George Augustus Stone (1834-1901) was an American Brevet Brigadier General who participated in the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...

. He was known for commanding the 25th Iowa Infantry Regiment throughout the regiment's entire service throughout the war.

Early years

Stone was born on October 13, 1834, at

Schoharie, New York Schoharie ( ) is an incorporated Administrative divisions of New York#Town, town in and the county seat of Schoharie County, New York, Schoharie County, New York (state), New York. The population was 3,299 at the 2000 census. The Town of Schoh ...

. In 1839, his father moved the family to

Iowa Territory The Territory of Iowa was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 4, 1838, until December 28, 1846, when the southeastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the state of Iowa. The remaind ...

around

Washington County, Iowa Washington County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 22,565. The county seat is Washington. Washington County is included in the Iowa City Metropolitan Statistical Area. History Washingto ...

where Stone would attend school before going to

Mount Pleasant, Iowa Mount Pleasant is a city in and the county seat of Henry County, Iowa. The population was 9,274 in the 2020 census, an increase from 8,668 in the 2010 census. It was founded in 1835 by pioneer Presley Saunders. History The first permanent s ...

in 1849 to complete his studies. Stone then attended the

Iowa Wesleyan University Iowa Wesleyan University is a private university in Mount Pleasant, Iowa. It is Iowa's first co-educational institution of higher learning and the oldest of its type west of the Mississippi River. The institution is affiliated with the United Met ...

but before he graduated, he was presented an opportunity to be the cashier of the First National Bank of Mount Pleasant and accepted the job, remaining there until Spring 1861 when the

began.

American Civil War

Stone left his banking career in order to enlist in the 1st Iowa Infantry Regiment on May 14, 1861, as a first lieutenant in Company F of the regiment and first experienced active military combat at the

Battle of Wilson's Creek The Battle of Wilson's Creek, also known as the Battle of Oak Hills, was the first major battle of the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the American Civil War. It was fought on August 10, 1861, near Springfield, Missouri, Springfield, Missou ...

. He was then commissioned for the

4th Iowa Cavalry Regiment The 4th Iowa Cavalry Regiment was a cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Service The 4th Iowa Cavalry was organized at Camp Harlan in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, beginning in September 1861, and mustered in for ...

on December 26, 1861, where he would remain until August 10, 1862, when he was transferred to the newly formed 25th Iowa Infantry Regiment, later promoted to full colonel of the regiment on September 27 of the same year. The 25th Iowa then participated in the

Vicksburg campaign The Vicksburg campaign was a series of maneuvers and battles in the Western Theater of the American Civil War directed against Vicksburg, Mississippi, a fortress city that dominated the last Confederate-controlled section of the Mississippi Riv ...

, participating at the

Battle of Chickasaw Bayou The Battle of Chickasaw Bayou, also called the Battle of Walnut Hills, fought December 26–29, 1862, was the opening engagement of the Vicksburg Campaign during the American Civil War. Confederate forces under Lt. Gen. John C. Pemberton repulse ...

and the

Battle of Arkansas Post The Battle of Arkansas Post, also known as Battle of Fort Hindman, was fought from January 9 to 11, 1863, near the mouth of the Arkansas River at Arkansas Post, Arkansas, as part of the Vicksburg Campaign of the American Civil War. Confederat ...

. Stone then participated in the Chattanooga campaign with the 25th Iowa gaining fame for their service at the

Battle of Ringgold Gap The Battle of Ringgold Gap was fought November 27, 1863, outside the town of Ringgold, Georgia, by the Confederate and Union armies during the American Civil War. Part of the Chattanooga Campaign, it followed a heavy Confederate loss at the Battl ...

but after the battle, Stone was given the command of the Iowa Brigade of the

XV Corps 15th Corps, Fifteenth Corps, or XV Corps may refer to: *XV Corps (British India) *XV Corps (German Empire), a unit of the Imperial German Army prior to and during World War I *15th Army Corps (Russian Empire), a unit in World War I *XV Royal Bavar ...

and Lieut.-Col. D. J. Palmer took command of the 25th Iowa. Stone then participated at the

Campaign of the Carolinas The campaign of the Carolinas (January 1 – April 26, 1865), also known as the Carolinas campaign, was the final campaign conducted by the United States Army (Union Army) against the Confederate States Army in the Western Theater. On January 1 ...

, particularly serving at the

Capture of Columbia The capture of Columbia occurred February 17–18, 1865, during the Carolinas Campaign of the American Civil War. The state capital of Columbia, South Carolina, was captured by Union forces under Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman. Much of the city was ...

, capturing 40 pieces of artillery, 5,000 weapons and 200 prisoners but was then unjustly charged for participating in the burning of the city on the night following the surrender despite Stone himself finding the burning to be deplorable. Despite this however, Stone went on to participate at the Battle of Cox's Bridge and the

Battle of Bentonville The Battle of Bentonville (March 19–21, 1865) was fought in Johnston County, North Carolina, near the village of Bentonville, as part of the Western Theater of the American Civil War. It was the last battle between the armies of Union Maj. ...

Stone was brevetted Brigadier General on March 13, 1865, for "Faithful and Meritorious Services." Stone then participated in the

Grand Review of the Armies The Grand Review of the Armies was a military procession and celebration in the national capital city of Washington, D.C., on May 23–24, 1865, following the Union victory in the American Civil War (1861–1865). Elements of the Union Army in the ...

before being returning to

Davenport, Iowa Davenport is a city in and the county seat of Scott County, Iowa, United States. Located along the Mississippi River on the eastern border of the state, it is the largest of the Quad Cities, a metropolitan area with a population of 384,324 and a ...

where Stone and the 25th Iowa were mustered out on June 6, 1865.

Later years

Stone returned to Mount Pleasant where he got his job back there before going to Ottumwa and

Rulo, Nebraska Rulo is a village in Richardson County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 144 at the 2020 census. History Rulo was laid out in 1857. It was named for Charlie Rouleau, the original owner of the town site. In 1933, the foundation for ...

where he engaged in being a merchant. He was also an active member of the

Grand Army of the Republic The Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) was a fraternal organization composed of veterans of the Union Army (United States Army), Union Navy (U.S. Navy), and the Marines who served in the American Civil War. It was founded in 1866 in Decatur, Il ...

and the

Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States The Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (MOLLUS), or simply the Loyal Legion is a United States patriotic order, organized April 15, 1865, by three veteran officers of the Army. The original membership was composed of members ...

. He was so successful at this that

Grover Cleveland Stephen Grover Cleveland (March 18, 1837June 24, 1908) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 22nd and 24th president of the United States from 1885 to 1889 and from 1893 to 1897. Cleveland is the only president in American ...

himself appointed Stone as the National Bank Examiner of Iowa where Stone remained for the rest of his life until May 26, 1901. He was buried at Forest Home Cemetery, Mount Pleasant.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stone, George Augustus 1834 births 1901 deaths Union Army generals Union Army colonels People from Schoharie, New York People from Mount Pleasant, Iowa 19th-century American merchants People of Iowa in the American Civil War

Early years

American Civil War

Later years

See also

References