Brig. Gen. Gabriel Paul

[jkBluesman]

Brig. Gen. Gabriel René Paul (b. 1813, d. 1886). Born in St. Louis in a family of French immigrants, Paul graduated from West Point in 1834. After serving at the frontier and in the Second Seminole War, he fought in the Mexican-American War, winning a brevet for his bravery at Chapultepec. Returning to frontier duty he was stationed at Fort Fillmore, New Mexico when the Civil War broke out. He stayed loyal to the Union and had to protect Federal property in New Mexico against Confederate sympathizers as well as guarding the frontier against Texan attempts to occupy the territory. At the end of 1861, Paul was promoted to colonel and given command of the 4th New Mexico Infantry. Under Col. Richard Canby Paul and his brigade fought at Valverde against Gen. Henry Sibley on February 21, 1862 and lost. Paul retreated towards Santa Fe, which had to be abandoned eventually but he held out in nearby Fort Union protecting the invasion route to Colorado territory. Relieved by the 1st Colorado volunteers under Col. John Slough, Paul applied for a promotion at the War Department in order to take command of the combined forces. But in the meantime Slough, who was senior to Paul, started a campaign. It resulted in the Union victory at Glorieta Pass, where the Federals captured Sibley’s supply train thus forcing him to retreat to Texas. Paul was sent east in summer and promoted to brigadier general of volunteers in September, which was not confirmed however. After serving in Washington, he received command of the 3rd brigade in the 1st division of the I corps at the end of the year, but arrived only after the battle of Fredericksburg. His brigade saw only little fighting at Chancellorsville, but Paul was reappointed as brigadier general. In the Gettysburg Campaign he led the 1st brigade, 2nd division, I corps, which was attacked from three directions on the battle’s first day while defending Seminary Ridge. Paul was hit by a bullet which struck his right temple an inch and a half behind his eye. It severed the right optic nerve, passed through his head and exited through the left eye removing it. He was left dead on the field but found by Union prisoners who brought him to a surgeon. Paul recovered enough to do minor administrative duties but remained blind on the left eye and almost blind on the right. His disabilities forced him to resign in February 1865. After the war he was placed in charge of the military asylum at Harrodsburg, Kentucky where he served until December 1866. A Resolution of Congress granted him full pay and allowances of brigadier-General on April 12, 1870. Paul died in Washington on May 5, 1886, probably from an epileptic stroke, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Ldr: 3
Tact: 3
Init: 2
Cmd: 2
Cav: 0

Teaches: Flankers

[Drex]

Poor guy, he had some bad breaks.

[Gil R.]

Drex's comment intrigued me, so I read and edited this bio, jumping it ahead of others. All ready to go:

Brig. Gen. Gabriel Rene Paul (b. 1813, d. 1886). Born in St. Louis in a family of French immigrants, Paul graduated from West Point in 1834. After serving at the frontier and in the Second Seminole War, he fought in the Mexican-American War, winning a brevet for his bravery at Chapultepec. Returning to frontier duty, he was stationed at Fort Fillmore, New Mexico when the Civil War broke out. Paul stayed loyal to the Union and had to protect Federal property in New Mexico Territory against Confederate sympathizers and guard the frontier against Texan attempts to occupy the territory. At the end of 1861, Paul was promoted to colonel and given command of the 4th New Mexico Infantry. Under Lt. Col. Richard Canby, Paul and his brigade fought at Valverde against Gen. Henry Sibley on February 21, 1862, a defeat for the Union (and the high point of Sibley’s troubled career). Paul retreated towards Santa Fe, which eventually had to be abandoned, though he held out in nearby Fort Union protecting the invasion route to Colorado Territory. Relieved by the 1st Colorado Volunteers under Col. John Slough, Paul applied for a promotion at the War Department in order to take command of the combined forces. But in the meantime Slough, who was senior to Paul, had started a campaign that in March 1862 resulted in the Union victory at Glorieta Pass and capture of Sibley’s supply train, which forced him to retreat to Texas. Instead, Paul was sent east in summer and promoted to brigadier general of volunteers in September, though after the Senate did not confirm his appointment it expired, necessitating his reappointment the following spring. After serving in Washington, Paul received command of the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, I Corps at the end of the year, but arrived only after the Battle of Fredericksburg and saw little fighting at Chancellorsville in May 1863. At Gettysburg, Paul led the 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, I Corps, which was attacked from three directions on the battle’s first day while defending Seminary Ridge. Paul was hit by a bullet which struck his right temple an inch and a half behind his eye. It severed the right optic nerve, passed through his head and exited through the left eye, leaving him with only limited vision in his right eye and causing brain damage. Instead of resigning, however, Paul continued to serve in a minor administration capacity until February 1865. After the war he was placed in charge of the military asylum at Harrodsburg, Kentucky, where he served until December 1866. A resolution of Congress later enabled Paul, who have been brevetted to brigadier general in recognition of his performance and wounding at Gettysburg, to retire from the army at that rank. Paul died in Washington on May 5, 1886, probably from an epileptic stroke, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. (Bio by Joern Kaesebier)

