Hugh Thompson Reid
Encyclopedia
Hugh Thompson Reid was a lawyer, president of the Des Moines Valley Railroad and Union general during the American Civil War
.
and Indiana University
, becoming a lawyer. In 1839 he moved to Iowa to continue his law practice. During the 1840s he purchased large tracts of land becoming the most extensive land owner in Iowa at the time. He also became the president of the Des Moines Valley Railroad.
for service in the Union Army during the Civil War. Colonel Reid and the 15th Iowa first saw combat at the Battle of Shiloh
. Because his regiment arrived on the field of battle once the fighting had already begun it was rushed to the thickest of the fight and was attached to Benjamin M. Prentiss' division fighting around the Hornet's Nest. During the fighting Reid was severely wounded in the neck and was presumed dead. His body was recovered and brought to the rear where he soon regained enough consciousness to rejoin the fighting. Reid was out of action for a time following the battle but fully recovered despite the Chicago Tribune
running an article stating he had been paralyzed. Reid returned to command a brigade in the Army of the Tennessee
stationed around Corinth, Mississippi.
General Ulysses S. Grant
noticed Reid's gallantry at Shiloh and recommended him for promotion. Reid was promoted to brigadier general of U.S. volunteers, dated March 13, 1863. General Reid was now assigned to command the 1st Brigade, 6th Division, XVII Corps
headquartered near Lake Providence, Louisiana
. This brigade was a mix of white regiments and African American
regiments. Reid was quoted saying "every colored soldier who stops a rebel bullet saves a white man’s life". During the siege of Vicksburg, Reid's brigade operated on the Louisiana side of the Mississippi River
, fighting skirmishes at Lake Providence and Goodrich's Landing
during the month of June. After Vicksburg fell to the Union army, Reid was transferred to command the District of Cairo in southern Illinois.
on August 28, 1874 and is buried in Keokuk, Iowa
.
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
Reid was born in Indiana on October 18, 1811 to James and Ann Thompson Reid. He attended Miami UniversityMiami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
and Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
, becoming a lawyer. In 1839 he moved to Iowa to continue his law practice. During the 1840s he purchased large tracts of land becoming the most extensive land owner in Iowa at the time. He also became the president of the Des Moines Valley Railroad.
Civil War
On February 22, 1862 Reid was appointed colonel of the 15th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment15th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment
The 15th Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 15th Iowa Infantry was organized at Keokuk, Iowa and mustered in for three years of Federal service on February 22, 1862.The regiment was mustered out on July...
for service in the Union Army during the Civil War. Colonel Reid and the 15th Iowa first saw combat at the Battle 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...
. Because his regiment arrived on the field of battle once the fighting had already begun it was rushed to the thickest of the fight and was attached to Benjamin M. Prentiss' division fighting around the Hornet's Nest. During the fighting Reid was severely wounded in the neck and was presumed dead. His body was recovered and brought to the rear where he soon regained enough consciousness to rejoin the fighting. Reid was out of action for a time following the battle but fully recovered despite the Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
running an article stating he had been paralyzed. Reid returned to command a brigade in the Army of the Tennessee
Army of the Tennessee
The Army of the Tennessee was a Union army in the Western Theater of the American Civil War, named for the Tennessee River. It should not be confused with the similarly named Army of Tennessee, a Confederate army named after the State of Tennessee....
stationed around Corinth, Mississippi.
General Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...
noticed Reid's gallantry at Shiloh and recommended him for promotion. Reid was promoted to brigadier general of U.S. volunteers, dated March 13, 1863. General Reid was now assigned to command the 1st Brigade, 6th Division, XVII Corps
XVII Corps (ACW)
XVII Corps was a corps of the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was organized December 18, 1862 as part of Ulysses S. Grant's Army of the Tennessee. It was most notably commanded by Maj. Gen. James B. McPherson and Maj. Gen. Francis P. Blair II, and served in the Western...
headquartered near Lake Providence, Louisiana
Lake Providence, Louisiana
Lake Providence is a town in and the parish seat of East Carroll Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 5,104 at the 2000 census.-Civil War:...
. This brigade was a mix of white regiments and African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
regiments. Reid was quoted saying "every colored soldier who stops a rebel bullet saves a white man’s life". During the siege of Vicksburg, Reid's brigade operated on the Louisiana side of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
, fighting skirmishes at Lake Providence and Goodrich's Landing
Battle of Goodrich's Landing
The Battle of Goodrich's Landing was fought on June 29 and June 30, 1863, between Union and Confederate forces during the American Civil War. The Confederates attacked several Union black regiments that were protecting several captured plantations...
during the month of June. After Vicksburg fell to the Union army, Reid was transferred to command the District of Cairo in southern Illinois.
Later life
On April 14, 1864 Reid resigned from the army and returned to Iowa. There he resumed his law practice and served again as president of the Des Moines Valley Railroad. Reid died of bright's diseaseBright's disease
Bright's disease is a historical classification of kidney diseases that would be described in modern medicine as acute or chronic nephritis. The term is no longer used, as diseases are now classified according to their more fully understood causes....
on August 28, 1874 and is buried in Keokuk, Iowa
Keokuk, Iowa
Keokuk is a city in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Iowa and one of the county seats of Lee County. The other county seat is Fort Madison. The population was 11,427 at the 2000 census. The city is named after the Sauk Chief Keokuk, who is thought to be buried in Rand Park...
.