George Francis McGinnis
Encyclopedia
George Francis McGinnins (March 19, 1826-May 29, 1910) was a volunteer soldier
during the Mexican-American War and a Union general during the American Civil War
.
for 3 moth service. Within a month he rose from private to captain and then on April 25, lieutenant colonel. McGinnis and the 11th Indiana took part in Wallace's raid on Romney, West Virginia
on June 13, 1861.
and then overland toward Fort Donelson. During the battle of Fort Donelson
his regiment was temporarily attached to Lew Wallace's division and fought in the counterattack on the Union right. He received the praise of Lew Wallace for his actions that battle. McGinnis also led his regiment in the following battles of Shiloh
and Corinth
.
's 12th Division of the XIII Corps
, commanded by John A. McClernand. McGinnis' brigade was heavily engaged in the Battle of Champion Hill
and fought with distinction. During the siege of Vicksburg his troops occupied a length of siege lines in the center of the Union army near Fort Garrott. A bronze plaque of McGinnis is located near this spot.
After the fall of Vicksburg McGinnis fell upon a series of insignificant commands. This was possibly due to his connection with McClernand and Wallace, both of whom had become unpopular with Ulysses S. Grant and the regular army officers of the Army of the Tennessee. More significantly McGinnis belonged to the XIII Corps which was assigned to the Department of the Gulf. The Department of the Gulf had become relatively quiet after the fall of Vicksburg and Port Hudson. McGinnis rose to command of the 3rd Division and held that command during most of 1864. During the winter of 1864-1865 he was transferred to command the "Forces on the White River" in the Department of Arkansas. This was essentially a brigade sized command guarding the mouth of the White River
.
auditor and then from 1900 was appointed postmaster of Indianapolis. He died on May 29, 1910 in Indianapolis and is buried in that city's Crown Hill Cemetery
.
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
during the Mexican-American War and a Union general during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Early life
McGinnis was born in Boston, Massachusetts. His mother died when he was an infant and he lived with his aunt for a time. At age 11 he and his father moved to Ohio where his father became a hatter. It was during his time in Ohio that war with Mexico broke out and George volunteered his services as a lieutenant in the 2nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was mustered out of the volunteers with the rank of captain in 1847 and returned to Ohio to take up hatting.Western Virginia
Immediately after the Civil War began, McGinnis volunteered for service in the 11th Indiana Volunteer Regiment being raised by Col. Lew WallaceLew Wallace
Lewis "Lew" Wallace was an American lawyer, Union general in the American Civil War, territorial governor and statesman, politician and author...
for 3 moth service. Within a month he rose from private to captain and then on April 25, lieutenant colonel. McGinnis and the 11th Indiana took part in Wallace's raid on Romney, West Virginia
Romney, West Virginia
Romney is a city in and the county seat of Hampshire County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 1,940 at the 2000 census, while the area covered by the city's ZIP code had a population of 5,873. It is a city with a very historic background dating back to the 18th century...
on June 13, 1861.
Fort Donelson & Shiloh
The 3 month enlistments ran out but the regiment was re-mustered and on August 31, 1861 McGinnis was again made lieutenant colonel with Wallace as colonel. Due to the style of training this regiment became known as "Wallace's Zouaves". On September 3, Wallace was promoted to brigadier general and McGinnis became colonel of the regiment. McGinnis led the regiment during the capture of Fort HenryBattle of Fort Henry
The Battle of Fort Henry was fought on February 6, 1862, in western Tennessee, during the American Civil War. It was the first important victory for the Union and Brig. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant in the Western Theater....
and then overland toward Fort Donelson. During the battle of Fort Donelson
Battle of Fort Donelson
The Battle of Fort Donelson was fought from February 11 to February 16, 1862, in the Western Theater of the American Civil War. The capture of the fort by Union forces opened the Cumberland River as an avenue for the invasion of the South. The success elevated Brig. Gen. Ulysses S...
his regiment was temporarily attached to Lew Wallace's division and fought in the counterattack on the Union right. He received the praise of Lew Wallace for his actions that battle. McGinnis also led his regiment in the following battles of Shiloh
Battle of Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, was a major battle in the Western Theater of the American Civil War, fought April 6–7, 1862, in southwestern Tennessee. A Union army under Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant had moved via the Tennessee River deep into Tennessee and...
and Corinth
Siege of Corinth
The Siege of Corinth was an American Civil War battle fought from April 29 to May 30, 1862, in Corinth, Mississippi.-Background:...
.
Vicksburg
On April 4, 1863 McGinnis was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers, to rank from November 29, 1862. He was in command of a brigade in the District of Eastern Arkansas. After a time of garrison duty McGinnis was appointed to command the 1st Brigade in Alvin P. HoveyAlvin P. Hovey
Alvin Peterson Hovey was a Union general during the American Civil War, an Indiana Supreme Court justice, congressman, and the 21st Governor of Indiana from 1889 to 1891. During the war he played an important role in several battles and uncovered a secret plot for an uprising in Indiana...
's 12th Division of the XIII Corps
XIII Corps (ACW)
XIII Corps was a corps of the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was first led by Ulysses S. Grant and later by John A. McClernand and Edward O.C. Ord...
, commanded by John A. McClernand. McGinnis' brigade was heavily engaged in the Battle of Champion Hill
Battle of Champion Hill
The Battle of Champion Hill, or Bakers Creek, fought May 16, 1863, was the pivotal battle in the Vicksburg Campaign of the American Civil War. Union commander Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and the Army of the Tennessee pursued the retreating Confederate Lt. Gen. John C...
and fought with distinction. During the siege of Vicksburg his troops occupied a length of siege lines in the center of the Union army near Fort Garrott. A bronze plaque of McGinnis is located near this spot.
After the fall of Vicksburg McGinnis fell upon a series of insignificant commands. This was possibly due to his connection with McClernand and Wallace, both of whom had become unpopular with Ulysses S. Grant and the regular army officers of the Army of the Tennessee. More significantly McGinnis belonged to the XIII Corps which was assigned to the Department of the Gulf. The Department of the Gulf had become relatively quiet after the fall of Vicksburg and Port Hudson. McGinnis rose to command of the 3rd Division and held that command during most of 1864. During the winter of 1864-1865 he was transferred to command the "Forces on the White River" in the Department of Arkansas. This was essentially a brigade sized command guarding the mouth of the White River
White River (Arkansas)
The White River is a 722-mile long river that flows through the U.S. states of Arkansas and Missouri.-Course:The source of the White River is in the Boston Mountains of northwest Arkansas, in the Ozark-St. Francis National Forest southeast of Fayetteville...
.
Later life
McGinnis was mustered out of the volunteer services on August 24, 1865. He moved to Indianapolis and ran a fiduciary business and served in various local political positions. From 1867-1871 he served as the Marion CountyMarion County, Indiana
Marion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. Census 2010 recorded a population of 903,393, making it the largest county in the state and 55th most populated county in the country, greater than the population of six states. The county seat is Indianapolis, the state capital and...
auditor and then from 1900 was appointed postmaster of Indianapolis. He died on May 29, 1910 in Indianapolis and is buried in that city's Crown Hill Cemetery
Crown Hill Cemetery
Crown Hill Cemetery, located at 700 West 38th Street in Indianapolis, is the third largest non-governmental cemetery in the United States at . It contains of paved road, over 150 species of trees and plants, over 185,000 graves, and services roughly 1,500 burials per year. It sits on the highest...
.
See also
- List of American Civil War generals