James A. Cunningham
Encyclopedia
James Adams Cunningham was a volunteer officer in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
.
Serving as a company
commander in the 1st Battalion Massachusetts Infantry (which later became the 32nd Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry
) on garrison duty at Fort Warren
in Boston, Cunningham was transferred with his unit to the battle front in the spring of 1862. He fought in numerous battles with the Army of the Potomac
, eventually taking command of the 32nd Massachusetts in 1864. In the closing days of the war, Cunningham distinguished himself during the Appomattox Campaign
, earning the award of the honorary grade of brevet
brigadier general
. During the Battle of Appomattox Court House, Cunningham received the flag of surrender sent by General Robert E. Lee
.
After the war, Cunningham served with the Massachusetts General Court
and as Adjutant General of Massachusetts
.
as a young man and took up a career as a stagecoach
driver. He married Ann Eliza Lane of New Jersey and had two children before the Civil War.
in Gloucester. The company was formed in November 1861 under the command of Captain James P. Draper and became Company D of the 1st Battalion Massachusetts Infantry. Cunningham was second in command of the company, receiving the commission of 1st lieutenant on December 2, 1861. The company was made up almost entirely of Gloucester fishermen and, early in its service, had a reputation for unruliness.
The battalion
was stationed during the winter of 1861–1862 at Fort Warren
, the largest fortification in Boston harbor
. There, the unit trained in infantry and artillery drill and also guarded the approximately 1,000 Confederate
prisoners held at the fort. On March 6, 1862, Cunningham was promoted captain and placed in command of Company F of the battalion. In May 1862, the battalion was transferred to the battle front in northern Virginia. That summer, four more companies were added to the battalion, amounting to ten companies as required for a full regiment
. The unit was designated, on September 3, 1862, the 32nd Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. The regiment became part of the V Corps
in the Army of the Potomac
.
Over the course of 1862, Cunningham commanded Company F in combat during the battles of Second Bull Run
, Antietam
and Fredericksburg
. In 1863, he participated in the battles of Chancellorsville
, Gettysburg
and Mine Run
. In 1864, still in command of a company in the 32nd Massachusetts, Cunningham saw action in the Overland Campaign
, a series of battles aimed at grinding down the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia
and taking the Confederate capital of Richmond
. The Overland Campaign ended in a stalemate and resulted in the long Siege of Petersburg
.
in the summer of 1864 and took command of the regiment at the end of September. He would command the regiment for the remainder of its service.
In late March 1865, the Confederate army abandoned its siege lines at Petersburg and retreated towards western Virginia, bringing about the Appomattox Campaign
and, ultimately, the end of the war. It was during this campaign, on April 2, 1865, that Cunningham distinguished himself in the wake of the Battle of Five Forks
. The battle, having taken place on April 1, 1865, forced the Confederates to begin their retreat from Petersburg and Richmond. That night, Cunningham was placed in command of a brigade
of skirmishers and ordered to lead the pursuit of the retreating Confederate army. Deploying his brigade under the eye of Major General
Philip Sheridan
, Cunningham pushed his men rapidly westward, covering many miles of ground and overtaking hundreds of Confederates in the course of their retreat as well as significant amounts of Confederate supplies. On January 18, 1867, President
Andrew Johnson
nominated Cunningham for the award of the honorary grade of brevet
brigadier general, United States Volunteers
, to rank from April 1, 1865, for distinguished services during the campaign against Richmond, and for especial gallantry at the battle of Five Forks, Virginia, and the U.S. Senate confirmed the award on February 21, 1867.
Over the next week, the Union cavalry and V Corps (including Cunningham's 32nd Massachusetts) pursued the Confederates, forcing their surrender at the Battle of Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865. Near the close of the battle, Cunningham spotted through his field glasses
a white flag of truce. Riding forward, Cunningham ascertained that the flag was born by a Confederate staff officer who wished to communicate a message to Lieutenant General
Ulysses S. Grant
that Confederate General Robert E. Lee
wished to discuss terms of surrender.
After the close of the war, Cunningham was mustered out of service with the rest of the 32nd Massachusetts on June 29, 1865.
in 1865. At the close of 1866, he accepted an appointment as Adjutant General of Massachusetts
, becoming the commanding general of the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia. He succeeded the wartime adjutant general, William Schouler
and served in that capacity until 1879.
In 1882, Cunningham became the superintendent of the Massachusetts Soldier's Home
in Chelsea
, a position he occupied for ten years until his death in Chelsea on July 17, 1892. He was buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Gloucester, Massachusetts.
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...
.
Serving as a company
Company (military unit)
A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 80–225 soldiers and usually commanded by a Captain, Major or Commandant. Most companies are formed of three to five platoons although the exact number may vary by country, unit type, and structure...
commander in the 1st Battalion Massachusetts Infantry (which later became the 32nd Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry
32nd Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry
The 32nd Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union army during the American Civil War. The nucleus of the regiment was a battalion of six companies raised in September 1861 to garrison Fort Warren, the largest fortification in Boston harbor...
