Milo Smith Hascall
Encyclopedia
Milo Smith Hascall was an American
soldier, banker, and real estate executive who served as a general in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
.
. In 1846 he moved to Goshen, Indiana
, where he clerked in a store and taught school. Two years later, he was appointed as a cadet at the United States Military Academy
, graduating in 1852. He was assigned as a second lieutenant in the 2nd U.S. Artillery and was stationed in New England doing garrison duty in Newport Harbor, Rhode Island. After two years' service in the Regular Army, he resigned his commission.
Hascall went back to Goshen, where he became a lawyer and filled various political offices. He also was a railroad contractor, district attorney, and the clerk of the county courts. He practiced law in Goshen, Indiana, from 1855 till 1861, serving as prosecuting attorney of Elkhart and Lagrange counties from 1856 till 1858, and school examiner and clerk of courts from 1859 till 1861.
to General Thomas A. Morris
, with the rank of captain, and assisted in organizing six volunteer regiments. On June 12, 1861, he was made colonel
of the 17th Indiana Infantry and took part in the successful West Virginia campaign under Major General George B. McClellan
. In December 1861, he was ordered to Louisville, Kentucky, and placed in command of a brigade consisting of the 17th Indiana, 6th Ohio, 43d Ohio, and 15th Indiana
regiments, assigned to the division commanded by General William "Bull" Nelson. Later that month, he was given charge of a brigade in Thomas J. Wood
’s division of Don Carlos Buell
’s forces in the Army of the Cumberland
. His troops arrived at Shiloh
the day after fighting ended, but did take part in the Siege of Corinth
.
Hascall was commissioned as a brigadier general
of volunteers on April 25, 1862. Having been transferred to the Army of the Cumberland
, he was put in command of a brigade
which fought through the Kentucky Campaign. He continued to serve in Tennessee through March 1863. During the Battle of Stones River
(December 31, 1862 to January 3, 1863), he assumed command of the 1st Division when General Wood was wounded. During the battle, Hascall led reinforcements to the Round Forest where he took charge of the defense of that place and decided it had to be held at all costs. After the battle he was sent to Indianapolis, Indiana
, to take command of the District of Indiana, charged with returning deserters from Ohio, Illinois, and Indiana.
He then was transferred to the Army of the Ohio
and placed in command of the 3rd Division in the XXIII Corps
. Later that year, he took part in the battles the defense of Knoxville (November to December, 1863).
The next year Hascall commanded the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, XXIII Corps for the first part of the Atlanta Campaign
. In May he assumed command of the 2nd Division after Henry M. Judah
was relieved of command. Hascall led the division throughout the rest of Atlanta Campaign.
He was buried at Forest Home Cemetery, in Forest Park
, Chicago.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soldier, banker, and real estate executive who served as a general in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
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...
.
Early life and career
Milo S. Hascall was born in LeRoy in Genesee County, New YorkGenesee County, New York
Genesee County is a county located in Western New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 60,079. Its name is from the Seneca Indian word Gen-nis'-hee-yo meaning "The Beautiful Valley." Its county seat is Batavia.- History :...
. In 1846 he moved to Goshen, Indiana
Goshen, Indiana
Goshen is a city in and the county seat of Elkhart County, Indiana, United States. It is the smaller of the two principal cities of the Elkhart-Goshen Metropolitan Statistical Area, which in turn is part of the South Bend-Elkhart-Mishawaka Combined Statistical Area. It is located in the northern...
, where he clerked in a store and taught school. Two years later, he was appointed as a cadet at 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...
, graduating in 1852. He was assigned as a second lieutenant in the 2nd U.S. Artillery and was stationed in New England doing garrison duty in Newport Harbor, Rhode Island. After two years' service in the Regular Army, he resigned his commission.
Hascall went back to Goshen, where he became a lawyer and filled various political offices. He also was a railroad contractor, district attorney, and the clerk of the county courts. He practiced law in Goshen, Indiana, from 1855 till 1861, serving as prosecuting attorney of Elkhart and Lagrange counties from 1856 till 1858, and school examiner and clerk of courts from 1859 till 1861.
