Gilman Marston (August 20, 1811July 3, 1890) was a
United States representative
The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...
,
Senator
A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...
, and
United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...
general from
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Gulf of Maine to the east, and the Canadian province of Quebec t ...
.
Early life
Marston was born in
Orford, New Hampshire
Orford is a town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 1,237 at the 2020 census, unchanged from the 2010 census. The Appalachian Trail crosses in the east.
History
First called "Number Seven" in a line of Connect ...
. He graduated from
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College (; ) is a private research university in Hanover, New Hampshire. Established in 1769 by Eleazar Wheelock, it is one of the nine colonial colleges chartered before the American Revolution. Although founded to educate Native A ...
in 1837 and from the law department of
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of higher le ...
in 1840. He was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in
Exeter, New Hampshire
Exeter is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 16,049 at the 2020 census, up from 14,306 at the 2010 census. Exeter was the county seat until 1997, when county offices were moved to neighboring Brentwood. ...
, in 1841 and was a member of the
New Hampshire House of Representatives
The New Hampshire House of Representatives is the lower house in the New Hampshire General Court, the bicameral legislature of the state of New Hampshire. The House of Representatives consists of 400 members coming from 204 legislative district ...
from 1845 to 1849. He was a delegate to the
State constitutional convention of 1850.
Marston was elected as a
Republican
Republican can refer to:
Political ideology
* An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law.
** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...
to the
Thirty-sixth and
Thirty-seventh Congresses (March 4, 1859 – March 3, 1863). He was a strong supporter of President
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln ( ; February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was an American lawyer, politician, and statesman who served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. Lincoln led the nation thro ...
and the war effort.
Civil War
Marston served in the
Union Army
During the American Civil War, the Union Army, also known as the Federal Army and the Northern Army, referring to the United States Army, was the land force that fought to preserve the Union (American Civil War), Union of the collective U.S. st ...
during the
Civil War
A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country).
The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies ...
. He first saw combat as
colonel
Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations.
In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of ...
of the
2nd New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry
2nd New Hampshire Infantry Regiment was the longest-serving volunteer regiment of the State of New Hampshire in the American Civil War.
Service
The 2nd New Hampshire was organized in early 1861 and mustered on June 4, 1861. The 2nd NH fought fro ...
during the
First Battle of Bull Run
The First Battle of Bull Run (the name used by Union forces), also known as the Battle of First Manassas in July 1861. His arm was shattered, but he refused an amputation. After he recovered, he fought in the
Peninsula Campaign,
Second Battle of Bull Run
The Second Battle of Bull Run or Battle of Second Manassas was fought August 28–30, 1862, in Prince William County, Virginia, as part of the American Civil War. It was the culmination of the Northern Virginia Campaign waged by Confederate ...
, and
Battle of Fredericksburg
The Battle of Fredericksburg was fought December 11–15, 1862, in and around Fredericksburg, Virginia, in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. The combat, between the Union Army of the Potomac commanded by Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnsi ...
.
He was promoted to brigadier general of U.S. volunteers, effective November 29, 1862. Prior to the
Chancellorsville campaign
The Battle of Chancellorsville, April 30 – May 6, 1863, was a major battle of the American Civil War (1861–1865), and the principal engagement of the Chancellorsville campaign.
Chancellorsville is known as Lee's "perfect battle" because h ...
, he was relieved from duty with the
Army of the Potomac
The Army of the Potomac was the principal Union Army in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. It was created in July 1861 shortly after the First Battle of Bull Run and was disbanded in June 1865 following the surrender of the Confedera ...
and assigned to the defenses of Washington where he returned to his seat in Congress. After
Gettysburg, Marston was directed to establish a prison camp in Maryland, which later became known as
Point Lookout. The area was designated the
District of Saint Mary's under the overall command of Maj. Gen.
Benjamin Butler
Benjamin Franklin Butler (November 5, 1818 – January 11, 1893) was an American major general of the Union Army, politician, lawyer, and businessman from Massachusetts. Born in New Hampshire and raised in Lowell, Massachusetts, Butler is best ...
. In 1864, he commanded a brigade in Maj. Gen.
W.F. "Baldy" Smith's
XVIII Corps during the
Bermuda Hundred Campaign. He took part in a disastrous assault on
Cold Harbor
The Battle of Cold Harbor was fought during the American Civil War near Mechanicsville, Virginia, from May 31 to June 12, 1864, with the most significant fighting occurring on June 3. It was one of the final battles of Union Lt. Gen. Ulysses S ...
, where his brigade suffered heavy casualties. During the Union
assaults on Petersburg, Gilman assumed command of the 1st Division in the XVIII Corps on the last day of battle. Thereafter he commanded the Union troops on the north side of the James River with his headquarters located at
Fort Pocahontas
Fort Pocahontas was an earthen fort on the north bank of the James River at Wilson's Wharf, in Charles City County, Virginia which served as a Union supply depot during the American Civil War. The fort was constructed by African-American soldiers ...
. Occasionally he returned to command of the 1st Division, including a brief stint during the
Second Battle of Fair Oaks. Having been re-elected to Congress he resigned 1865, whereupon he received the thanks of the state of New Hampshire.
U.S. Congress
He was elected to the Thirty-ninth Congress (March 4, 1865–March 3, 1867) and in 1870 declined the Governorship of
Idaho Territory
The Territory of Idaho was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 3, 1863, until July 3, 1890, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as Idaho.
History
1860s
The territory w ...
. In 1872, 1873, and 1876 to 1878, he was again a member of the State house of representatives. He was an unsuccessful candidate for election in 1876 to the Forty-fifth Congress and was a delegate to the State constitutional convention of 1876.
On March 4, 1889, Marston was appointed to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy in the term commencing on that date and served until June 18, 1889, when a successor was elected. He died in Exeter in 1890; interment was in Exeter Cemetery.
See also
*
List of American Civil War generals (Union)
Union generals
__NOTOC__
The following lists show the names, substantive ranks, and brevet ranks (if applicable) of all general officers who served in the United States Army during the Civil War, in addition to a small selection of lower-ranke ...
References
Retrieved on 2008-02-12
External links
*
*Grave of Gilman Marston
plaque"stone"(both on
Flickr
Flickr ( ; ) is an American image hosting and video hosting service, as well as an online community, founded in Canada and headquartered in the United States. It was created by Ludicorp in 2004 and was a popular way for amateur and professional ...
).
{{DEFAULTSORT:Marston, Gilman
1811 births
1890 deaths
Dartmouth College alumni
Harvard Law School alumni
Republican Party members of the New Hampshire House of Representatives
Union Army generals
People of New Hampshire in the American Civil War
Republican Party United States senators from New Hampshire
Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from New Hampshire
19th-century American politicians
People from Orford, New Hampshire