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W. Franklin

W. Franklin

Federal (USA)

Major General

William Buel Franklin

(1823 - 1903)

Home State: Pennsylvania

Education: US Military Academy, West Point, NY, Class of 1843;Class Rank: 1

Command Billet: Commander, Army Corps

Branch of Service: Engineers

Unit: Sixth Army Corps

 

see his Battle Report

Before Antietam

He graduated first in his class from the USMA in 1843, was on engineer duty, served in Kearny's exploration of the Rockies, served in the Mexican war, and just before War, was assigned to oversee the construction of a new dome for the Capitol in Washington, D.C. . In May 1861 he was Colonel of the 12th US Infantry, and was appointed Brigadier General of Volunteers. He commanded the 1st Brigade/3rd Division at First Bull Run, commanded a division in Washington defenses, and commanded VI Corps in the Peninsula campaign. In July 1862 he was promoted to Major General of Volunteers.

On the Campaign

He commanded McClellan's Sixth (VI) Army Corps.

The rest of the War

He commanded the Left Grand Division at Fredericksburg and led 19th Corps in the Red River campaign (wounded).

After the War

He was a businessman (an executive of the Colt Fire Arms Manufacturing Company, serving for 22 years), politician and US commissioner general to the 1888 Paris Exposition.

References & notes

Source: Heitman, Francis Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army 1789-1903, Washington, US Government Printing Office, 1903.

Birth

2/27/1823; York, PA

Death

3/8/1903; Hartford, CT