Civil War service
At the outbreak of the Civil War, he enlisted as a private, but was soon appointed aide-de-campAide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to General Thomas A. Morris
Thomas A. Morris
Thomas Armstrong Morris was an American railroad executive and civil engineer from Indiana and a soldier, serving as a brigadier general in the Union Army during the American Civil War...
, with the rank of captain, and assisted in organizing six volunteer regiments. On June 12, 1861, he was made 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 17th Indiana Infantry and took part in the successful West Virginia campaign under Major General George B. McClellan
George B. McClellan
George Brinton McClellan was a major general during the American Civil War. He organized the famous Army of the Potomac and served briefly as the general-in-chief of the Union Army. Early in the war, McClellan played an important role in raising a well-trained and organized army for the Union...
. In December 1861, he was ordered to Louisville, Kentucky, and placed in command of a brigade consisting of the 17th Indiana, 6th Ohio, 43d Ohio, and 15th Indiana
15th Regiment Indiana Infantry
The 15th Regiment Indiana Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 15th Indiana Infantry was organized at Lafayette, Indiana for a one year enlistment in May 1861...
regiments, assigned to the division commanded by General William "Bull" Nelson. Later that month, he was given charge of a brigade in Thomas J. Wood
Thomas J. Wood
Thomas John Wood was a career United States Army officer and a Union general during the American Civil War.-Early life and career:...
’s division of Don Carlos Buell
Don Carlos Buell
Don Carlos Buell was a career United States Army officer who fought in the Seminole War, the Mexican-American War, and the American Civil War. Buell led Union armies in two great Civil War battles—Shiloh and Perryville. The nation was angry at his failure to defeat the outnumbered...
’s forces in the Army of the Cumberland
Army of the Cumberland
The Army of the Cumberland was one of the principal Union armies in the Western Theater during the American Civil War. It was originally known as the Army of the Ohio.-History:...
. His troops arrived at 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 day after fighting ended, but did take part in the Siege of Corinth
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:...
.
Hascall was commissioned as a 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 volunteers on April 25, 1862. Having been transferred to the Army of the Cumberland
Army of the Cumberland
The Army of the Cumberland was one of the principal Union armies in the Western Theater during the American Civil War. It was originally known as the Army of the Ohio.-History:...
, he was put in command of a brigade
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
which fought through the Kentucky Campaign. He continued to serve in Tennessee through March 1863. During the Battle of Stones River
Battle of Stones River
The Battle of Stones River or Second Battle of Murfreesboro , was fought from December 31, 1862, to January 2, 1863, in Middle Tennessee, as the culmination of the Stones River Campaign in the Western Theater of the American Civil War...
(December 31, 1862 to January 3, 1863), he assumed command of the 1st Division when General Wood was wounded. During the battle, Hascall led reinforcements to the Round Forest where he took charge of the defense of that place and decided it had to be held at all costs. After the battle he was sent to Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, to take command of the District of Indiana, charged with returning deserters from Ohio, Illinois, and Indiana.
He then was transferred to the Army of the Ohio
Army of the Ohio
The Army of the Ohio was the name of two Union armies in the American Civil War. The first army became the Army of the Cumberland and the second army was created in 1863.-History:...
and placed in command of the 3rd Division in the XXIII Corps
XXIII Corps (ACW)
XXIII Corps was a corps of the Union Army during the American Civil War. It served in the Western Theater as part of the Army of the Ohio.The corps was organized in April 1863 by order of the departmental commander, Ambrose E. Burnside...
. Later that year, he took part in the battles the defense of Knoxville (November to December, 1863).
The next year Hascall commanded the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, XXIII Corps for the first part of 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...
. In May he assumed command of the 2nd Division after Henry M. Judah
Henry M. Judah
Henry Moses Judah was a career officer in the United States Army, serving during the Mexican-American War and American Civil War...
was relieved of command. Hascall led the division throughout the rest of Atlanta Campaign.
Postbellum career
He resigned on October 27, 1864, and returned to Goshen, where he engaged in banking, but later entered the real-estate business in Chicago, Illinois.He was buried at Forest Home Cemetery, in Forest Park
Forest Park, Illinois
Forest Park is a village in Cook County, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago in the United States. The population was 15,688 at the 2000 census...
, Chicago.
See also
- List of American Civil War generals