Ldr: 3
Tact: 3
Init: 2
Cmd: 2
Cav: 0

Start date: 56(?)
“Death” date: 60

Teaches: Bulldogs

[jkBluesman]

ORIGINAL: Gil R.

Drex's comment intrigued me, so I read and edited this bio, jumping it ahead of others. All ready to go:

Brig. Gen. Gabriel Rene Paul (b. 1813, d. 1886). Born in St. Louis in a family of French immigrants, Paul graduated from West Point in 1834. After serving at the frontier and in the Second Seminole War, he fought in the Mexican-American War, winning a brevet for his bravery at Chapultepec. Returning to frontier duty, he was stationed at Fort Fillmore, New Mexico when the Civil War broke out. Paul stayed loyal to the Union and had to protect Federal property in New Mexico Territory against Confederate sympathizers and guard the frontier against Texan attempts to occupy the territory. At the end of 1861, Paul was promoted to colonel and given command of the 4th New Mexico Infantry. Under Lt. Col. Richard Canby, Paul and his brigade fought at Valverde against Gen. Henry Sibley on February 21, 1862, a defeat for the Union (and the high point of Sibley’s troubled career). Paul retreated towards Santa Fe, which eventually had to be abandoned, though he held out in nearby Fort Union protecting the invasion route to Colorado Territory. Relieved by the 1st Colorado Volunteers under Col. John Slough, Paul applied for a promotion at the War Department in order to take command of the combined forces. But in the meantime Slough, who was senior to Paul, had started a campaign that in March 1862 resulted in the Union victory at Glorieta Pass and capture of Sibley’s supply train, which forced him to retreat to Texas. Instead, Paul was sent east in summer and promoted to brigadier general of volunteers in September, though after the Senate did not confirm his appointment it expired, necessitating his reappointment the following spring. After serving in Washington, Paul received command of the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, I Corps at the end of the year, but arrived only after the Battle of Fredericksburg and saw little fighting at Chancellorsville in May 1863. At Gettysburg, Paul led the 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, I Corps, which was attacked from three directions on the battle’s first day while defending Seminary Ridge. Paul was hit by a bullet which struck his right temple an inch and a half behind his eye. It severed the right optic nerve, passed through his head and exited through the left eye, leaving him with only limited vision in his right eye and causing brain damage. Instead of resigning, however, Paul continued to serve in a minor administration capacity until February 1865. After the war he was placed in charge of the military asylum at Harrodsburg, Kentucky, where he served until December 1866. A resolution of Congress later enabled Paul, who have or had? been brevetted to brigadier general in recognition of his performance and wounding at Gettysburg, to retire from the army at that rank. Paul died in Washington on May 5, 1886, probably from an epileptic stroke, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. (Bio by Joern Kaesebier)

Ldr: 3
Tact: 3
Init: 2
Cmd: 2
Cav: 0

Start date: 56(?), maybe 52
“Death” date: 60

Teaches: Bulldogs suits much better