Historical records matching Brig. General Willis A. Gorman (USA), U.S. Congress
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About Brig. General Willis A. Gorman (USA), U.S. Congress
Willis Arnold Gorman (January 12, 1816 – May 20, 1876) was an American lawyer, soldier, politician, and a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willis_A._Gorman
- https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/5892341/willis-arnold-gorman
Biography
Gorman was born near Flemingsburg, Kentucky. He was the only child of David and Elizabeth Gorman, both of Irish descent. In 1835, the family moved to Bloomington, Indiana, where Gorman graduated from Indiana University's law school in 1835 and established a law practice. In January 1836, he married Martha Stone in Bloomington. By 1837 he began his move into politics, becoming a clerk in the Indiana State Senate. From 1841 to 1844, he was elected to the Indiana House of Representatives.
In 1846 he volunteered for the army, enlisted as a private, and went to fight in the Mexican-American War. He was appointed as a major in the 3rd Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and led an independent rifle battalion at the Battle of Buena Vista, where he was severely wounded. When his term of service expired, he re-enlisted and was appointed colonel of the 4th Indiana. He served in the capture of Huamantla and in several other campaigns and battles. In 1848 he was civil and military governor of Puebla, but soon after he returned to Indiana. He served in the United States House of Representatives from March 4, 1849, to March 3, 1853, as a representative of that state.
Gorman, politically a Democrat, served as the second Territorial Governor of Minnesota from May 15, 1853, to April 23, 1857, at the appointment of President Franklin Pierce. During his time as Governor of Minnesota, he masterminded an unsuccessful plan to move the capital of the territory from St. Paul to St. Peter, where he owned land that would have been eminently suitable for use as the new capitol grounds. The plan was sidetracked when legislator Joe Rolette disappeared with the bill until the last seconds of the legislative session.
He spent a number of years practicing law in St. Paul, Minnesota, and served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from May 11, 1858, to January 1859.
With the secession of several Southern slave states, Gorman offered his services to the army. He was appointed Colonel of the 1st Minnesota Infantry, serving in the First Battle of Bull Run on July 21, 1861. On September 7, 1861, he was appointed brigadier general of volunteers and assigned to command a brigade in the II Corps in Army of the Potomac during the Peninsular Campaign. His troops suffered high casualties during the Battle of Antietam in an ill-fated attack on Confederate positions in the West Woods. Later in the year, he was assigned to command the District of Eastern Arkansas.
Postbellum
In 1864 he left the service and resumed his law practice in St. Paul. He was elected City attorney in 1869, and continued in that position until his death. He is buried in Oakland Cemetery in St. Paul.
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Name Willis Arnold Gorman
Enlistment Age 46
Birth Date 12 Jan 1816
Birth Place Flemingsburg, Kentucky
Enlistment Date 29 Apr 1861
Enlistment Rank Colonel
Muster Date 29 Apr 1861
Muster Place Minnesota
Muster Company S
Muster Regiment 1st Infantry
Muster Regiment Type Infantry
Muster Information Commission
Rank Change Date 7 Sep 1861
Rank Change Rank Brigadier General
Rank Change Information BG 1st Brig, 2nd Div, 2nd Corps
Muster Out Date 7 Sep 1861
Muster Out Information disch for Promo
Side of War Union
Survived War? Yes
Was Officer? Yes
Death Date 20 May 1876
Death Place St Paul, Minnesota
Additional Notes Served in Mexican War from 06/22/1846 to 07/28/1848
Additional Notes 2 Muster 2 Date: 07 Sep 1861; Muster 2 Unit: 3730; Muster 2 Regiment: U.S. Volunteers General Staff; Muster 2 Information: Commission; MusterOut 2 Date: 04 May 1864; MusterOut 2 Information: Mustered Out;
Title Minnesota in the Civil and Indian Wars 1861-65; Generals in Blue, Lives of the Union Commanders; Dyer: A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion; Heitman: Register of United States Army 1789-1903; Photo from Library of Congress collection; Research by Roger Norland
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Brig. General Willis A. Gorman (USA), U.S. Congress's Timeline
| 1816 |
January 12, 1816
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Flemingsburg, Fleming County, Kentucky, United States
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| 1841 |
1841
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| 1876 |
May 20, 1876
Age 60
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Saint Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota, United States
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May 20, 1876
Age 60
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Oakland Cemetery, Saint Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota, United States
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