General John Sedgwick

(en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Sedgwick)

My hero is my great uncle Major General John Sedgwick. I chose him because he was a charismatic, caring, and courageous general during the Civil War and Sedgwick showed optimism in times of hardship. All of his men liked him, and they called him “Uncle John”. He was a role model for his men. He was very brave and many soldiers looked up to him.

He was a Major General for the Union and he lead the IV Corps the two biggest battles he took part in were the Battle of Antietam and the Battle of the Spotsylvania Court House. These battles were big in the Civil War against the Confederates. Sedgwick was a very positive and a good leader, who helped win many battles in the Civil War.

Maj. Gen. John Sedgwick was a teacher before he was a solider. He lived in Cornwall Connecticut and attended the United States Military Academy. After he graduated he was commissioned a Lieutenant in the artillery branch and fought in the Seminole War and got two brevet promotions. In 1860 he commanded an expedition to build a fort on the Platte River and that fort is now Colorado. That’s contributions to our country.

General John Sedgwick was a great man a did good for his country. At the Battle of the Spotsylvania Court House, Sedgwick was keeping his men in a field a couple hundred yards from Confederate sharpshooters. His adviser was telling him to fallback. Then Sedgwick said “they couldn’t hit an elephant from here.” Right as he said that he was killed by a shot in the back of the head. His loss was hard on his men and many other generals. Even Robert E. Lee expressed his sorrow to the army for his death. Maj. Gen. John Sedgwick was the highest ranked general that died in the Civil War and this was hard for the Union because he was a good friend and a great general.

Sources:

“General John Sedgwick” Wikimedia foundation.inc
1/19/10. 3/10 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Sedgwick

"Major General John Sedgwick".
mycivilwar.com. Genealogy.Inc
March/8/10. 3/10
Www.mycivilwar.com/leaders/sedgwick_john.htm