William Dwight
| William Dwight, Jr. | |
|---|---|
As a colonel about 1862
|
|
| Born |
July 14, 1831 Springfield, Massachusetts |
| Died | April 21, 1888 (aged 56) Boston, Massachusetts |
| Place of burial | Forest Hills Cemetery, Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts |
| Allegiance |
United States of America Union |
| Service/branch |
United States Army Union Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1865 |
| Rank |
 Brigadier General
|
| Commands held | 70th New York Volunteer Infantry |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
William Dwight, Jr. (July 14, 1831 – April 21, 1888), was a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
William Dwight was born July 14, 1831 in Springfield, Massachusetts. His father was William Dwight of the New England Dwight family who was born April 5, 1805. His mother was Elizabeth Amelia White, daughter of Judge Appleton White (1776–1861) and Mary Wilder (1780–1811). Starting in 1846 he attended a military preparatory school, and was admitted to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York in 1849. However, he resigned January 31, 1853 and moved to Boston to work in manufacturing. On January 1, 1856 he married Anna Robeson.
Dwight was moving to Philadelphia for his business when the American Civil War broke out. He took a commission of captain on May 14, 1861. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel on June 29, 1861 under Daniel Sickles, and full colonel on July 1, 1861. As commanding officer of 70th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Dwight led his regiment during the Battle of Williamsburg, where he was seriously wounded on May 5, 1862, along with losing half of his command. Left for dead on the battlefield, Dwight was found by Confederate forces and held as a prisoner of war until his eventual release in a prisoner exchange November 15, 1862.
In recognition of his gallantry on the field, Dwight was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers to rank from November 29, 1862, by Presidential nomination on March 4, 1863, and U.S. Senate confirmation on March 9, 1863. He was transferred to the Western Theater where, later in 1863, he led his brigade in the attack of Port Hudson, Louisiana.
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