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Lt. Gen. Richard S. Ewell

 

 

 

 

 

Born: February 8, 1817

Georgetown, Washington, D.C.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Died: January 25, 1872

Spring Hill, Tennessee

 

West Point: June 1840

2nd Lieutenant: June 1840

1st Lieutenant: 1845

Captain: 1845

Resigned U.S. Army: May 7, 1861

Colonel C.S.A.: May 9, 1861

Brig. Gen.: June 7, 1861

Maj. Gen.: January 24, 1862

Lieut. Gen.: May 23, 1863

June 1840: West Point Graduate - 13th out of class of 42 - Assigned to the 1st U.S. Dragoons

1845: Promoted to 1st Lieutenant

1846-1848: Mexican American War

August 20, 1847: Battle of Conturus

August 20, 1847: Battle of Churubusco

May 7, 1861: Resigned from U.S. Army

May 9, 1861: Appointed Colonel of Cavalry, C.S.A.

May 3, 1861: Injured in skirmish at Fairfax Court House

June 17, 1861: Promoted to Brigadier General

July 21, 1861: 1st Battle of Manassas, but saw little action

January 24, 1862: Promoted to Major General

May - June 1862: Shenandoah Valley Campaign of Jackson

May 23, 1862: Battle of Front Royal

May 25, 1862: Battle of 1st Winchester

June 9, 1862: Battle of Port Republic

June 25 - July 1, 1862: Seven Days Battle

June 27, 1862: Battle of Gaines' Mill

July 1, 1862: Battle of Malvern Hill

August 9, 1862: Battle of Cedar Mountain

August 29-30, 1862: 2nd Battle of Manassas

August 29, 1862: Wounded at Groveton or Brawner's Farm - left leg is amputated below the left knee

May 1-4, 1863: Returns back to duty - Battle of Chancellorsville

​May 23 1863: Promoted to Lieut. General and command of 2nd Corps

June 13-15, 1863: 2nd Battle of Winchester - Captures 4,000 men, 23 cannons and 30 Supply wagons

Late June 1863: As part of the Gettysburg Campaign, he almost reaches Harrisburg, Pennsylvania before being recalled by Gen. Lee

July 1-3, 1863: Battle of Gettysburg

July 1, 1863: Defeated the Union's IX Corps and part of the I Corps driving them back to Cemetery Hill - Gen. Lee sent orders to Ewell to take Cemetery Hill "if practicable" Ewell did not attack

July 2-3, 1863: Attacked Cemetery Hill, but it was futile as the Union troops had strongly reinforced their position

November 7, 1863: Wounded at Kelly's Ford, Virginia

May 12, 1864: Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, Gen. Lee was compelled to lead the defense at the "Mule Shoe" because of Ewell's indecision and inaction

May 12, 1864: Reassigned to command the garrison of the Department of Richmond

April 6, 1865: Captured at Saylor's Creek

July 1865: Released from Fort Warren in Boston Harbor

Boatner, Mark M. III. The Civil War Dictionary. New York: David McKay, 1967. p 268-269

Warner, Ezra J. Generals in Gray Lives of the Confederate Commanders. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State, 1992. p 84-85

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