revenue service of the United States federal government. The agency is a bureau of the Department of the Treasury, and is under the immediate direction of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue...
.