Mahlon Dickerson Manson
Encyclopedia
Mahlon Dickerson Manson (February 20, 1820 – February 4, 1895) was a druggist, Indiana
politician, and a Union
general in the American Civil War
.
, to David Manson, Jr., and Sarah Cornwall. He was a descendant of David Manson
, an aide to Revolutionary War
General George Washington
. His family moved to Crawfordsville, Indiana
. He was a school teacher in Montgomery County, Indiana
. He studied medicine in Cincinnati, Ohio
, and gave medical lectures in New Orleans
. During the Mexican-American War he served with the 5th Indiana Volunteers
as a captain. He was a druggist in Crawfordsville, Indiana
, and a member of the Indiana Legislature.
At the beginning of the Civil War he was appointed a captain in the 10th Indiana Infantry
and was promoted to colonel in less than a month. He commanded a brigade in the Army of the Ohio
at the Battle of Mill Springs
in 1862 and was promoted to brigadier general
on March 24, 1862, based on his actions there. General Manson was wounded in the thigh and captured by Confederate
forces at the Battle of Richmond, Kentucky. He was exchanged two months later and fought Morgan on his raid
into Ohio. In the span of two months Manson advanced from brigade
, to division
and then to command the XXIII Corps
. He led the corps during the Knoxville Campaign
seeing action at Campbell's Station
and Knoxville
. General Manson returned to brigade command, in the Army of the Ohio
, during the Atlanta Campaign
and was seriously wounded in the Battle of Resaca
, Georgia.
After the war he served in the United States House of Representatives
as a Democrat from 1871 to 1873, was state auditor, and the 20th Lieutenant Governor
of Indiana from 1885-1886.
Manson died in Frankfort, Indiana, and is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Crawfordsville.
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
politician, and a Union
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...
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...
.
Biography
Manson was born in Piqua, OhioPiqua, Ohio
Piqua is a city in Miami County, Ohio, United States. The population was 20,738 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area.Piqua was one of the cities that experienced severe flooding during the Great Dayton Flood of 1913....
, to David Manson, Jr., and Sarah Cornwall. He was a descendant of David Manson
David Manson
David Manson, Sr. was an early patriot who fought in the American Revolutionary War on the side of the colonies in Pennsylvania and New Jersey....
, an aide to Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
General George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
. His family moved to Crawfordsville, Indiana
Crawfordsville, Indiana
Crawfordsville is a city in Union Township, Montgomery County, Indiana, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 15,915. The city is the county seat of Montgomery County...
. He was a school teacher in Montgomery County, Indiana
Montgomery County, Indiana
Montgomery County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 38,124. The county seat is Crawfordsville-Early history and settlement:...
. He studied medicine in Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
, and gave medical lectures in New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
. During the Mexican-American War he served with the 5th Indiana Volunteers
5th Indiana Volunteers
The 5th Indiana Volunteers, also known as the 5th Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, was an infantry regiment that participated in the Mexican-American War. The unit was formed and commanded by Lieutenant Colonel and future Governor of Indiana Henry Smith Lane who had recently returned from...
as a captain. He was a druggist in Crawfordsville, Indiana
Crawfordsville, Indiana
Crawfordsville is a city in Union Township, Montgomery County, Indiana, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 15,915. The city is the county seat of Montgomery County...
, and a member of the Indiana Legislature.
At the beginning of the Civil War he was appointed a captain in the 10th Indiana Infantry
10th Regiment Indiana Infantry
The 10th Regiment Indiana Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Three-months regiment:The 10th Indiana Infantry organized at Indianapolis, Indiana April 22–25, 1861 in response to President Lincoln's call for 75,000 volunteers. The regiment performed...
and was promoted to colonel in less than a month. He commanded a brigade in 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:...
at the Battle of Mill Springs
Battle of Mill Springs
The Battle of Mill Springs, also known as the Battle of Fishing Creek in Confederate terminology, and the Battle of Logan's Cross Roads in Union terminology, was fought in Wayne and Pulaski counties, near current Nancy, Kentucky, on January 19, 1862, as part of the American Civil War. It...
in 1862 and was promoted to 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...
on March 24, 1862, based on his actions there. General Manson was wounded in the thigh and captured by 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 at the Battle of Richmond, Kentucky. He was exchanged two months later and fought Morgan on his raid
Morgan's Raid
Morgan's Raid was a highly publicized incursion by Confederate cavalry into the Northern states of Indiana and Ohio during the American Civil War. The raid took place from June 11–July 26, 1863, and is named for the commander of the Confederates, Brig. Gen...
into Ohio. In the span of two months Manson advanced from 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...
, to division
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
and then to command the XXIII Corps
XXIII Corps (ACW)
XXIII Corps was a corps of the Union Army during the American Civil War. It served in the Western Theater as part of the Army of the Ohio.The corps was organized in April 1863 by order of the departmental commander, Ambrose E. Burnside...
. He led the corps during the Knoxville Campaign
Knoxville Campaign
The Knoxville Campaign was a series of American Civil War battles and maneuvers in East Tennessee during the fall of 1863. Union forces under Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnside occupied Knoxville, Tennessee, and Confederate forces under Lt. Gen. James Longstreet were detached from Gen...
seeing action at Campbell's Station
Battle of Campbell's Station
The Battle of Campbell's Station was a battle of the Knoxville Campaign of the American Civil War, occurring on November 16, 1863, at Campbell's Station, , Knox County, Tennessee....
and Knoxville
Battle of Fort Sanders
The Battle of Fort Sanders was the decisive engagement of the Knoxville Campaign of the American Civil War, fought in Knoxville, Tennessee, on November 29, 1863. Assaults by Confederate Lt. Gen. James Longstreet failed to break through the defensive lines of Union Maj. Gen...
. General Manson returned to brigade command, in 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:...
, during the Atlanta Campaign
Atlanta Campaign
The Atlanta Campaign was a series of battles fought in the Western Theater of the American Civil War throughout northwest Georgia and the area around Atlanta during the summer of 1864. Union Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman invaded Georgia from the vicinity of Chattanooga, Tennessee, beginning in May...
and was seriously wounded in the Battle of Resaca
Battle of Resaca
The Battle of Resaca was part of the Atlanta Campaign of the American Civil War. The battle was waged in both Gordon and Whitfield counties, Georgia, from May 13 - 15, 1864. It ended inconclusively with the Confederate Army retreating. The engagement was fought between the Military Division of the...
, Georgia.
After the war he served in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
as a Democrat from 1871 to 1873, was state auditor, and the 20th Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of Indiana
The Lieutenant Governor of Indiana is a constitutional office in the US State of Indiana. Republican Becky Skillman, whose term expires in January 2013, is the incumbent...
of Indiana from 1885-1886.
Manson died in Frankfort, Indiana, and is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Crawfordsville.
See also
- List of American Civil War generals