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John Reynolds
Civil War Encyclopedia >> People - Union Military
| August 29, 1862 August 30, 1862 |
Second Manassas[CS]
Second Bull Run[US] General John Pope [US] lost to General Robert E. Lee[CS]. General James Longstreet's [CS] 28,000 man assault on August 30 was the largest simultaneous assault of the war in this Confederate victory. Union losses 13,830 Confederate losses 8,350 Also includes: Manassas Plains, Gainesville |
Virginia |
| James Longstreet | ||
| Robert E. Lee | ||
| Stonewall Jackson | ||
| Army of Northern Virginia | ||
| Second Manassas - Second Bull Run | ||
| Fitz-John Porter | ||
| Northern Virginia Campaign | ||
| John Pope | ||
| Gouverneur K. Warren | ||
| Army of Virginia | ||
| Joseph Hooker | ||
| Samuel Heintzelman | ||
| December 13, 1862 | Battle of Fredericksburg
General Ambrose Burnside and the Army of the Potomac is soundly beaten by Lee's Army of North Virginia. |
|
| Army of Northern Virginia | ||
| Army of the Potomac | ||
| Robert E. Lee | ||
| Ambrose Burnside | ||
| Lafayette McLaws | ||
| Fredericksburg | ||
| William B. Franklin | ||
| Edwin Vose Sumner | ||
| Jubal Anderson Early | ||
| Joseph Hooker | ||
| May 1, 1863 May 4, 1863 |
Battle of Chancellorsville
General "Fighting Joe" Hooker's Army of the Potomac is defeated by Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia as it crosses the Rappahannock on the way to Richmond Union: 17,268 Confederate: 12,821 |
Virginia |
| Robert E. Lee | ||
| Joseph Hooker | ||
| Bloodiest Civil War battles | ||
| Stonewall Jackson | ||
| Army of Northern Virginia | ||
| Army of the Potomac | ||
| Lafayette McLaws | ||
| Chancellorsville | ||
| Darius Couch | ||
| George Stoneman | ||
| July 1, 1863 July 3, 1863 |
Battle of Gettysburg
General Robert E. Lee [CS] advances into Pennsylvania where he meets George Meade [US]. First battling north of the city, by the second day Union forces had retreated south, forming a strong line as men arrived almost continuously. On the third day, the infamous Pickett's Charge marked the end of the Confederates hope for a victory The bloodiest three days in American history |
Pennsylvania |
| Bloodiest Civil War battles | ||
| Robert E. Lee | ||
| John Bell Hood | ||
| James Longstreet | ||
| George Meade | ||
| Army of Northern Virginia | ||
| Army of the Potomac | ||
| J. E. B. Stuart | ||
| Lafayette McLaws | ||
| Winfield Scott Hancock | ||
| George Armstrong Custer | ||
| Battle of Gettysburg | ||
| Richard Ewell | ||
| George Pickett | ||
| The Gettysburg Campaign | ||
| Early action at Herbst Woods | ||
| James Archer | ||
| George Armstrong Custer | ||
| July 1, 1863 | General John Reynolds is killed west of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Less than a month earlier, Abraham Lincoln had offered him command of the Army of the Potomac | |
| Generals Who Died In the Civil War | ||
| Gettysburg Chronology, July 1, 1863 | ||
| Battle of Gettysburg |
John Reynolds
Before the Civil War
Born on September 21, 1820, John Reynolds was nominated for West Point by future U. S. President James Buchanan when Reynolds was seventeen and attending the Lancaster County Academy in 1837. One of three men in his family that became commanding officers, Reynolds graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1841. During the Mexican-American War he served under Zachary Taylor, fighting at Monterrey and Buena Vista. During the 1859 Utah War, Reynolds served under Albert Sidney Johnson. In 1860 Reynolds assumed command of the cadets at West Point.
