Lewis Addison Grant (January 17, 1828 – March 20, 1918) was a teacher, lawyer, soldier 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 of the collective states. It proved essential to th ...

during 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 ...

, and later

United States Assistant Secretary of War The United States Assistant Secretary of War was the second–ranking official within the American Department of War from 1861 to 1867, from 1882 to 1883, and from 1890 to 1940. According to thMilitary Laws of the United States "The act of August 5 ...

. He was among the leading officers from the state of

Vermont Vermont () is a state in the northeast New England region of the United States. Vermont is bordered by the states of Massachusetts to the south, New Hampshire to the east, and New York to the west, and the Canadian province of Quebec to ...

, and received the

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valo ...

for "personal gallantry and intrepidity."

Early life

Grant was born in Winhall, Vermont, the son of James and Elizabeth (Wyman) Grant. He attended the district school of

Townshend, Vermont Townshend is a New England town, town in Windham County, Vermont, Windham County, Vermont, United States. The town was named for the Townshend family, powerful figures in British politics. The population was 1,291 at the 2020 United States Census, ...

, and the academy at

Chester, Vermont Chester is a town in Windsor County, Vermont, United States. The population was 3,005 at the 2020 census. History The town was originally chartered by New Hampshire Governor Benning Wentworth as Flamstead in 1754. The terms of the charter were n ...

. He then taught school for five years in

New Jersey New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...

, in

, and near

Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...

, meanwhile

reading law Reading law was the method used in common law countries, particularly the United States, for people to prepare for and enter the legal profession before the advent of law schools. It consisted of an extended internship or apprenticeship under th ...

. He was admitted to the bar in 1855 and established his law practice in

Bellows Falls, Vermont Bellows Falls is an incorporated village located in the town of Rockingham in Windham County, Vermont, United States. The population was 2,747 at the 2020 census. Bellows Falls is home to the Green Mountain Railroad, a heritage railroad; the ...

Civil War

Grant was mustered into the service of the United States on September 16, 1861, at St. Albans, Vermont, as major of the

5th Vermont Infantry The 5th Vermont Infantry Regiment was a three years' infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Structure The 5th Vermont Infantry was part of the Army of the Potomac, in the Vermont Brigade of the Sixth Army Corps. It in ...

. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel on September 25, 1861, and

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 o ...

, on September 16, 1862. He was wounded at the Battle of Fredericksburg. He assumed command of the famed Vermont Brigade and led it during the 1863 Gettysburg Campaign. Grant was appointed brigadier general of volunteers on April 27, 1864, and accepted the appointment May 21, 1864. He was commissioned brevet

major general Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of ...

of volunteers, to date from October 19, 1864, "for gallant and meritorious services in the campaign before Richmond, Virginia, and in the Shenandoah Valley;" and was honorably discharged from the service August 24, 1865.Peck, p. 748. He commanded the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division,

VI Corps 6 Corps, 6th Corps, Sixth Corps, or VI Corps may refer to: France * VI Cavalry Corps (Grande Armée), a cavalry formation of the Imperial French army during the Napoleonic Wars * VI Corps (Grande Armée), a formation of the Imperial French army du ...

, from February 21, 1863, to December 29, 1863, and from February 2, 1864, to September 29, 1864, and from October 8, 1864, to December 2, 1864; the 2nd Division,

, from December 2, 1864, to February 11, 1865; the 2nd Brigade, same Division, from February 11, 1865, to February 20, 1865, and from March 7, 1865, to June 28, 1865. During his service with the 5th Vermont Infantry, he participated in the following battles: Yorktown, Williamsburg, Goldings's Farm, Savage's Station, White Oak Swamp,

Crampton's Gap Crampton's Gap, also known as Crampton Gap, is a wind gap on South Mountain in Maryland. The gap connects Burkittsville in the Middletown Valley to the east with Gapland and Rohrersville in the Pleasant Valley to the west. Documentation o ...

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 G ...

, and Fredericksburg.Peck, pp. 747-48. As a brigade or acting division commander, he participated in the following: the

Second Battle of Fredericksburg The Second Battle of Fredericksburg, also known as the Second Battle of Marye's Heights, took place on May 3, 1863, in Fredericksburg, Virginia, as part of the Chancellorsville Campaign of the American Civil War. Background Confederate Gen. Rob ...

and the

Battle of Salem Church The Battle of Salem Church, also known as the Battle of Banks' Ford, took place on May 3 and 4, 1863, in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, as part of the Chancellorsville Campaign of the American Civil War. Background After occupying Marye's Hei ...

, Gettysburg, Fairfield,

Second Battle of Rappahannock Station The Second Battle of Rappahannock Station took place on November 7, 1863, near the village of Rappahannock Station (now Remington, Virginia), on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad. It was between Confederate forces under Maj. Gen. Jubal Ear ...

, the

Mine Run Campaign The Battle of Mine Run, also known as Payne's Farm, or New Hope Church, or the Mine Run campaign (November 27 – December 2, 1863), was conducted in Orange County, Virginia, in the American Civil War. An unsuccessful attempt of the Union ...

, the Wilderness,

Spotsylvania Court House The Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, sometimes more simply referred to as the Battle of Spotsylvania (or the 19th-century spelling Spottsylvania), was the second major battle in Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and Maj. Gen. George G. Meade's 186 ...

