George W. Taylor (general)

Infobox Military Person
name= George William Taylor
born= 1808
died= September 1, 1862


caption=
nickname=
placeofbirth= High Bridge, New Jersey
placeofdeath= Alexandria, Virginia
allegiance= United States of America
branch=
branch= Union Army
serviceyears= 1861–62
rank= Brigadier General
unit= Army of the Potomac
commands= Taylor's Brigade
battles= American Civil War
*First Battle of Manassas
*Peninsula Campaign
**Seven Days Battles
*First Battle of Rappahannock Station
*Second Battle of Manassas
awards=
relations=
laterwork=

George William Taylor (1808 – September 1, 1862) was a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He commanded a brigade in the Army of the Potomac before being mortally wounded at the Second Battle of Manassas in Northern Virginia.

Early life and career

Taylor was born at "Solitude," the family's mansion near High Bridge, New Jersey, which was the home to five generations of the Taylor family. He was the son of Archibald Taylor, a prominent local businessman. [ [http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=5462 New Jersey historical marker for "Solitude."] ] Taylor graduated from a private military academy in Middletown, Connecticut.

In 1827, Taylor joined the U.S. Navy as a midshipman, serving aboard the USS "Fairfield" during her Mediterranean deployment from 1828-1831. When the ship returned to the U.S., he resigned from the Navy and entered his family's mercantile business With the outbreak of the war with Mexico in 1848, he became a captain in the 10th U.S. Infantry under Zachary Taylor. While in Mexico, he developed a reputation for discipline and order among his men. He also cultivated a strong friendship with Philip Kearny, a fellow future Civil War general. [ [http://www.clintonnj.gov/history_people.html Clinton, New Jersey, history] ]

After receiving his honorable discharge with the end of the hostilities, Taylor joined the California Gold Rush and spent three years mining at Corte Madera, California, (near San Francisco) before returning to New Jersey, where he engaged in the manufacturing of iron until the Civil War erupted in early 1861. [ [http://www.clements.umich.edu/Webguides/Arlenes/T/Taylor.html George W. Taylor papers, University of Michigan] ]

Civil War service

Taylor helped recruited and organize what became the 3rd New Jersey Volunteer Infantry in May 1861 and was appointed by Governor Olden as the new regiment's first colonel. His son, Archibald II, served as his aide-de-camp. Taylor was involved in the fighting at the First Battle of Manassas. Later, his 3rd New Jersey was brigaded with the 1st, 2nd, and 4th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry to make up what became famed as the "First New Jersey Brigade". Taylor's regiment served in the 1st Brigade, 1st Division of the VI Corps, in numerous battles in the Seven Days Battles during the end of the Peninsula Campaign.

When his mentor and friend Kearny was elevated to division command in June 1862, Taylor was promoted to brigadier general of the 1st New Jersey Brigade, leading it in the Northern Virginia Campaign in August 1862. He was mortally wounded on August 27, 1862, at the Second Battle of Manassas while defending a bridge on the Orange & Alexandria Railroad when an artillery shell exploded near him and hurled him into the air. Badly injured, he was transported to a hospital in Alexandria, Virginia, where he died on September 1.

His body was transported to Clinton, New Jersey, via train, where hundreds of people turned out for his funeral. He was buried in the Presbyterian Churchyard. A year later, his nephew was killed at the Battle of Chancellorsville and buried beside him.

References

* Eicher, John H., and Eicher, David J., "Civil War High Commands", Stanford University Press, 2001, ISBN 0-8047-3641-3.
* U.S. War Department, [http://ehistory.osu.edu/osu/sources/records/list.cfm "The War of the Rebellion"] : "a Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies", U.S. Government Printing Office, 1880–1901.

Notes