William Buel Franklin

(1823 - 1903)
Home State: Pennsylvania
Command Billet: Commander, Army Corps
Branch of Service: Engineers
Unit: Sixth (VI) Army Corps

see his Battle Report

Before the Antietam Campaign:
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 BGen. 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 MGen. of Volunteers.

In the Antietam Campaign:
He commanded McClellan's Sixth (VI) Army Corps.

The remainder of the War:
He commanded the Left Grand Division at Fredericksburg and led XIX 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, Sources, and other notes:
Source: Heitman, Francis Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army 1789-1903, Washington, US Government Printing Office, 1903.

Birth Date: 2/27/1823    Place of Birth: York, PA
College: US Military Academy, West Point, NY    Graduating Year: 1843    Class Rank: 1
Death Date: 3/8/1903    Death Place: Hartford, CT

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