A. Humphreys

Federal (USA)

Brigadier General

Andrew Atkinson Humphreys

(1810 - 1883)

Home State: Pennsylvania

Education: US Military Academy, West Point, NY, Class of 1831;Class Rank: 13

Command Billet: Commanding Division

Branch of Service: Engineers

Unit: 3rd Division, 5th Corps

see his Battle Report

Before Antietam

After Wst Point he served in the 2nd US Artillery, resigned in 1836, worked as a civilian engineer, and was made Lieutenant in the new Topographical Engineers in 1838. He was promoted to Captain in 1848 and Major in 1861. He accepted a commission as Brigadier General of Volunteers in April 1862.

On the Campaign

His Division was not immediately at Sharpsburg, but arrived the morning of the 18th as ordered. Some time later, Gen McClellan intimated that one of the reasons he did not attack the Confederates on the 18th was because Hunphreys was slow in arriving. Humphreys defended his honor with vigor (see his report).

The rest of the War

He was at Fredericksburg and Gettysburg at the head of the Division, and took horrendous losses. He took the job as Gen Meade's Cheif of Staff in July 1863 and was made Major General of Volunteers. In November of 1864, Humphreys got a chance to command troops again when Maj. Gen. Winfield S. Hancock was wounded, and Humphreys took over the II Corps from him. Humphreys led the corps through to the end of the war.

After the War

He continued in the Army Corps of Engineers, being appointed Chief Engineer and Brigadier General, Regular Army, in 1866. He retired 30 June 1879.

References & notes

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