George P. Hawkes
Encyclopedia
George Perkins Hawkes was a colonel
in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
. He commanded the 21st Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry
from April 1863 to July 1864. In March 1867, he was awarded the honorary grade of brevet
brigadier general
, United States Volunteers
, to rank from March 13, 1865, seven months after his resignation of his commission in the army (due to poor health).
on September 2, 1862, and to lieutenant colonel
on December 18, 1862. From July 1862 to March 1863, the 21st Massachusetts was attached to the Army of the Potomac
and participated in several of the largest battles of the Civil War, including the Second Battle of Bull Run
, the Battle of Antietam
and the Battle of Fredericksburg
. Lt. Col. Hawkes took command of the 21st Massachusetts after the resignation of Col. William Smith Clark in April 1863. By this time, the 21st Massachusetts had been transferred to eastern Kentucky
as part of the Army of the Ohio
and was primarily engaged in fighting guerrillas. In the fall of 1863, Maj. Gen.
Ambrose Burnside
moved the Army of the Ohio into eastern Tennessee and took the city of Knoxville
. Confederate
forces under the command of Lt. Gen. James Longstreet
attempted to drive the Union army out of eastern Tennessee during the Siege of Knoxville. Lt. Col. Hawkes was placed in the role of an acting brigade commander during this campaign and led two regiments. When the 21st was transferred back to the Army of the Potomac in May 1864, Hawkes led the regiment during the Battle of the Wilderness
, the Battle of Spotsylvania and the Battle of Bethesda Church. Poor health forced him to resign from the army on July 3, 1864. Hawkes was nominated by President
Andrew Johnson
on March 26, 1867 for the award of the honorary grade of brevet
brigadier general
, U.S. Volunteers, to rank from March 13, 1865, for faithful and meritorious services. The U.S. Senate confirmed the award on March 30, 1867.
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
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...
. He commanded the 21st Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry
21st Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry
The 21st Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was organized in Worcester, Massachusetts and mustered into service on August 23, 1861....
from April 1863 to July 1864. In March 1867, he was awarded the honorary grade of brevet
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
brigadier general
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
, United States Volunteers
United States Volunteers
United States Volunteers also known as U.S. Volunteers, U. S. Vol., or U.S.V.Starting as early as 1861 these regiments were often referred to as the "volunteer army" of the United States but not officially named that until 1898.During the nineteenth century this was the United States federal...
, to rank from March 13, 1865, seven months after his resignation of his commission in the army (due to poor health).
Civil War
Shortly after the beginning of the Civil War, Hawkes was commissioned captain of Company A of the 21st Massachusetts on August 21, 1861. He was promoted to majorMajor (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
on September 2, 1862, and to lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
on December 18, 1862. From July 1862 to March 1863, the 21st Massachusetts was attached to the Army of the Potomac
Army of the Potomac
The Army of the Potomac was the major Union Army in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War.-History:The Army of the Potomac was created in 1861, but was then only the size of a corps . Its nucleus was called the Army of Northeastern Virginia, under Brig. Gen...
and participated in several of the largest battles of the Civil War, including the Second Battle of Bull Run
Second Battle of Bull Run
The Second Battle of Bull Run or Second Manassas was fought August 28–30, 1862, as part of the American Civil War. It was the culmination of an offensive campaign waged by Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia against Union Maj. Gen...
, the Battle of Antietam
Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam , fought on September 17, 1862, near Sharpsburg, Maryland, and Antietam Creek, as part of the Maryland Campaign, was the first major battle in the American Civil War to take place on Northern soil. It was the bloodiest single-day battle in American history, with about 23,000...
and the Battle of Fredericksburg
Battle of Fredericksburg
The Battle of Fredericksburg was fought December 11–15, 1862, in and around Fredericksburg, Virginia, between General Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army of Northern Virginia and the Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside...
. Lt. Col. Hawkes took command of the 21st Massachusetts after the resignation of Col. William Smith Clark in April 1863. By this time, the 21st Massachusetts had been transferred to eastern Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
as part of the Army of the Ohio
Army of the Ohio
The Army of the Ohio was the name of two Union armies in the American Civil War. The first army became the Army of the Cumberland and the second army was created in 1863.-History:...
and was primarily engaged in fighting guerrillas. In the fall of 1863, Maj. Gen.
Major general (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general...
Ambrose Burnside
Ambrose Burnside
Ambrose Everett Burnside was an American soldier, railroad executive, inventor, industrialist, and politician from Rhode Island, serving as governor and a U.S. Senator...
moved the Army of the Ohio into eastern Tennessee and took the city of Knoxville
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
. Confederate
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
forces under the command of Lt. Gen. James Longstreet
James Longstreet
James Longstreet was one of the foremost Confederate generals of the American Civil War and the principal subordinate to General Robert E. Lee, who called him his "Old War Horse." He served under Lee as a corps commander for many of the famous battles fought by the Army of Northern Virginia in the...
attempted to drive the Union army out of eastern Tennessee during the Siege of Knoxville. Lt. Col. Hawkes was placed in the role of an acting brigade commander during this campaign and led two regiments. When the 21st was transferred back to the Army of the Potomac in May 1864, Hawkes led the regiment during the Battle of the Wilderness
Battle of the Wilderness
The Battle of the Wilderness, fought May 5–7, 1864, was the first battle of Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's 1864 Virginia Overland Campaign against Gen. Robert E. Lee and the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. Both armies suffered heavy casualties, a harbinger of a bloody war of attrition by...
, the Battle of Spotsylvania and the Battle of Bethesda Church. Poor health forced him to resign from the army on July 3, 1864. Hawkes was nominated by President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson was the 17th President of the United States . As Vice-President of the United States in 1865, he succeeded Abraham Lincoln following the latter's assassination. Johnson then presided over the initial and contentious Reconstruction era of the United States following the American...
on March 26, 1867 for the award of the honorary grade of brevet
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
brigadier general
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
, U.S. Volunteers, to rank from March 13, 1865, for faithful and meritorious services. The U.S. Senate confirmed the award on March 30, 1867.
See also
- List of Massachusetts generals in the American Civil War
- Massachusetts in the American Civil War