Turner Gustavus Morehead (1814–1892) was an officer in the

Mexican–American War The Mexican–American War, also known in the United States as the Mexican War and in Mexico as the (''United States intervention in Mexico''), was an armed conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848. It followed the 1 ...

and

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 ...

and

Brevet Brevet may refer to: Military * Brevet (military), higher rank that rewards merit or gallantry, but without higher pay * Brevet d'état-major, a military distinction in France and Belgium awarded to officers passing military staff college * Aircre ...

Brigadier General 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 ...

Early life

Turner Gustavus Morehead, was born at

Baltimore Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, and List of United States cities by popula ...

Maryland Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to ...

, on March 18, 1814, was educated and grew to young manhood in that city, but shortly after arriving of age, removed to

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...

. He soon joined the militia unit, the " Artillery Corps Washington Grays" in May, 1835. His unit was one called up to end the

Buckshot War The Buckshot War was the outbreak of unrest in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania that transpired after the Pennsylvania gubernatorial and legislative elections in 1838 when both the Whig and Democratic parties claimed control over the Pennsylvania House of ...

. At the beginning of the

the Greys voted not to volunteer for service, and Morehead resigned and offered his services to the state.

Mexican-American War

In November 1846, he was enrolled in Philadelphia as a captain in command of Company G, First Pennsylvania Regiment, known as the "Jefferson Guards". He took an active part through to the end of the war in Scott's

Mexico City Campaign Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guate ...

, principally the engagements of the

Siege of Veracruz The Battle of Veracruz was a 20-day siege of the key Mexican beachhead seaport of Veracruz during the Mexican–American War. Lasting from March 9–29, 1847, it began with the first large-scale amphibious assault conducted by United States ...

, National Bridge, Cerro Gordo, Castle Perote,

Huamantla Huamantla () is a small city in Huamantla Municipality located in the eastern half of the Mexican state of Tlaxcala. The area has a long indigenous history, but the city itself was not founded until the early colonial period, in the 1530s. It is mo ...

, and the Siege of Puebla. Discharged July 29, 1848, Morehead returned to Philadelphia, but soon began his participation in the " Philadelphia Blues" Battalion.

Civil War

As Colonel commanding the Philadelphia Blues when the

broke out, Morehead immediately offered the services of his battalion to the Governor of

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...

. It was accepted and he was ordered to expand the battalion into a full regiment which was mustered into three months of service on April 17, 1861, as the 22nd Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers with Turner G. Morehead remaining as colonel. The 22nd Regiment quickly proceeded to Baltimore, where it served, partly as provost guard. Colonel Morehead assumed command of the city when its police commissioners were arrested by General

Banks A bank is a financial institution that accepts deposits from the public and creates a demand deposit while simultaneously making loans. Lending activities can be directly performed by the bank or indirectly through capital markets. Because ...

, five companies of the 22nd were detailed for duty in the central part of the city for ten days, anticipating trouble from the large secessionist faction in the city. Other detachments of the regiment seized large quantities of arms and ammunition secreted in the city in the possession of suspected secessionists. One company was also detailed to guard a magazine in the city until the close of its term of service. At the end of its term of service, the regiment returned to Philadelphia, and was mustered out on August 7, 1861. Almost immediately, Colonel Morehead was authorized to recruit another regiment, this one for a full three years' service, and on August 21, 1861, only two weeks after being mustered out, he was again mustered in as Colonel of what afterwards became the 106th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, but at that time was known as the Fifth California Regiment, of

Edward Dickinson Baker Edward Dickinson Baker (February 24, 1811October 21, 1861) was an American politician, lawyer, and US army officer. In his political career, Baker served in the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois and later as a U.S. Senator from Oregon. ...

California Brigade The Philadelphia Brigade (also known as the California Brigade) was a Union Army brigade that served in the American Civil War. It was raised primarily in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with the exception of the 106th regiment which cont ...

. Morehead brought with him numbers of soldiers of the disbanded 22nd Regiment. Morehead shared all the dangers of the men in his 106th Pennsylvania Infantry which went on to serve throughout the whole war. First at

Ball's Bluff The Battle of Ball's Bluff was an early battle of the American Civil War fought in Loudoun County, Virginia, on October 21, 1861, in which Union Army forces under Major General George B. McClellan suffered a humiliating defeat. The operation was ...

