James B. Ricketts | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1817-06-21)June 21, 1817 New York City, US |
| Died | September 22, 1887(1887-09-22) (aged 70) Washington, D.C., US |
| Place of burial | |
| Allegiance |  United States (Union) |
| Service | United States Army Union Army |
| Years of service | 1839–1867 |
| Rank |  Major General |
| Commands | I Corps,Army of Virginia |
| Battles / wars | Mexican–American War Seminole Wars American Civil War |
James Brewerton Ricketts (June 21, 1817 – September 22, 1887) was a career officer in theUnited States Army, serving as aUnion Army general during theCivil War.
AtFirst Bull Run, he was wounded and captured, but later exchanged. He fought atSecond Bull Run andAntietam, where he was badly injured when his horse fell on him. While recuperating, he served on theFitz John Portercourt-martial, a highly political case, where his loyalties are believed to have cost him promotion. Later he commanded a division in theOverland campaign, and a corps in theShenandoah Valley Campaign under Sheridan, where he received a chest wound atCedar Creek that disabled him for life.
Ricketts was born inNew York City. He graduated 16th in a class of 31 at theUnited States Military Academy in 1839 and was assigned to the1st U.S. Artillery. Ricketts was married twice, first to Harriet Pierce, in 1840, daughter ofBenjamin Kendrick Pierce (brother of future U.S. PresidentFranklin Pierce) and Josette Laframboise. They had one child, a daughterMary Brewerton Ricketts, born in 1842. After Harriet's death in 1854, he married Frances "Fanny" Lawrence (1835-1900) and they had two children, Frances Brewerton (1866-1946) and Basil Norris (1868-1910).[1] He served during the Canada border disturbances on garrison duty and then was promoted tofirst lieutenant in April 1846. Ricketts saw considerable action during theMexican–American War, participating in theBattle of Monterrey, and as commander of a gun, along withAbner Doubleday, held the Rinconada Pass during theBattle of Buena Vista. Despite his active service, he received no brevet promotions during the Mexican–American War, unlike many of his fellow officers.
Following his return from Mexico, Ricketts served in various army posts. He was promoted tocaptain in August 1853 and served inFlorida against theSeminole Indians, and subsequently onfrontier duty inTexas.
At the beginning of the Civil War, Ricketts served in the defenses ofWashington, D.C., and commanded anartillery battery in the capture ofConfederate-heldAlexandria, Virginia, in early 1861. His battery was then attached toWilliam B. Franklin's Brigade ofSamuel Heintzelman's Division. He was shot four times and captured at theFirst Battle of Bull Run on July 21 when his battery,Battery I, 1st U.S. Artillery, was overrun by Confederate infantry. For his personal bravery in the face of overwhelming odds, on that same day Ricketts wasbrevetted as alieutenant colonel in theRegular Army. He was confined as aprisoner of war inRichmond, although his wife Fannie was allowed to travel to Richmond and stay with him as his nurse. On December 18, 1861, he was exchanged for Confederate ColonelJulius A. De Lagnel. Ricketts was not paroled until January 1862, when he was placed on medical leave to recuperate. On April 30, 1862,PresidentAbraham Lincoln appointed Ricketts abrigadier general of volunteers to rank from July 21, 1861.[2] The President had nominated Ricketts for the promotion on March 27, 1862, and the U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment on April 28, 1862.[2]
On his return to duty, Ricketts was assigned to command of a division inIrvin McDowell's corps, which he commanded at theBattle of Cedar Mountain, where he coveredNathaniel P. Banks's withdrawal. AtSecond Bull Run, his division was thrown forward by McDowell into Thoroughfare Gap to bar the advance ofJames Longstreet, who was seeking to unite his wing with that ofStonewall Jackson. Ricketts, who was being flanked and in danger of being cut off, withdrew. At the subsequentBattle of Antietam, he had two horses killed under him and he was badly injured when the second one fell on him. When he recovered sufficiently for duty, he was appointed to theFitz John Portercourt-martial. The trial was created to convict, with every judge beholden toEdwin M. Stanton for tenure or impending promotion except forBenjamin M. Prentiss. Ricketts probably voted for acquittal and was not promoted.
He did not return to the field until March 1864, when he was assigned to a division ofJohn Sedgwick'sVI Corps, which he led throughUlysses S. Grant'sOverland Campaign. Many of his men were former members ofRobert H. Milroy's malignedWinchester command, widely derided as "Milroy's weary boys." The division performed poorly at theBattle of the Wilderness, having one of its brigadiers and several hundred men taken prisoner by the Confederates, and without note atSpotsylvania Court House. However, Ricketts received the brevet ofcolonel, Regular Army, for gallant and meritorious services atCold Harbor, Virginia, June 3, 1864, where he and his men performed well.
In July 1864, Ricketts and his command, numbering only 3,350 men, were sent north to opposeJubal Early's attack on Washington, D.C. Ricketts fought at theBattle of Monocacy under Major GeneralLew Wallace, suffering the heaviest losses while holding the Union left flank. For his service there, on December 12, 1864, President Lincoln nominated Ricketts for appointment to thebrevet grade ofmajor general of volunteers, to rank from August 1, 1864, and the U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment on February 14, 1865.[3] Ricketts was engaged inPhilip Sheridan'sShenandoah Valley Campaign. At theBattle of Cedar Creek, he commanded the VI Corps in the initial hours of the fighting but was wounded by aMinié ball through his chest that disabled him for life. Despite his poor health, he returned to command of his division two days beforeRobert E. Lee's surrender atAppomattox Court House, April 9, 1865.
In late July 1865, Ricketts was assigned to the command of a district in the Department of Virginia, a post he held until April 30, 1866, when he was mustered out of the volunteer service.[2] On April 10, 1866, President Andrew Johnson nominated Ricketts for appointment to the brevet grade of brigadier general, United States Army, for gallant services at the Battle of Cedar Creek, to rank from March 13, 1865, and the U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment on May 4, 1866.[4] On July 17, 1866, President Andrew Johnson nominated Ricketts for appointment to the brevet grade of major general, United States Army, "gallant and meritorious service in the field," to rank from March 13, 1865, and the U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment on July 23, 1866.[5] Ricketts was appointedlieutenant colonel, 21st U.S. Infantry in July 1866, but he declined the post.
Ricketts retired from active service on January 3, 1867, due to disability from wounds received in battle, and served on various courts-martial until January 1869. He was placed on the retired list as a major general in the regular army, to rank from January 3, 1867, the date of his retirement.[6]
Never in good health due to his chest wound suffered while serving in theShenandoah Valley, after Ricketts retired from the army, he lived in Washington, D.C., for the rest of his life. He died there in his home on September 27, 1887, and was buried atArlington National Cemetery, inArlington, Virginia.[7] His wife was buried alongside him when she died in 1900. One of their sons, Basil Norris Ricketts, served in theRough Riders underTheodore Roosevelt during theSpanish–American War and is buried near them.
Ricketts' grave marker reads:
Assigned to artillery on the Canadian frontier. Served through the War with Mexico. Frontier duty in Texas. Engaged in twenty seven battles of the rebellion. Was wounded five times. Prisoner of war in Richmond. Died September 27, 1887 from wounds received while commanding the Sixth Army Corps in the Shenandoah Valley. He gave his honors to the world again. His blessings part to heaven, and sleeps in peace.
Attribution:
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Wilson, J. G.;Fiske, J., eds. (1891).Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography. New York: D. Appleton.
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| Military offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Commander of theIII Corps (Army of Virginia) September 5–6, 1862 | Succeeded by |
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