Thomas Algeo Rowley
Encyclopedia
Thomas Algeo Rowley was a Union Army
general in the American Civil War
from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
.
. He served as a captain in the Mexican-American War, mustered in on October 8, 1847, and mustered out on July 18, 1848. Otherwise, he worked as a cabinet maker.
of the 13th Pennsylvania Regiment
from April 25, 1861, to August 6 of the same year. He then became colonel of the 102nd Pennsylvania Regiment. He was wounded at the Battle of Seven Pines
, while leading his regiment in the Army of the Potomac
. He (briefly) led a brigade in VI Corps at the Battle of Fredericksburg
. Promoted to the rank of brigadier general
to rank from November 29, 1862, Rowley next commanded a brigade of I Corps at the Battle of Chancellorsville
. He was acting commander of 3rd Division, I Corps at the beginning of the Battle of Gettysburg
, while Maj. Gen.
Abner Doubleday
was acting corps commander. (Chapman Biddle
led Rowley's brigade.) On July 1, 1863, the brigade suffered heavy casualties confronting Confederates from Maj. Gen. Harry Heth's division. He was thrown from his horse during the retreat. Following a confrontation between Rowley and Brig. Gen.
Lysander Cutler
, Doubleday had the former removed for drunkenness and disobeying orders. Rowley was convicted by a court martial, although some officers testified on his behalf. Although reinstated by order of Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton
, Rowley was assigned only a district command in western Pennsylvania, his home region. Not being given a field command, he resigned his commission on December 29, 1864.
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...
general in 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...
from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
.
Early life
Rowley was born in Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. He served as a captain in the Mexican-American War, mustered in on October 8, 1847, and mustered out on July 18, 1848. Otherwise, he worked as a cabinet maker.
Civil War service
Rowley served as colonelColonel (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 13th Pennsylvania Regiment
13th Pennsylvania Regiment
The 13th Pennsylvania Regiment, also known as The Pennsylvania State Rifle Regiment and Miles's Regiment, was raised March 6, 1776 as a state militia regiment and later for service with the Continental Army. The regiment would see action during the New York Campaign, Battle of Trenton, Battle of...
from April 25, 1861, to August 6 of the same year. He then became colonel of the 102nd Pennsylvania Regiment. He was wounded at the Battle of Seven Pines
Battle of Seven Pines
The Battle of Seven Pines, also known as the Battle of Fair Oaks or Fair Oaks Station, took place on May 31 and June 1, 1862, in Henrico County, Virginia, as part of the Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil War. It was the culmination of an offensive up the Virginia Peninsula by Union Maj. Gen....
, while leading his regiment in the Army of the Potomac
Army of the Potomac
The Army of the Potomac was the major Union Army in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War.-History:The Army of the Potomac was created in 1861, but was then only the size of a corps . Its nucleus was called the Army of Northeastern Virginia, under Brig. Gen...
. He (briefly) led a brigade in VI Corps at 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...
. Promoted to the rank of 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...
to rank from November 29, 1862, Rowley next commanded a brigade of I Corps at the Battle 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...
. He was acting commander of 3rd Division, I Corps at the beginning of the Battle of 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...
, while Maj. Gen.
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...
Abner Doubleday
Abner Doubleday
Abner Doubleday was a career United States Army officer and Union general in the American Civil War. He fired the first shot in defense of Fort Sumter, the opening battle of the war, and had a pivotal role in the early fighting at the Battle of Gettysburg. Gettysburg was his finest hour, but his...
was acting corps commander. (Chapman Biddle
Chapman Biddle
Chapman Biddle was a member of the prominent Biddle family of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who rose to fame as an officer in the Union Army in the American Civil War. He commanded a brigade of infantry at the Battle of Gettysburg.-Early life:Chapman Biddle was born in Pennsylvania on January 22,...
led Rowley's brigade.) On July 1, 1863, the brigade suffered heavy casualties confronting Confederates from Maj. Gen. Harry Heth's division. He was thrown from his horse during the retreat. Following a confrontation between Rowley and Brig. Gen.
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...
Lysander Cutler
Lysander Cutler
Lysander Cutler was an American businessman, educator, politician, and a Union Army General during the American Civil War.-Early years:Cutler was born in Royalston, Massachusetts, the son of a farmer...
, Doubleday had the former removed for drunkenness and disobeying orders. Rowley was convicted by a court martial, although some officers testified on his behalf. Although reinstated by order of Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton
Edwin M. Stanton
Edwin McMasters Stanton was an American lawyer and politician who served as Secretary of War under the Lincoln Administration during the American Civil War from 1862–1865...
, Rowley was assigned only a district command in western Pennsylvania, his home region. Not being given a field command, he resigned his commission on December 29, 1864.
Postbellum career
Rowley later served as a U.S. marshal and practiced law. He died in Pittsburgh and is buried there in Allegheny Cemetery.See also
- List of American Civil War generals
Further reading
- Krumwiede, John F. Disgrace at Gettysburg: The Arrest and Court-martial of Brigadier General Thomas A. Rowley, USA. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co., 2006. ISBN 978-0-7864-2309-5.