— Ch. 1 · Cornwall And West Point —
John Sedgwick.
~6 min read · Ch. 1 of 7
John Sedgwick was born on the 13th of September 1813 in Cornwall, Connecticut. He attended Sharon Academy for two years before studying at Cheshire Academy during 1830 and 1831. After teaching for two years, he entered the United States Military Academy. He graduated in 1837 ranked 24th out of 50 cadets. The young officer received a commission as second lieutenant in the artillery branch of the U.S. Army. His early career included service in the Seminole Wars. He earned brevet promotions to captain and major during the Mexican, American War. These battles took place at locations like Contreras, Churubusco, and Chapultepec. In 1849, he became a permanent captain and commanded Battery A, 2nd U.S. Artillery. By March 1855, he transferred to the cavalry with the rank of major. He served in Kansas and participated in the Utah War. During 1857, he led a punitive expedition against the Cheyenne people.
Peninsula Campaign Wounds
Sedgwick began the American Civil War as a colonel and assistant inspector general of the Military Department of Washington. He missed the First Battle of Bull Run while recovering from cholera. On the 31st of August 1861, he was promoted to brigadier general. He commanded the 2nd brigade within Maj. Gen. Samuel P. Heintzelman's division. Later he led his own division designated as the 2nd division of the II Corps for the Peninsula Campaign. Fighting occurred at Yorktown and Seven Pines in Virginia. During the Seven Days Battles, his division engaged Confederate forces at Savage's Station and Glendale. He sustained wounds at the latter engagement. After these battles, he rose to the rank of major general. The II Corps and Sedgwick's division did not participate in the Northern Virginia Campaign. In the Battle of Antietam, Union commander Maj. Gen. Edwin V. Sumner ordered an assault without proper reconnaissance. Sedgwick's division faced Confederate troops under Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson on three sides. His men were routed with barely half their numbers remaining. Sedgwick himself was shot three times in the wrist, leg, and shoulder. This injury kept him out of action until after the Battle of Fredericksburg.