During the Civil War
Lieutenant Colonel John Reynolds was placed in charge of a regiment and reassigned to the Union's North Carolina coastal force. Before the force under Ambrose Burnside left, George McCall tapped Reynolds (now a Brigadier General) for his Pennsylvania Reserves. His fellow commanders in the Pennsylvania Reserves were George Meade and Edward O. C. Ord. In early 1862, Reynolds not only trained his troops near Fredericksburg, he became the highly respected provost of the city.
From Fredericksburg Reynolds and his command sailed to White House Landing on June 9th. Arriving at the east end of the Richmond and York Railroad on June 14, 1862, Reynolds advanced to Tunstall Station only to find it in flames, courtesy of J. E. B. Stuart. The Confederate cavalry had set fire to the depot earlier in the day during Stuart's Ride around McClellan. At the Battle of Ellison Mill, Reynolds During the Battle of Gaines Mill on June 27, 1862, Reynolds and a majority of his command were either killed or captured. Reynold's brigade was chosen for rear guard, but Reynolds fell asleep and was captured at Boatswain's Swamp by men under Daniel Harvey Hill. He was taken to the infamous Libby Prison in Richmond. Exchanged in August, 1862, Reynolds did not fight during Second Bull Run.
Returning to Fredericksburg, John Reynolds commanded the I Corps of the Army of the Potomac, under William Franklin in the Left Grand Division. His position, on the extreme left flank, put him up against Powell Hill. Although the battle was a Union disaster, one of his division commanders, George Meade, successfully crossed the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad tracks, before being turned backed by a massive Confederate counterattack. Reynolds is often cited for his failure to support Meade's attack, however, at the time Meade requested support General David Birney was in operational command.
Joseph Hooker did not commit the I Corps to battle during Chancellorsville. Following Chancellorsville, he become commander of the Pennsylvania Reserve, a home guard intended to protect the state from a possible Confederate invasion. In Edward J. Nichols book, Toward Gettysburg: A Biography of General John F. Reynolds when Abraham Lincoln was looking for a new commanding general for the Army of the Potomac in June, 1863, John Reynolds was his first choice. In a private meeting on June 2, Reynolds told Lincoln he would do it so long as Lincoln protected him from political pressure. Lincoln knew he could not do this, so Reynolds refused the command. Less than a year later Lincoln would agree to the same demand made by Ulysses S. Grant.
At Gettysburg
From his headquarters in Taneytown, Maryland, commander George Meade asked John Reynolds to assume command of the hastily formed Left Wing of the Army of the Potomac on June 30, 1863. Reynolds and Meade had a long-term relationship that included Meade serving under Reynolds during the Seven Day Retreat. With Powell Hill marching on John Buford's defensive lines west of Gettysburg, Reynolds arrived in the town, found Buford and rode to the Seminary Ridge. After viewing the oncoming Confederate threat (two brigades under James Archer and Joe Davis), Reynolds ordered Buford to prepare his men to withdraw as the I Corps arrived.
As the First Division of the I Corps arrived, Reynolds directed the 2nd Brigade north of the Chambersburg Pike to replace Col. William Gamble and the 1st Brigade to the south of the Pike to replace Col. Thomas Devin. The 1st, an all-Western brigade, went into battle formation (changed from a column to a line) near the Lutheran Seminary and advanced prepared to fight. Reynolds urged the 2nd Wisconsin Regiment (Iron Brigade) on as they entered Herbst Woods. As Reynolds turned to look for the next regiment a Minié-ball struck him from behind and he died almost instantly. Abner Doubleday assumed command of the I Corps for the remainder of the day, but was replaced by John Newton that evening and Doubleday returned to divisional command.
Links appearing on this page:
Before the Civil War
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During the Civil War
Lieutenant Colonel John Reynolds was placed in charge of a regiment and reassigned to the Union's North Carolina coastal force. Before the force under Ambrose Burnside left, George McCall tapped Reynolds (now a Brigadier General) for his Pennsylvania Reserves. His fellow commanders in the Pennsylvania Reserves were George Meade and Edward O. C. Ord. In early 1862, Reynolds not only trained his troops near Fredericksburg, he became the highly respected provost of the city.
