Wells S. Jones (August 3, 1830 – March 21, 1914) was an American physician, politician, and soldier. He served as an infantry officer in the Union Army in the Western Theater during the American Civil War, and was

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 ...

ed a brigadier general near the end of the conflict. After the war, Jones studied to become a doctor at

Starling Medical College The Ohio State University College of Medicine (formerly known as The Ohio State University College of Medicine and Public Health) is the medical school at The Ohio State University and is located in Columbus, Ohio. The college is nationally re ...

, precursor to the

Ohio State University College of Medicine The Ohio State University College of Medicine (formerly known as The Ohio State University College of Medicine and Public Health) is the medical school at The Ohio State University and is located in Columbus, Ohio. The college is nationally re ...

Early life

Wells S. Jones was born in 1830 in Paxton Township, within Ross County, Ohio.Hunt, p. 321.

Civil War service

When the American Civil War began in 1861 Jones volunteered for service in the Union Army. On October 3 he was elected

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

of the

53rd Ohio Infantry The 53rd Ohio Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The 53rd was present at the Battle of Shiloh and Battle of Vicksburg, among a number of other engagements. Service The 53rd Ohio Inf ...

Regiment, and saw action as such during the

Battle of Shiloh The Battle of Shiloh (also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing) was fought on April 6–7, 1862, in the American Civil War. The fighting took place in southwestern Tennessee, which was part of the war's Western Theater. The battlefield i ...

and the Siege of Corinth. On May 2, 1862, Jones became colonel of the 53rd Ohio and its commanding officer. He led his regiment during the Siege of Vicksburg and at the

battle of Missionary Ridge The Battle of Missionary Ridge was fought on November 25, 1863, as part of the Chattanooga Campaign of the American Civil War. Following the Union victory in the Battle of Lookout Mountain on November 24, Union forces in the Military Division of ...

, both in 1863. Jones saw further action throughout the 1864 Atlanta Campaign, fighting at Resaca, Dallas, Kennesaw Mountain and Atlanta. In August, Jones was appointed to brigade command when his superior officer, Brigadier General

Joseph A. J. Lightburn Joseph Andrew Jackson Lightburn (September 21, 1824 – May 17, 1901) was a West Virginia farmer, soldier and Baptist Minister, most famous for his service as a Union general during the American Civil War. Early life Lightburn was born in ...

was wounded and relinquished command for the remainder of the war. Colonel Jones now led the 2nd Brigade in

William B. Hazen William Babcock Hazen (September 27, 1830 – January 16, 1887) was a career United States Army officer who served in the Indian Wars, as a Union general in the American Civil War, and as Chief Signal Officer of the U.S. Army. His most famous serv ...

's 2nd Division of the XV Corps at Jonesboro. Coincidentally, the 1st Brigade of that division was also led by another "Colonel Jones", Theodore Jones of the 30th Ohio. Wells Jones participated in the 1864 March to the Sea, and was wounded during operations around Fort McAllister, Georgia, on December 13.Eicher, p. 325. On March 13, 1865, Jones was

ed a brigadier general, cited for "gallant and meritorious services" during the war. He was mustered out of volunteers in the Union Army on August 11.

Postbellum

After the war, Jones attended and graduated from Starling Medical College,

Columbus, Ohio Columbus () is the state capital and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio. With a 2020 census population of 905,748, it is the 14th-most populous city in the U.S., the second-most populous city in the Midwest, after Chicago, and t ...

, in 1866. He also married Mary Frances Molineaux Wetmore, and the couple had at least one child together, Mary Kathleen born in 1886. Jones died in 1914 at Waverly, Ohio, and was buried in that city's Evergreen-Union Cemetery.

Notes

References

* Eicher, John H., and

Eicher, David J. David John Eicher (born August 7, 1961) is an American editor, writer, and popularizer of astronomy and space. He has been editor-in-chief of '' Astronomy'' magazine since 2002. He is author, coauthor, or editor of 23 books on science and America ...

, ''Civil War High Commands'', Stanford University Press, 2001, . * Hunt, Roger H., and Brown, John R., ''Brevet Brigadier Generals in Blue'', Olde Soldier Books, 1990, revised 1997, .

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