) on garrison duty at Fort Warren
Fort Warren
Fort Warren may refer to:*Fort Warren *Fort Warren *Fort Warren *Francis E. Warren Air Force Base...
in Boston, Cunningham was transferred with his unit to the battle front in the spring of 1862. He fought in numerous battles with 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...
, eventually taking command of the 32nd Massachusetts in 1864. In the closing days of the war, Cunningham distinguished himself during the Appomattox Campaign
Appomattox Campaign
The Appomattox Campaign was a series of battles fought March 29 – April 9, 1865, in Virginia that culminated in the surrender of Confederate General Robert E...
, earning 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...
. During the Battle of Appomattox Court House, Cunningham received the flag of surrender sent by General Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee
Robert Edward Lee was a career military officer who is best known for having commanded the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War....
.
After the war, Cunningham served with the Massachusetts General Court
Massachusetts General Court
The Massachusetts General Court is the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The name "General Court" is a hold-over from the Colonial Era, when this body also sat in judgment of judicial appeals cases...
and as Adjutant General of Massachusetts
Adjutant General of Massachusetts
The Adjutant General of Massachusetts is the highest ranking military official in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and is subordinate to the Governor of Massachusetts...
.
Early life
Born in Boston in 1830, James Cunningham moved to Gloucester, MassachusettsGloucester, Massachusetts
Gloucester is a city on Cape Ann in Essex County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It is part of Massachusetts' North Shore. The population was 28,789 at the 2010 U.S. Census...
as a young man and took up a career as a stagecoach
Stagecoach
A stagecoach is a type of covered wagon for passengers and goods, strongly sprung and drawn by four horses, usually four-in-hand. Widely used before the introduction of railway transport, it made regular trips between stages or stations, which were places of rest provided for stagecoach travelers...
driver. He married Ann Eliza Lane of New Jersey and had two children before the Civil War.
Company command
A few months after the start of the Civil War, Cunningham assisted with the recruitment of a company of volunteer infantryInfantry in the American Civil War
The Infantry in the American Civil War comprised foot-soldiers who fought primarily with small arms, and they carried the brunt of the fighting on battlefields across the United States. As the Civil War progressed, battlefield tactics soon changed in response to the new form of warfare being waged...
in Gloucester. The company was formed in November 1861 under the command of Captain James P. Draper and became Company D of the 1st Battalion Massachusetts Infantry. Cunningham was second in command of the company, receiving the commission of 1st lieutenant on December 2, 1861. The company was made up almost entirely of Gloucester fishermen and, early in its service, had a reputation for unruliness.
The battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
was stationed during the winter of 1861–1862 at Fort Warren
Fort Warren
Fort Warren may refer to:*Fort Warren *Fort Warren *Fort Warren *Francis E. Warren Air Force Base...
, the largest fortification in Boston harbor
Boston Harbor
Boston Harbor is a natural harbor and estuary of Massachusetts Bay, and is located adjacent to the city of Boston, Massachusetts. It is home to the Port of Boston, a major shipping facility in the northeast.-History:...
. There, the unit trained in infantry and artillery drill and also guarded the approximately 1,000 Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
prisoners held at the fort. On March 6, 1862, Cunningham was promoted captain and placed in command of Company F of the battalion. In May 1862, the battalion was transferred to the battle front in northern Virginia. That summer, four more companies were added to the battalion, amounting to ten companies as required for a full regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
. The unit was designated, on September 3, 1862, the 32nd Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. The regiment became part of the V Corps
V Corps (ACW)
The V Corps was a unit of the Union Army of the Potomac during the American Civil War.-1862:The corps was first organized briefly under Nathaniel P. Banks, but then permanently on May 18, 1862, designated as the "V Corps Provisional"...
in 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...
.
Over the course of 1862, Cunningham commanded Company F in combat during the battles of Second 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...
, 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 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...
. In 1863, he participated in the battles of Chancellorsville
Battle of Chancellorsville
The Battle of Chancellorsville was a major battle of the American Civil War, and the principal engagement of the Chancellorsville Campaign. It was fought from April 30 to May 6, 1863, in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, near the village of Chancellorsville. Two related battles were fought nearby on...
, Gettysburg
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg , was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle with the largest number of casualties in the American Civil War, it is often described as the war's turning point. Union Maj. Gen. George Gordon Meade's Army of the Potomac...
and Mine Run
Battle of Mine Run
The Battle of Mine Run, also known as Payne's Farm, or New Hope Church, or the Mine Run Campaign , was conducted in Orange County, Virginia, in the American Civil War....
. In 1864, still in command of a company in the 32nd Massachusetts, Cunningham saw action in the Overland Campaign
Overland Campaign
The Overland Campaign, also known as Grant's Overland Campaign and the Wilderness Campaign, was a series of battles fought in Virginia during May and June 1864, in the American Civil War. Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, general-in-chief of all Union armies, directed the actions of the Army of the...
