As a First Corps division commander Wadsworth commanded both the Iron Brigade and Cutler’s brigade in the fierce fighting of July 1 at Gettysburg and was involved in the subsequent defense of Culp’s Hill. By the end of the battle more than half his command were casualties. The state of New York erected a statue of him at Gettysburg in 1914, and another monument exists on the Wilderness battlefield, where he was mortally wounded in May 1864.

This is a very good condition copy of the memorial volume published in 1916 by the New York Monuments Commission: “Major-General James S. Wadsworth at Gettysburg and Other Fields.” This has a 1916 dated ink presentation inscription on the flyleaf and a paper insert reading “With the compliments of the New York Monuments Commission.” The book is bound in red cloth with gold blindstamped title on the spine and the cover with a NY state seal at lower right. The book is in very good condition with just some thin dark stains on the cover, and one larger light spot on the upper right of the back cover.

Born in 1807, Wadsworth was from a wealthy family in Geneseo, NY, studied at Harvard and Yale, took a law degree and passed the bar, but devoted his time to managing the family’s estates, philanthropy, and politics, helping to organize the Free Soil Party and then joining the Republican Party, serving as an elector for Lincoln in 1860. He had no military experience, but gained a commission as Major-General in the NY Militia and volunteered for active service, starting with a position as an aide to McDowell at Bull Run. The plaque on his Gettysburg monument summarizes his military career as follows:

Volunteer aid-de-camp with the rank of Major on personal staff
of Brigadier General Irvin McDowell at Battle of Manassas July 21, 1861.

Brigadier General U.S.V. August 23, and from August 27, 1861 to
March 12, 1862, in command of a brigade of New York regiments in
McDowell’s Division, Army of the Potomac.

Military Governor of District of Columbia Mar. 17 to Nov. 19, 1862.

Commanded First Division, First Corps, from December 23 to 26, 1862;
First Corps, December 26, 1862 to January 4, 1863; First Division, First Corps
January 4 to February 27; First Corps, February 27 to March 8; and First
Division, First Corps, March 9 to March 22; March 25 to May 17; May 27 to
July 15, 1863.

Assigned October 9, to special duty-inspection of colored troops
to December 19, 1863. Detailed January 9, 1864; on Court of Inquiry.

Ordered March 15, 1864, to report to Gen. Meade. In command of
Fourth Division, Fifth Corps, March 27 to April 11; April 13 until mortally
wounded May 6, 1864, in the Battle of the Wilderness, Virginia.
Died May 8, 1864.

Appointed Brevet Major General U.S.V., to rank from May 6, 1864
for gallant conduct at the Battle of Gettysburg and the Wilderness.

Wadsworth’s social standing and political connections obviously played a major part in his military career, but he was well regarded by his officers and men and had received a regular promotion to Major General the day before he was mortally wounded, which was turned into a brevet promotion for his service at Gettysburg. Shot in the head at the Wilderness, he died at a Confederate field hospital two days later and was interred on the nearby farm of a Virginian he had aided while Military Governor of DC. Efforts to retrieve his body through regular channels of the high command were stymied by the active campaign, but a lieutenant of the 57^th NY and an ambulance detail recovered it about a week later and the general was interred back in Geneseo.  [sr][ph:L]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS.

THANK YOU!