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Maj. Gen. Richard J. Oglesby (b. 1824, d. 1899) An early commander of Federal troops, Richard James “Uncle Dick” Oglesby was out of the army by the end of the Civil War, but still serving his state as governor of Illinois. Born in Oldham County, Kentucky, July 25, 1824, Oglesby survived a cholera epidemic which took the lives of his parents and siblings. Oglesby, reportedly was turned against the institution of slavery when he saw the family’s servants being sold. Oglesby went to Decatur, Illinois, to live with an uncle. Working a number of different jobs as a youth, Oglesby saved up enough money to study law. He was admitted to the state bar in 1845. In the war, he joined an Illinois volunteer unit as a lieutenant and participated in Winfield Scott’s Mexico City campaign. In 1849, he went west to California in the Gold Rush, but was back in Illinois within two years. When the Republican Party was formed, Oglesby became one of the charter members. In 1858, he ran for congress. In 1860, he waged a successful campaign for Illinois state senate. He resigned his seat in 1861 to become colonel of the 8th Illinois Infantry. By the end of 1861, Oglesby commanded a brigade under Brig. Gen. U.S. Grant in the District of Southeastern Missouri. Oglesby’s men got their first contact with the Confederates while chasing Jeff Thompson’s “Swamp Rats” in Southeastern Missouri. His unit became the First Brigade of Brig. Gen. John McClernard’s First Division. At the Battle of Fort Donelson, his brigade was the first one hit during the Confederate attack out of the fort Feb. 15, 1862. Oglesby’s men held until about 10 a.m. before having to fall back as they ran out of ammunition. Oglesby’s brigade received ammunition and reformed, helping to stop the Confederate advance and regain some of the lost ground. The siege was continued and the Confederates were forced to surrender the next day. For his role in the successful capture of the forts, Oglesby was promoted to brigadier general March 22, 1862. While the Army of the Tennessee, as the force now was named, moved south, Oglesby remained as the post commander at Fort Donelson. Oglesby would not return to combat until the Battle of Corinth, Mississippi, Oct. 3-4, 1862. Commanding a brigade in the division of Brig. Gen. T.A. Davies in the Army of West Tennessee, Oglesby was severely wounded during the Federal victory, Oct. 3. He was hit with a ball under his left arm which passed through his lungs and lodged near his spine. It could not be removed and Oglesby hovered near death for some time. He finally recovered enough to return to duty in the spring of 1863. In March of 1863, Oglesby was promoted to major general of volunteers to rank from Nov. 29, 1862. During the Vicksburg campaign, Oglesby commanded the left wing of the XVI Corps (Maj. Gen. Stephen Hurlbut). After the successful conclusion of that campaign, Oglesby tried to resign, citing his wound as the reason. Instead, he was granted a leave of absence and he went home. From December of 1863 through May of 1864, he served as president of a court-martial in Washington, D.C. Realizing he could not return to field duty, he formally resigned his commission May 29, 1864, to run for governor of Illinois on the Republican ticket. Oglesby, an ally of Lincoln, won election. He was visiting the president, D.C. April 14, 1865, shortly before he went to Ford’s Theater and was at his bedside when he died. Oglesby rode on the funeral train back to Illinois. He served one term as governor, but was called back to run in 1872. On a political deal, he ran for governor, won, and then was selected to fill a U.S. Senate seat. Oglesby served another term as governor in 1884. He was defeated in a bid for the senate in 1891. Oglesby died at his estate near Elkhart, Illinois, April 24, 1899, and was buried in Elkhart Cemetery.

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Here's Oglesby, which needed few changes. (As a comparison, here's the dinky little bio I wrote for him as Governor Oglesby: "Gov. Richard J. Oglesby (b. 1824, d. 1899). A state senator at the time of the attack on Fort Sumter, Oglesby resigned and volunteered for service, receiving a commission as a colonel. He rose to the rank of major general before being forced to resign in 1864 because of insufficient recovery from wounds received at Corinth. He then ran for governor as a Republican, strongly supporting Pres. Abraham Lincoln's conduct of the war."

Maj. Gen. Richard James “Uncle Dick” Oglesby (b. 1824, d. 1899). An early commander of Union troops, Oglesby was out of the army by the end of the Civil War, but still serving his state as Governor of Illinois. Born in Oldham County, Kentucky, on July 25, 1824, Oglesby survived a cholera epidemic which took the lives of his parents and siblings, and went to Decatur, Illinois, to live with an uncle. (It was at this time that he reportedly was turned against the institution of slavery, when he saw the family’s servants being sold.) Working a number of jobs as a youth, Oglesby saved up enough money to study law, and was admitted to the state bar in 1845. During the Mexican War he joined an Illinois volunteer unit as a lieutenant and participated in Gen. Winfield Scott’s Mexico City campaign. Then, in 1849, he went west to California in the Gold Rush, but was back in Illinois within two years. When the Republican Party was formed, Oglesby became one of its charter members, running for Congress in 1858. In 1860 he waged a successful campaign for the State Senate, but resigned his seat in 1861 to become Colonel of the 8th Illinois Infantry. By the end of 1861, Oglesby commanded a brigade under Gen. Ulysses S. Grant in the District of Southeastern Missouri, where Oglesby’s men got their first contact with the Confederates while chasing Gen. Jeff Thompson’s “Swamp Rats.” His predominantly Illinoian unit soon became the 1st Brigade of Gen. John McClernard’s 1st Division. At the Battle of Fort Donelson, this brigade was the first one hit during the Confederates’ breakout attempt on February 15, 1862. Oglesby’s men held until about 10 a.m. before having to fall back as they ran out of ammunition. The brigade then received ammunition and reformed, helping to stop the Confederate advance and to regain some of the lost ground. The siege was resumed and the Confederates were forced to surrender the next day. For his role in the successful capture of this fort as well as nearby Fort Henry, Oglesby was promoted to brigadier general on March 22. While the Army of the Tennessee, as the force was renamed, moved south, Oglesby remained as the post commander at Fort Donelson. He would not return to combat until the Battle of Corinth on October 3-4. Commanding a brigade in the division of Gen. T.A. Davies in the Army of West Tennessee, Oglesby was severely wounded during the victory, with a ball hitting him under his left arm and passing through his lungs before lodging near his spine. The ball not be removed and Oglesby hovered near death for some time. He finally recovered enough to return to duty the following spring, and in March was promoted to major general of volunteers, to rank from November 29, 1862. During the Vicksburg Campaign, Oglesby commanded the left wing of XVI Corps. After the successful conclusion of that campaign in July, Oglesby tried to resign, citing his wound as the reason. Instead, he was granted a leave of absence and he returned home. From December 1863 through May 1864, he served as president of a court-martial in Washington, D.C. Realizing he could not return to field duty, he formally resigned his commission on May 29, to run for governor on the Republican ticket. Oglesby, an ally of Pres. Abraham Lincoln, won election. He was visiting Lincoln in Washington on April 14, 1865, shortly before the President went to Ford’s Theater, and was at his bedside when he died. Oglesby rode on the funeral train back to Illinois. He served one term as governor, but was called back to run again in 1872. As part of a political deal, he ran for governor, won, and then was selected to fill a vacant U.S. Senate seat. He served another term as governor in 1884, but was defeated in a bid for the senate in 1891. Oglesby died at his estate near Elkhart, Illinois, on April 24, 1899, and was buried in Elkhart Cemetery. (Bio by Bill Battle)

Leadership: 5
Tactics: 5
Initiative: 4
Command: 5
Cavalry:

Teaches: Polar Bears (18), Tenacious (31), Hardy (5)

Start date: 29
“Death” date: 61