Major General John Sedgwick - Cornwall Hollow, CT - Grave of a Famous Person on Waymarking.com

Description: John Sedgwick was born on September 13, 1813 in Cornwall, CT. He United States Military Academy and graduated as a 2nd lieutenant in 1837. He was assigned to the in the U.S. Army artillery. He saw service in the Seminole Wars and the Mexican-American War where he received brevet promotions to captain then major. Subsequently he transferred to the cavalry and served in Kansas, the Utah War, and in the Indian Wars. When the Civil War began, Sedgwick was a colonel and Assistant Inspector General of the Military Department of Washington, DC. He was promoted to brigadier general on August 31, 1861 and served with the Army of the Potomac. He fought at Yorktown, Seven Pines, and was wounded in the arm and leg at the Battle of Glendale. He was promoted to major general on July 4, 1862. He returned to action at the Battle of Chancellorsville in April of 1963. His unit arrived at the Battle of Gettysburg on June 2, 1863 and saw limited action. He then participated in the Overland Campaign. General Sedgwick was shot and killed by a sniper at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, on May 9, 1864, making him the highest ranking Union casualty in the Civil War. He is buried near his home in Cornwall Hollow, Connecticut. The interesting story about how he was killed as described in Wikipedia: "His corps was probing skirmish lines ahead of the left flank of Confederate defenses and he was directing artillery placements. Confederate sharpshooters were about 1,000 yards (900 m) away, and their shots caused members of his staff and artillerymen to duck for cover. Sedgwick strode around in the open and was quoted as saying, "What? Men dodging this way for single bullets? What will you do when they open fire along the whole line?" Although ashamed, his men continued to flinch and he said, "Why are you dodging like this? They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance." Reports that he never finished the sentence are apocryphal, although the line was among his last words. He was shot moments later under the left eye and fell down dead." Date of birth: 09/13/1813 Date of death: 05/09/1864 Area of notoriety: Military Marker Type: Monument Setting: Outdoor Visiting Hours/Restrictions: Daylight Hours Fee required?: No Web site: [Web Link]

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