John F. Appleton
Encyclopedia
John Francis Appleton was a lawyer and Union
colonel
in the American Civil War
("Civil War") from the state of Maine
who was awarded the honorary grade of brevet
brigadier general
, United States Volunteers
.
, the oldest son of Maine Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice John Appleton, he was a graduate of Bangor High School and Bowdoin College
.
, which saw action in Louisiana and Virginia. At the Battle of Port Hudson, according to a published account by a fellow officer, "Capt. Appleton alone, among ten thousand men who fought that day, mounted the Rebel parapet and stood there facing the whole Rebel Army, a mark for a thousand rifles . . . A Confederate officer told me, after the surrender, that as he saw that young man standing there so calm and brave, he could not bear to see him die, and he told his men not to fire upon him." For this and similar acts Appleton was promoted to colonel and eventually, on May 18, 1866, brevetted as a brigadier general of volunteers (back dated to March 13, 1865).
Appleton subsequently accepted command of a free black regiment (the 81st Regiment Infantry U.S. Colored Troops
), as did another Union general from Bangor serving in Louisiana, Cyrus Hamlin
, the son of Vice President Hannibal Hamlin
, who had strongly urged the arming of freed slaves.
brigadier general, U.S. Volunteers, to rank from March 13, 1865 for faithful and meritorious services.
During Southern Reconstruction, Appleton was offered the position of U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Texas, but declined due to ill-health. He practiced law in Bangor and died there in 1870. He is buried in the city's Mount Hope Cemetery.
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...
colonel
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 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...
("Civil War") from the state of Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
who 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...
.
Early life
Born in Bangor, MaineBangor, Maine
Bangor is a city in and the county seat of Penobscot County, Maine, United States, and the major commercial and cultural center for eastern and northern Maine...
, the oldest son of Maine Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice John Appleton, he was a graduate of Bangor High School and Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College , founded in 1794, is an elite private liberal arts college located in the coastal Maine town of Brunswick, Maine. As of 2011, U.S. News and World Report ranks Bowdoin 6th among liberal arts colleges in the United States. At times, it was ranked as high as 4th in the country. It is...
.
American Civil War service
When the Civil War began the year after his college graduation, Appleton raised and commanded a company for the 12th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment12th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment
The 12th Regiment Maine Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:12th Maine was organized at Portland, Maine and mustered into Federal service for a three year enlistment on November 16, 1862.The regiment was discharged from...
, which saw action in Louisiana and Virginia. At the Battle of Port Hudson, according to a published account by a fellow officer, "Capt. Appleton alone, among ten thousand men who fought that day, mounted the Rebel parapet and stood there facing the whole Rebel Army, a mark for a thousand rifles . . . A Confederate officer told me, after the surrender, that as he saw that young man standing there so calm and brave, he could not bear to see him die, and he told his men not to fire upon him." For this and similar acts Appleton was promoted to colonel and eventually, on May 18, 1866, brevetted as a brigadier general of volunteers (back dated to March 13, 1865).
Appleton subsequently accepted command of a free black regiment (the 81st Regiment Infantry U.S. Colored Troops
United States Colored Troops
The United States Colored Troops were regiments of the United States Army during the American Civil War that were composed of African American soldiers. First recruited in 1863, by the end of the Civil War, the men of the 175 regiments of the USCT constituted approximately one-tenth of the Union...
), as did another Union general from Bangor serving in Louisiana, Cyrus Hamlin
Cyrus Hamlin (general)
Cyrus Hamlin was an attorney, politician, and a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Early life:...
, the son of Vice President Hannibal Hamlin
Hannibal Hamlin
Hannibal Hamlin was the 15th Vice President of the United States , serving under President Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War...
, who had strongly urged the arming of freed slaves.
Postbellum
On May 18, 1866, the U.S. Senate confirmed the award to Colonel Appleton of the honorary grade of brevetBrevet (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, U.S. Volunteers, to rank from March 13, 1865 for faithful and meritorious services.
During Southern Reconstruction, Appleton was offered the position of U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Texas, but declined due to ill-health. He practiced law in Bangor and died there in 1870. He is buried in the city's Mount Hope Cemetery.