John Wesley Stiles (1811–1885) was an American colonel and inventor who commanded the 83rd New York Infantry Regiment throughout the early years of 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 ...

as well as commander of the 3rd Brigade of

James B. Ricketts James Brewerton Ricketts (June 21, 1817 – September 22, 1887) was a career officer in the United States Army, serving as a Union Army general during the Civil War. At First Bull Run, he was wounded and captured, but later exchanged. He fought a ...

' Second Division of the

III Corps 3rd Corps, Third Corps, III Corps, or 3rd Army Corps may refer to: France * 3rd Army Corps (France) * III Cavalry Corps (Grande Armée), a cavalry unit of the Imperial French Army during the Napoleonic Wars * III Corps (Grande Armée), a unit of th ...

as well as being a renowned inventor at the

American Institute of the City of New York The American Institute of the City of New York, or, The American Institute of the City of New York for the Encouragement of Science and Invention was a civic organization that existed from ca. 1828 – ca. 1980. The institute was an association ...

Biography

Early years

John was born at

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

on January 31, 1811, as the son of Oratha Stiles and Elizabeth Billings. During his early years, Stiles would be educated at New York City as well as primarily work in the ship chandlery business at New York City. Stiles married Elizabeth Fisher Taylor on 1836 and had a total of 9 children with her. He also formed a partnership with Marshall O. Roberts before setting out on his own business. On 1858, he reportedly switched industries to the wood industry as he was a dealer for dye woods.

American Civil War

Stiles registered in the 9th New York state Militia as its colonel on May 16, 1861, and was later commissioned to be assigned as the main colonel of the 83rd New York Infantry Regiment after relieving the 7th Infantry Regiment. During his service with the 83rd New York, Stiles would participate at the

Battle of Harpers Ferry {{Infobox military conflict , conflict = Battle of Harpers Ferry , partof = the American Civil War , image = NWDNS-165-SB-26 Harpers Ferry Virginia.jpg , image_size = 300px , caption = Harpers ...

, the

Battle of Cedar Mountain The Battle of Cedar Mountain, also known as Slaughter's Mountain or Cedar Run, took place on August 9, 1862, in Culpeper County, Virginia, as part of the American Civil War. Union forces under Maj. Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks attacked Confederate f ...

, the

First Battle of Rappahannock Station The First Battle of Rappahannock Station, (also known as Waterloo Bridge, White Sulphur Springs, Lee Springs, and Freeman’s Ford) as took place on August 23, 1862, at present-day Remington, Virginia, as part of the Northern Virginia Campaign ...

and the

Battle of Thoroughfare Gap The Battle of Thoroughfare Gap, also known as Chapman's Mill, took place on August 28, 1862, in Fauquier County and Prince William County, Virginia, as part of the Northern Virginia Campaign of the American Civil War. Confederate forces under Ma ...

. He was later appointed as commander of the 3rd brigade of

Nathaniel P. Banks Nathaniel Prentice (or Prentiss) Banks (January 30, 1816 – September 1, 1894) was an American politician from Massachusetts and a Union general during the Civil War. A millworker by background, Banks was prominent in local debating societies, ...

and in 1862, was assigned to be the commander of the 3rd Brigade of

' Second Division of the

of the

Army of Virginia The Army of Virginia was organized as a major unit of the Union Army and operated briefly and unsuccessfully in 1862 in the American Civil War. It should not be confused with its principal opponent, the Confederate Army of ''Northern'' Virginia, ...

. He then lead the 3rd Brigade into the

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 ...

, the

Battle of Chantilly The Battle of Chantilly (or Ox Hill, the Confederate name) took place on September 1, 1862, in Fairfax County, Virginia, as the concluding battle of the Northern Virginia Campaign of the American Civil War. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's corps ...

, After that however, he was discharged from service on January 1863 due to injuries. He was then replaced by Lt. Col Hendrickson.

Post-war life

Stiles returned to New York City with his health in shambles and could no longer continue being a ship chandler but with his new interest in mechanics made him become a inventor and managed to win the gold medal at the

in 1884. One of his daughters stated: Stiles died on September 15, 1885, and was buried at

Green-Wood Cemetery Green-Wood Cemetery is a cemetery in the western portion of Brooklyn, New York City. The cemetery is located between South Slope/ Greenwood Heights, Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Borough Park, Kensington, and Sunset Park, and lies several bl ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stiles, John Wesley 1811 births 1885 deaths People of New York (state) in the American Civil War Union Army colonels Military personnel from New York City Military personnel from New York (state) 19th-century American inventors Burials at Green-Wood Cemetery