John H. Winder

Infobox Military Person
name= John Henry Winder
born= Birth date|1800|02|21
died= February 7, 1865
placeofbirth= Somerset County, Maryland
placeofdeath= Florence, South Carolina


caption= John Henry Winder
nickname=
allegiance= United States of America
Confederate States of America
serviceyears=1820–23, 1827–61 (USA)
1861–65 (CSA)
rank= Brev. Lt. Colonel (USA)
Brigadier General (CSA)
commands=Confederate Bureau of Prison Camps
unit=
battles=Mexican War
* Battle of Contreras
* Battle of Churubusco
* Battle for Mexico City
American Civil War
laterwork=

John Henry Winder (February 7, 1800 – February 21, 1865) was a career United States Army officer who serving during the Mexican War. He later served as a Confederate general officer during the American Civil War, noted for commanding prisoner-of-war camps throughout the South late in the war.

Early life

Winder was born at "Rewston" in Somerset County, Maryland, a son of U.S. Army Brig. Gen. William H. Winder and a second cousin to future Confederate general Charles Sidney Winder. In 1814 he entered the United States Military Academy at West Point, and graduated 11th of 30 cadets in 1820. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the artillery. On October 23 he was transferred to the U.S. Rifle Regiment, and on June 1, 1821, he transferred to the 4th U.S. Artillery. Another transfer brought Winder to the 3rd U.S. Artillery on August 16.Eicher, p. 757.]

Winder resigned his commission on August 31, 1823, and would be out of the Army for almost four years. On April 2, 1827, he was reinstated as a second lieutenant and served in the 1st U.S. Artillery. He would be promoted to first lieutenant on November 30, 1833. Winder was the 1st Artillery's Regimental Adjutant from May 23, 1838, until January 20, 1840. He was promoted to captain on October 7, 1842.

Mexican War

Winder fought well in Mexico, winning brevet promotions to major on August 20, 1847 (for both his conduct at the Battle of Contreras and for the Battle of Churubusco) and to lieutenant colonel on September 14 (for his actions at the Battle for Mexico City.) He was also wounded in the fight near the Belén Gate, which guarded an approach into Mexico City, on that same day. After the war he was promoted to major on November 22, 1860.

American Civil War

Winder chose to fight for the Confederate cause and resigned his U.S. Army commission on April 27, 1861. He was appointed a colonel in the Confederate Army infantry on March 16. He was then promoted to brigadier general on June 21 and the next day was made Assistant Inspector General of the Camps of Instruction that were in the Confederacy's capital of Richmond, Virginia, a post he would hold until October 21.

Winder commanded the Department of Henrico for much of the war, lasting until May 5, 1864. He then commanded the 2nd District of the Department of North Carolina & Southern Virginia from May 25 until June 7. Ten days later he briefly commanded Camp Sumter (the famous Andersonville Prison) in Georgia until July 26. Winder then was given command of all military prisons in Georgia as well as those in Alabama until November 21, when he was put in charge of the Confederate Bureau of Prison Camps, a post which he held until his death on February 7, 1865.

Death and burial

Winder died on duty in Florence, South Carolina, of a heart attack in 1865. His body was brought back to Maryland and interred at Green Mount Cemetery in Baltimore.

References

* Eicher, John H., and Eicher, David J., "Civil War High Commands", Stanford University Press, 2001, ISBN 0-8047-3641-3.

Notes

See also

* List of Confederate States Army Generals