, a series of battles aimed at grinding down the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia
Army of Northern Virginia
The Army of Northern Virginia was the primary military force of the Confederate States of America in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War, as well as the primary command structure of the Department of Northern Virginia. It was most often arrayed against the Union Army of the Potomac...
and taking the Confederate capital of Richmond
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
. The Overland Campaign ended in a stalemate and resulted in the long Siege of Petersburg
Siege of Petersburg
The Richmond–Petersburg Campaign was a series of battles around Petersburg, Virginia, fought from June 9, 1864, to March 25, 1865, during the American Civil War...
.
Regimental command
Because several of the senior officers of the 32nd Massachusetts were killed or wounded in the course of the Overland Campaign and the Siege of Petersburg, Cunningham was promoted to lieutenant colonelLieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
in the summer of 1864 and took command of the regiment at the end of September. He would command the regiment for the remainder of its service.
In late March 1865, the Confederate army abandoned its siege lines at Petersburg and retreated towards western Virginia, bringing about the Appomattox Campaign
Appomattox Campaign
The Appomattox Campaign was a series of battles fought March 29 – April 9, 1865, in Virginia that culminated in the surrender of Confederate General Robert E...
and, ultimately, the end of the war. It was during this campaign, on April 2, 1865, that Cunningham distinguished himself in the wake of the Battle of Five Forks
Battle of Five Forks
The Battle of Five Forks was fought on April 1, 1865, southwest of Petersburg, Virginia, in Dinwiddie County, during the Appomattox Campaign of the American Civil War. The battle, sometimes referred to as the "Waterloo of the Confederacy," pitted Union Maj. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan against...
. The battle, having taken place on April 1, 1865, forced the Confederates to begin their retreat from Petersburg and Richmond. That night, Cunningham was placed in command of a brigade
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
of skirmishers and ordered to lead the pursuit of the retreating Confederate army. Deploying his brigade under the eye of Major General
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...
Philip Sheridan
Philip Sheridan
Philip Henry Sheridan was a career United States Army officer and a Union general in the American Civil War. His career was noted for his rapid rise to major general and his close association with Lt. Gen. Ulysses S...
, Cunningham pushed his men rapidly westward, covering many miles of ground and overtaking hundreds of Confederates in the course of their retreat as well as significant amounts of Confederate supplies. On January 18, 1867, 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...
nominated Cunningham 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, 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 April 1, 1865, for distinguished services during the campaign against Richmond, and for especial gallantry at the battle of Five Forks, Virginia, and the U.S. Senate confirmed the award on February 21, 1867.
Over the next week, the Union cavalry and V Corps (including Cunningham's 32nd Massachusetts) pursued the Confederates, forcing their surrender at the Battle of Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865. Near the close of the battle, Cunningham spotted through his field glasses
Binoculars
Binoculars, field glasses or binocular telescopes are a pair of identical or mirror-symmetrical telescopes mounted side-by-side and aligned to point accurately in the same direction, allowing the viewer to use both eyes when viewing distant objects...
a white flag of truce. Riding forward, Cunningham ascertained that the flag was born by a Confederate staff officer who wished to communicate a message to Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General (United States)
In the United States Army, the United States Air Force and the United States Marine Corps, lieutenant general is a three-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-9. Lieutenant general ranks above major general and below 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...
that Confederate General Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee
Robert Edward Lee was a career military officer who is best known for having commanded the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War....
wished to discuss terms of surrender.
After the close of the war, Cunningham was mustered out of service with the rest of the 32nd Massachusetts on June 29, 1865.
Post-war life
Immediately after the war, Brevet Brig. Gen. Cunningham dabbled in politics, serving briefly as a representative to the Massachusetts General CourtMassachusetts General Court
The Massachusetts General Court is the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The name "General Court" is a hold-over from the Colonial Era, when this body also sat in judgment of judicial appeals cases...
in 1865. At the close of 1866, he accepted an appointment as Adjutant General of Massachusetts
Adjutant General of Massachusetts
The Adjutant General of Massachusetts is the highest ranking military official in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and is subordinate to the Governor of Massachusetts...
, becoming the commanding general of the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia. He succeeded the wartime adjutant general, William Schouler
William Schouler
William Schouler was an American journalist, politician and general in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Biography:...
and served in that capacity until 1879.
In 1882, Cunningham became the superintendent of the Massachusetts Soldier's Home
Old soldiers' home
An old soldiers' home is a military veteran's retirement home, nursing home, or hospital, or sometimes even an institution for the care of the widows and orphans of a nation's soldiers, sailors, and marines, etc.-United States:...
in Chelsea
Chelsea, Massachusetts
Chelsea is a city in Suffolk County, Massachusetts, United States directly across the Mystic River from the city of Boston. It is the smallest city in Massachusetts in land area, and the 26th most densely populated incorporated place in the country.-History:...
, a position he occupied for ten years until his death in Chelsea on July 17, 1892. He was buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Gloucester, Massachusetts.
See also
- List of Massachusetts generals in the American Civil War
- Massachusetts in the American Civil War