Alexander Stewart Webb

After graduating from West Point he saw combat in the Seminole war with the 2nd US Artillery, and was an instructor at West Point. In May 1861 he was promoted to Captain, and assigned to the 11th US Infantry. In September he took a commission as Major of Volunteers in the 1st Rhode Island Artillery. He was appointed Lt Colonel/Assistant Inspector General (AIG) in the Regular Army in August 1862, and was on the V Corps staff.

He was Gen Porter's V Corps Chief of Staff on the Maryland Campaign.

He was promoted to Brigadier General in June 1863, and took command of the 2nd Brigade, Gibbon's Division, of Hancock's 2nd Corps. On July 3, 1863, during the 3rd day's battle at Gettysburg, Webb's Brigade was posted in the vicinity of the copse of trees which was the focal point of the famous Pickett's charge. His command lost 451 men killed and wounded in the encounter, Webb among the wounded, and was awarded the Medal of Honor for his service in that action. He was very seriously wounded at Spotsylvania, Va. in May 1864, and did not return to duty until January 1865, when he became chief of staff to General George G. Meade.

He was mustered out of Volunteer service in 1866, and assigned as Lt Colonel to the 44th US Infantry, transferring to the 5th US in 1869. He also taught again at West Point. He retired from the Army in 1870. He was then President of the College of the City of New York.

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

2/15/1835; New York, NY

2/12/1911; Riverdale, NY; burial in USMA, West Point, NY