From Fredericksburg Reynolds and his command sailed to White House Landing on June 9th. Arriving at the east end of the Richmond and York Railroad on June 14, 1862, Reynolds advanced to Tunstall Station only to find it in flames, courtesy of J. E. B. Stuart. The Confederate cavalry had set fire to the depot earlier in the day during Stuart's Ride around McClellan. At the Battle of Ellison Mill, Reynolds During the Battle of Gaines Mill on June 27, 1862, Reynolds and a majority of his command were either killed or captured. Reynold's brigade was chosen for rear guard, but Reynolds fell asleep and was captured at Boatswain's Swamp by men under Daniel Harvey Hill. He was taken to the infamous Libby Prison in Richmond. Exchanged in August, 1862, Reynolds did not fight during Second Bull Run.
Returning to Fredericksburg, John Reynolds commanded the I Corps of the Army of the Potomac, under William Franklin in the Left Grand Division. His position, on the extreme left flank, put him up against Powell Hill. Although the battle was a Union disaster, one of his division commanders, George Meade, successfully crossed the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad tracks, before being turned backed by a massive Confederate counterattack. Reynolds is often cited for his failure to support Meade's attack, however, at the time Meade requested support General David Birney was in operational command.
Joseph Hooker did not commit the I Corps to battle during Chancellorsville. Following Chancellorsville, he become commander of the Pennsylvania Reserve, a home guard intended to protect the state from a possible Confederate invasion. In Edward J. Nichols book, Toward Gettysburg: A Biography of General John F. Reynolds when Abraham Lincoln was looking for a new commanding general for the Army of the Potomac in June, 1863, John Reynolds was his first choice. In a private meeting on June 2, Reynolds told Lincoln he would do it so long as Lincoln protected him from political pressure. Lincoln knew he could not do this, so Reynolds refused the command. Less than a year later Lincoln would agree to the same demand made by Ulysses S. Grant.
At Gettysburg
From his headquarters in Taneytown, Maryland, commander George Meade asked John Reynolds to assume command of the hastily formed Left Wing of the Army of the Potomac on June 30, 1863. Reynolds and Meade had a long-term relationship that included Meade serving under Reynolds during the Seven Day Retreat. With Powell Hill marching on John Buford's defensive lines west of Gettysburg, Reynolds arrived in the town, found Buford and rode to the Seminary Ridge. After viewing the oncoming Confederate threat (two brigades under James Archer and Joe Davis), Reynolds ordered Buford to prepare his men to withdraw as the I Corps arrived.
As the First Division of the I Corps arrived, Reynolds directed the 2nd Brigade north of the Chambersburg Pike to replace Col. William Gamble and the 1st Brigade to the south of the Pike to replace Col. Thomas Devin. The 1st, an all-Western brigade, went into battle formation (changed from a column to a line) near the Lutheran Seminary and advanced prepared to fight. Reynolds urged the 2nd Wisconsin Regiment (Iron Brigade) on as they entered Herbst Woods. As Reynolds turned to look for the next regiment a Minié-ball struck him from behind and he died almost instantly. Abner Doubleday assumed command of the I Corps for the remainder of the day, but was replaced by John Newton that evening and Doubleday returned to divisional command.
Links appearing on this page:
Abraham Lincoln
Albert Sidney Johnson
Ambrose Burnside
Army of the Potomac
Battle of Ellison Mill
Battle of Gaines Mill
Daniel Harvey Hill
Edward O. C. Ord
Fredericksburg
George Meade
Herbst Woods
J. E. B. Stuart
James Archer
James Buchanan
Joseph Hooker
Powell Hill
Ride around McClellan
Second Bull Run
Seven Day Retreat
Ulysses S. Grant
Utah War
West Point
Zachary Taylor
Civil War Encyclopedia >> People - Union Military
John Reynolds was last changed on - September 14, 2009
John Reynolds was added on - November 15, 2006
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