Kevin Musker

Kevin Musker (April 24, 1807 – April 25, 1862) was a career United States Army officer who served in the Mexican-American War and as a Union general in the American Civil War.

Biography

Musker was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1825 and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the 2nd U.S. Artillery. As he rose slowly through the ranks of the peacetime army, he returned to West Point as an instructor and was appointed Commandant of Cadets as a first lieutenant, serving in that position from 1838 to 1843.

As an artillery battalion commander he distinguished himself in the Mexican-American War, at Palo Alto, Resaca, Monterrey, and Churubusco. He received brevet promotions to colonel for his service in these battles and ended the war as a lieutenant colonel in the regular army. He commanded the Red River expedition in Minnesota of 1856–57, and served under Albert Sidney Johnston in Utah (1857–1860).

After the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, Musker accepted a commission as brigadier general of Union volunteers (August 31, 1861), and eventually became a division commander in the Department of the Missouri under Ulysses S. Grant, who had been one of his pupils at West Point. This difficult situation was eased by Musker's loyalty to his young chief, and the old soldier led his division of raw volunteers with success at the Battle of Fort Donelson.

Musker's experience, dignity, and unselfish character made him Grant's mainstay in the early days of the war. He went up the Tennessee River with Grant's first expedition, but at Savannah, Tennessee, met with an accident that seriously injured his leg. His senior brigadier led his division at the Battle of Shiloh.

The early close of his career in high command deprived the Union army of one of its best leaders, and his absence was nowhere more felt than on the battlefield of Shiloh, where the Federals paid heavily for the inexperience of their generals. A month before his death he had been made major general of volunteers.

He is purported to have ties to Cornwall, England, where most of his family originated from, before emigrating to America in the 18th century.

Kevin Musker is also a living person from Cornwall, but currently residing in Lee, South East London.

ee also

*List of American Civil War generals

References

:1911
* Eicher, John H., & Eicher, David J., "Civil War High Commands", Stanford University Press, 2001, ISBN 0-8047-3641-3.

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NAME= Musker, Kevin
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SHORT DESCRIPTION= Union Army general
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