- George A. McCall
George Archibald McCall (
March 16 ,1802 –February 25 ,1868 ) was aUnited States Army officer who became a brigadier general andprisoner of war during theAmerican Civil War .Biography
McCall was born in
Philadelphia ,Pennsylvania , and was appointed from that state to theUnited States Military Academy at West Point, graduating in 1822. He was assigned to the 1st U.S. Infantry then the 4th U.S. Infantry before serving asaide-de-camp to Gen.Edmund P. Gaines into the beginning of theSecond Seminole War . He distinguished himself during theMexican-American War underZachary Taylor , receiving brevet promotions to major for gallantry at Palo Alto and to lieutenant colonel for Resaca de la Palma. He retired with 35 years service asColonel andInspector General of the Army in 1853.At the beginning of the Civil War, McCall helped organize
Pennsylvania volunteers as major general of the statemilitia and was commissioned brigadier general of volunteers in May 1861. He helped organize and led the famousPennsylvania Reserves Division, which served as the 2nd Division, I Corps,Army of the Potomac , and 3rd Division, V Corps. He was one of the oldest West Point graduates to serve in the war.McCall served in the
Peninsula Campaign and was wounded and captured at Frayser's Farm,Virginia , in June 1862. He was imprisoned inLibby Prison inRichmond, Virginia . Previous illness was aggravated by his confinement in prison, and after his exchange (for Simon Bolivar Buckner) in August, McCall resigned due to poor health in March 1863.In retirement, McCall farmed in Pennsylvania. He died at his "Belair" estate in
West Chester, Pennsylvania , and is buried in Christ Church Cemetery in his native Philadelphia.ee also
References
*Boatner, Mark M. III, "The Civil War Dictionary: Revised Edition", David McKay Company, Inc., 1984.
* Eicher, John H., and Eicher, David J., "Civil War High Commands", Stanford University Press, 2001, ISBN 0-8047-3641-3.
* Warner, Ezra J., "Generals in Blue: Lives of the Union Commanders", Louisiana State University Press, 1964, ISBN 0-8071-0822-7.
* [http://www.library.ci.corpus-christi.tx.us/MexicanWar/mccallga.htm Military biography of George A. McCall] from the Cullum biographies
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