Robert S. Granger
Encyclopedia
Robert Seaman Granger was a career officer in the United States Army
, reaching the brevet
rank of major general
in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
.
. He graduated from the United States Military Academy
, placing 28th in the class of 1838. Granger became a first lieutenant of infantry in 1839. He served as an officer in the Seminole War
, and was assistant instructor of tactics at West Point in 1843–44. During the Mexican-American War, Granger was promoted to captain on September 8, 1847. When the war ended, he was assigned to a series of posts on the Texas
frontier
.
With the outbreak of the Civil War and the secession
of Texas in early 1861, he was captured with Major Sibley's command on April 27. He was paroled with the stipulation that he not serve in the field again until August 1862, when he was formally exchanged. During this period, he was promoted to major
on September 9, 1861, and organized an infantry brigade
at Mansfield, Ohio
. He was the commandant of the troops at Louisville, Kentucky
.
On September 1, 1862, following his exchange, he was commissioned brigadier general
of Kentucky
volunteers, and commanded the Kentucky state troops. He saw action in a series of small engagements—Shepherdsville, Lebanon Junction, and Lawrenceburg, for which he was brevetted as a colonel
in the Regular Army
. He received his commission as brigadier general of U. S. volunteers on October 20, 1862, and commanded a division
. In 1863, he returned to administrative duty, commanding the Districts of Nashville and Middle Tennessee. In early 1864, he superintended the defenses and organized the depot at Nashville. He was then assigned to the command of the District of Northern Alabama, and was engaged in the capture of General Roddy's camp, in the expulsion of Joseph Wheeler
from middle Tennessee, and in the defense against Nathan Bedford Forrest
's raid. In October 1864, he defended Decatur, Alabama
against John B. Hood's army, made a sortie on the Confederate siege-works, and received the brevet of brigadier general in the Regular Army for these services.
He commanded in northern Alabama in 1865 during the occupation. He was brevetted major general in the Regular Army for his services during the war and was promoted lieutenant colonel
on June 12, 1865 and colonel on August 16, 1871. Granger was placed on the retired list January 1, 1873.
He died in Washington, D.C.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, reaching the 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...
rank of major general
Major general (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant 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...
.
Biography
Granger was born in Zanesville, OhioZanesville, Ohio
Zanesville is a city in and the county seat of Muskingum County, Ohio, United States. The population was 25,586 at the 2000 census.Zanesville was named after Ebenezer Zane, who had constructed Zane's Trace, a pioneer road through present-day Ohio...
. He graduated from 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...
, placing 28th in the class of 1838. Granger became a first lieutenant of infantry in 1839. He served as an officer in the Seminole War
Seminole Wars
The Seminole Wars, also known as the Florida Wars, were three conflicts in Florida between the Seminole — the collective name given to the amalgamation of various groups of native Americans and Black people who settled in Florida in the early 18th century — and the United States Army...
, and was assistant instructor of tactics at West Point in 1843–44. During the Mexican-American War, Granger was promoted to captain on September 8, 1847. When the war ended, he was assigned to a series of posts on the Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
frontier
Frontier
A frontier is a political and geographical term referring to areas near or beyond a boundary. 'Frontier' was absorbed into English from French in the 15th century, with the meaning "borderland"--the region of a country that fronts on another country .The use of "frontier" to mean "a region at the...
.
With the outbreak of the Civil War and the secession
Secession
Secession is the act of withdrawing from an organization, union, or especially a political entity. Threats of secession also can be a strategy for achieving more limited goals.-Secession theory:...
of Texas in early 1861, he was captured with Major Sibley's command on April 27. He was paroled with the stipulation that he not serve in the field again until August 1862, when he was formally exchanged. During this period, he was promoted to major
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
on September 9, 1861, and organized an infantry 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...
at Mansfield, Ohio
Mansfield, Ohio
Mansfield is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Richland County. The municipality is located in north-central Ohio in the western foothills of the Allegheny Plateau, approximately southwest of Cleveland and northeast of Columbus....
. He was the commandant of the troops at Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
.
On September 1, 1862, following his exchange, he was commissioned 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...
of Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
volunteers, and commanded the Kentucky state troops. He saw action in a series of small engagements—Shepherdsville, Lebanon Junction, and Lawrenceburg, for which he was brevetted as a 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...
in the Regular Army
Regular Army
The Regular Army of the United States was and is the successor to the Continental Army as the country's permanent, professional military establishment. Even in modern times the professional core of the United States Army continues to be called the Regular Army...
. He received his commission as brigadier general of U. S. volunteers on October 20, 1862, and commanded a division
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
. In 1863, he returned to administrative duty, commanding the Districts of Nashville and Middle Tennessee. In early 1864, he superintended the defenses and organized the depot at Nashville. He was then assigned to the command of the District of Northern Alabama, and was engaged in the capture of General Roddy's camp, in the expulsion of Joseph Wheeler
Joseph Wheeler
Joseph Wheeler was an American military commander and politician. He has the rare distinction of serving as a general during war time for two opposing forces: first as a noted cavalry general in the Confederate States Army in the 1860s during the American Civil War, and later as a general in the...
from middle Tennessee, and in the defense against Nathan Bedford Forrest
Nathan Bedford Forrest
Nathan Bedford Forrest was a lieutenant general in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. He is remembered both as a self-educated, innovative cavalry leader during the war and as a leading southern advocate in the postwar years...
's raid. In October 1864, he defended Decatur, Alabama
Decatur, Alabama
Decatur is a city in Limestone and Morgan Counties in the U.S. state of Alabama. The city, affectionately known as "The River City", is located in Northern Alabama on the banks of Wheeler Lake, along the Tennessee River. It is the largest city and county seat of Morgan County...
against John B. Hood's army, made a sortie on the Confederate siege-works, and received the brevet of brigadier general in the Regular Army for these services.
He commanded in northern Alabama in 1865 during the occupation. He was brevetted major general in the Regular Army for his services during the war and was promoted lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
on June 12, 1865 and colonel on August 16, 1871. Granger was placed on the retired list January 1, 1873.
He died in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
See also
- List of American Civil War generals