Joseph Crain Audenried

He was appointed to the US Military Academy from Pennsylvania in July 1857, and graduated 17th in the June class of 1861, being appointed 2nd Lieutenant, 1st US Cavalry on 24 June. He was appointed First Lieutenant, 3rd Cavalry the same day; reorganized with the regiment to be the 6 Cavalry on 3 August 1861. He was on General Tyler's staff at First Bull Run, in the defenses of Washington (attached to the 2nd US Artillery), and was acting assistant adjutant general (AAAG) of Emory's Cavalry Brigade on the Peninsula Campaign in mid-1862. He was appointed Captain and Aide-de-camp (ADC), Staff Corps on 20 August 1862.

He was an aide to Major General Edwin Sumner on the campaign, and is mentioned in the General's Report. He was wounded in action on 17 September 1862 at Antietam. He was brevetted Captain, USA for his service there.

He continued as a staff officer with General Sumner at Fredericksburg, was with General US Grant at Vicksburg, and William Tecumseh Sherman to Atlanta and on the March to the Sea.

He remained in service, with Sherman, for the rest of his life: in the Indian Wars in the West and then in Washington when Sherman became General-in-Chief of the US Army. He was promoted to Captain, 6th Cavalry in July 1866, Lieutenant Colonel (Staff Corps) and ADC to Lt General Sherman in August 1866, and Colonel in 1869.

Basic service dates from Heitman1 and Cullum2. His photograph from the USMA c. 1861, in the collection of Gettysburg College.

Get a more in-depth look at Audenried and his life in a post on behind AotW.

11/06/1839; Pottsville, PA

06/03/1880; Washington, DC; burial in USMA Post Cemetery, West Point, NY