, then in the Peninsula Campaign where fought at Fair Oaks,

Savage Station Savage is a passenger rail station on the MARC Train#Camden Line, MARC Camden Line between Union Station (Washington, D.C.), Union Station and Camden Yards station, Baltimore's Camden Station. It is officially located at 9009 Dorsey Run Road in S ...

, Battle of Glendale or Charles City Cross Roads and

Malvern Hill Malvern Hill stands on the north bank of the James River in Henrico County, Virginia, USA, about eighteen miles southeast of Richmond. On 1 July 1862, it was the scene of the Battle of Malvern Hill, one of the Seven Days Battles of the American ...

. Then he fought at

Antietam The Battle of Antietam (), or Battle of Sharpsburg particularly in the Southern United States, was a battle of the American Civil War fought on September 17, 1862, between Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia and Union ...

and Fredericksburg. Although never wounded, Morehead was injured when his horse was shot from under him at Antietam:

Colonel Morehead's horse was shot from under him, and, falling, held him fast until released by Sergeant Joseph Taylor and Corporals McNeal and Stephen Taylor of Company C. After going some distance to the rear the Colonel found he had lost his sword, a handsome one, that had been presented to him by the Regiment, and went back after it, though urged not to do so by the men, but he said, "Yes I will, that sword was given me by my men and I told them I would protect it with my life and never see it dishonored, and I am not going to let them damned rebels get it", so he went back to where his horse lay and got it and returned in safety to the regiment although the enemy was near enough to demand his surrender, and fired at him because he refused.

Morehead was detailed frequently to the command of different brigades of the

II Corps 2nd Corps, Second Corps, or II Corps may refer to: France * 2nd Army Corps (France) * II Cavalry Corps (Grande Armée), a cavalry unit of the Imperial French Army during the Napoleonic Wars * II Corps (Grande Armée), a unit of the Imperial French ...

, yet he only received a

brevet Brevet may refer to: Military * Brevet (military), higher rank that rewards merit or gallantry, but without higher pay * Brevet d'état-major, a military distinction in France and Belgium awarded to officers passing military staff college * Aircre ...

promotion to brigadier general on March 15, 1865, after he had resigned on April 5, 1864, returning home on account of disabilities caused by disease.

Later life

After the War General Morehead engaged in the wholesale shoe business until appointed Weigher of the Port of Philadelphia, a position he held for many years. He early entered 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 became commander of E. D. Baker Post No. 8 of Philadelphia, also a member of the Union Veteran Legion and the Military Order of the Loyal Legion. In 1882, he moved to

Asbury Park, New Jersey Asbury Park () is a beachfront city located on the Jersey Shore in Monmouth County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is part of the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the city's population was 15,188

, where he resided until his death on May 28, 1892. He was buried at

Mount Peace Cemetery Mount Peace Cemetery is a cemetery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that is owned and operated by the Odd Fellows organization. It was established in 1865 and is located at 3111 West Lehigh Avenue, near the Laurel Hill Cemetery. The cemetery prope ...

in Philadelphia.

Family

General Morehead was married to Louisa A. Kidd, and had three children born to them, two sons and one daughter. One son and the daughter survived him. His son, Gustavus K., followed in the footsteps of his father, and early entered the

National Guard National Guard is the name used by a wide variety of current and historical uniformed organizations in different countries. The original National Guard was formed during the French Revolution around a cadre of defectors from the French Guards. Nat ...

in 1875. Like his father he rose to the command of the same company "The Artillery Corps Washington Grays", by then renamed Company G, First Regiment, National Guards of Pennsylvania.Ward, History of the One hundred and sixth regiment, p.430]

References

External links

Colonel Turner Gustavus Morehead, 106th Pennsylvania Volunteers
photo) {{DEFAULTSORT:Morehead, Turner Gustavus American military personnel of the Mexican–American War Union Army colonels People of Pennsylvania in the American Civil War Philadelphia Brigade 1814 births 1892 deaths United States Army officers Military personnel from Baltimore Burials at Mount Peace Cemetery Grand Army of the Republic officials