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 ...

Siege of Petersburg The Richmond–Petersburg campaign was a series of battles around Petersburg, Virginia, fought from June 9, 1864, to March 25, 1865, during the American Civil War. Although it is more popularly known as the Siege of Petersburg, it was not a cla ...

, Charlestown, West Virginia, Gilbert's Crossing, Cedar Creek, the siege and assault on Petersburg (where he was wounded in the head), and the

Battle of Sayler's Creek The Battle of Sailor's Creek was fought on April 6, 1865, near Farmville, Virginia, as part of the Appomattox Campaign, near the end of the American Civil War. It was the last major engagement between the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, ...

during the Appomattox Campaign. Grant was acting commander of 2nd Division, VI Corps, at the height of its stand against the Confederate assault at Cedar Creek. He was recommended August 22, 1866, for appointment as a field officer in the

regular army A regular army is the official army of a state or country (the official armed forces), contrasting with irregular forces, such as volunteer irregular militias, private armies, mercenaries, etc. A regular army usually has the following: * a standin ...

by General

Ulysses S. Grant Ulysses S. Grant (born Hiram Ulysses Grant ; April 27, 1822July 23, 1885) was an American military officer and politician who served as the 18th president of the United States from 1869 to 1877. As Commanding General, he led the Union Ar ...

, and was appointed August 29, 1866, as lieutenant colonel of the 36th U.S. Infantry, to date from July 28, 1866, but declined the appointment. On May 11, 1893, Grant was awarded the

for "Personal gallantry and intrepidity displayed in the management of his brigade and in leading it in the assault in which he was wounded," at Salem Church, Virginia, May 3, 1863. That same year, he became a member of the District of Columbia Society of the

Sons of the American Revolution The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR or NSSAR) is an American congressionally chartered organization, founded in 1889 and headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky. A non-profit corporation, it has described its purpose ...

. He was assigned national membership number 6939 and district membership number 439. He was also a companion of the Minnesota Commandery of 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 ...

Post war

After the war, Lewis Grant lived in Illinois, Iowa, and finally Minnesota. His son was

Ulysses Sherman Grant Ulysses Sherman Grant (February 14, 1867 – September 21, 1932) was an American geologist. He was the son of Lewis A. Grant and Mary Helen Pierce. Biography Ulysses Sherman Grant was born in Moline, Illinois on February 14, 1867. He graduated ...

, professor of

geology Geology () is a branch of natural science concerned with Earth and other astronomical objects, the features or rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which they change over time. Modern geology significantly overlaps all other Ea ...

, at

Northwestern University Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston, Illinois. Founded in 1851, Northwestern is the oldest chartered university in Illinois and is ranked among the most prestigious academic institutions in the world. Charte ...

. He was Assistant U.S. Secretary of War during the administration of President

Benjamin Harrison Benjamin Harrison (August 20, 1833March 13, 1901) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 23rd president of the United States from 1889 to 1893. He was a member of the Harrison family of Virginia–a grandson of the ninth pr ...

.Crockett, iv:181. He died at Minneapolis, Minnesota, and is buried in

Lakewood Cemetery Lakewood Cemetery is a large private, non-sectarian cemetery located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. It is located at 3600 Hennepin Avenue at the southern end of the Uptown area. It is noted for its chapel which is on the National R ...

(Section 8, Lot 416, Grave 2) in that city.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Colonel, 5th Vermont Infantry. Place and date: At Salem Heights, Va., May 3, 1863. Entered service at: Bellow Falls, Vt. Born: January 17, 1828, Winhall, Vt. Date of issue: May 11, 1893. Citation:

Personal gallantry and intrepidity displayed in the management of his brigade and in leading it in the assault in which he was wounded.

Notes

References

*Benedict, George Grenville. Vermont in the Civil War. Burlington: Free Press Association, 1888, pp. i:108, 113-116, 120, 144-145, 148, 151, 166, 174, 181, 184, 186-187, 191-193, 198, 200, 208ff, ii:358, 362, 364. *Crockett, Walter Hill, ''Vermont The Green Mountain State,'' New York: The Century History Company, Inc., 1921, pp. iii:517, 541, 552,-555, 565, 575, 570, 580, 585, 587, 619, iv:6, 181, 450. *Keyes, Charles, "Major General Lewis Addison Grant," ''Annals of Iowa,'' January 1921, 3rd Series, Vol. XII, No. 7, sited August 16, 2006, at http://iagenweb.org/history/debannals/Annals6.htm; Internet. *Peck, Theodord S., compiler, ''Revised Roster of Vermont Volunteers and lists of Vermonters Who Served in the Army and Navy of the United States During The War of the Rebellion, 1861-66'', Montpelier, VT: Press of the Watchman Publishing Co., 1892, pp. 142, 144, 735, 747 *Warner, Ezra J. ''Generals in Blue.'' Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1992, pp. 182–183

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Grant, Lewis A. 1828 births 1918 deaths Union Army generals United States Army Medal of Honor recipients People from Winhall, Vermont People of Vermont in the American Civil War Vermont Brigade American Civil War recipients of the Medal of Honor Burials at Lakewood Cemetery United States Assistant Secretaries of War American lawyers admitted to the practice of law by reading law Vermont lawyers Sons of the American Revolution 19th-century American lawyers