Brig. Gen. Frank Wheaton

[jkBluesman]

Brig. Gen. Frank Wheaton (b. 1833, d. 1903). A solid brigadier Wheaton assumed command of a division at least two times before he finally got command of his own. Born in Providence, Rhode Island he attended Brown University but left college without grade to take a position with the Mexican-American Boundary Commission, where he worked for the next five years. Then he was commissioned as first lieutenant of the 1st U.S. Cavalry. He participated in Albert Sydney Johnston’s Utah expedition and was promoted to captain by early 1861. At the outbreak of the Civil War he returned home and became lieutenant colonel of the 2nd Rhode Island Infantry. At First Bull Run on July 21 the regiment suffered heavy casualties and lost its commander, Col. John Slocum. Wheaton followed him and led the regiment through the Peninsular Campaign the next year. For his actions in the Battle of Williamsburg he was commanded by his superiors. After the Federal retreat north his unit participated in the Maryland Campaign but was not engaged at Antietam. Wheaton was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers nevertheless on November 29, 1862. He received command of the 3rd brigade, 3rd division, VI corps and led it at Fredericksburg in December and in May of 1863, when the whole corps was sent there to threaten the Confederate rear at Chancellorsville. The flanking march was stopped at Salem Church on May 3 and the Federals had to withdraw. At Gettysburg, Wheaton led the whole division when Gen. John Newton was temporary assigned to lead the I corps on July 2. Wheaton returned to his brigade for the operations in Virginia the same fall and winter. Under a new division commander, Gen. George W. Getty, he fought in the Wilderness on May 5 and 6, 1864. When Getty was wounded on the second day Wheaton took command of the division. Reverted to brigade command again he fought in the remaining battles of the Overland Campaign. In July, his brigade was part of the force sent to Washington to defend the capital against Gen. Jubal Early’s raid. It stayed in the Shenandoah Valley and fought in Gen. Philip Sheridan’s campaign. Wheaton’s performance during the victory at Third Winchester on September 19 brought him promotion to division command and a brevet as major general. During the final stages of the siege at Petersburg Wheaton led his men against Fort Fisher on April 2, 1865. The breakthrough there led to the Confederate retreat along the Appomattox River. They surrendered at Appomattox Court House a weak later, ending the war in Virginia. After the war Wheaton remained in the army. In 1873, Wheaton led the cavalry against the Modoc tribe in California but was defeated in the First Battle of the Stronghold. He was relieved of field command and peace talks started ending with the murder of Gen. Edward Canby. Wheaton served on desk duty until 1897 when he retired from the army at the rank of major general. After his death in 1903 he was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. His father-in-law was Samuel Cooper, adjutant general of the Confederate Army.

Ldr: 3
Tact: 4
Init: 3
Cmd: 5
Cav: 0

Teaches: Flankers

[Gil R.]

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