William S. Tilton | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1828-02-11)February 11, 1828 Newburyport, Massachusetts |
| Died | March 23, 1889(1889-03-23) (aged 61) Newtonville, Massachusetts |
| Place of burial | |
| Allegiance | United States of America Union |
| Service | Union Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1864 |
| Rank |  Colonel BrevetBrigadier General |
| Commands | 22nd Massachusetts Infantry Regiment 1st Brigade, 1st Division,V Corps |
| Battles / wars | American Civil War |
| Other work | Manufacturer and merchant |
William Stowell Tilton (February 1, 1828 – March 23, 1889) was an American businessman and soldier who led aregiment, and occasionally abrigade, in theArmy of the Potomac during theAmerican Civil War. He and his men were heavily engaged in theBattle of Gettysburg, where Tilton's performance created controversy.
William Tilton was born inNewburyport, Massachusetts. He was educated in the local schools. He was a manufacturer and merchant in the years before the war.
Tilton enlisted in the army and became afirst lieutenant in the22nd Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry on September 12, 1861. He was promoted to the rank ofmajor on October 2 of that year. Tilton served in thePeninsula Campaign in the army of Maj. Gen.George B. McClellan, serving in the 1st Brigade, 1st Division,V Corps. He was wounded in the shoulder and captured on May 27, 1862, at theBattle of Gaines' Mill. Tilton was exchanged on August 15 of that year. In the meantime, he had becomelieutenant colonel of the regiment on June 28. At that rank, he led the regiment in the 1st Brigade, which was led by Col.James Barnes at theBattle of Antietam.
Tilton was madecolonel of the 22nd Massachusetts Infantry on October 17, leading the regiment at theBattle of Fredericksburg. In 1863, Tilton continued leading the regiment in the First Brigade, First Division, under Barnes, who had recently become a brigadier general, including at theBattle of Chancellorsville. When Brig. Gen.Charles Griffin went on leave following Chancellorsville, Barnes became actingdivision commander. Tilton, by seniority, took charge of the First Brigade.
He led the brigade at theBattle of Gettysburg. His command was deployed on the right flank of Col.Jacob B. Sweitzer's 2nd Brigade in between thePeach Orchard and theWheatfield on July 2, 1863. What followed has remained controversial. When Barnes's division was under attack, he told both brigade commanders they could retreat. Sweitzer saw this as a peremptory command, but Tilton described this in his report as discretionary.[1] Whatever the truth of this, Tilton said he reconnoitered and discovered a largeConfederate force coming up on his left flank. This led him to order a retreat. This left a gap in the Federal line, and other veterans later criticized the actions of Tilton and Barnes.
On July 3, the 1st Brigade relieved Col.Strong Vincent's 3rd Brigade, which had passed to Col.James C. Rice after Vincent had been killed in the defense ofLittle Round Top. Tilton reported only 474 soldiers present for duty at Gettysburg and a loss of 109 from that number. Another estimate is that Tilton lost 125 of 655 men, a loss of 19.1%, a low percentage compared to Sweitzer's 30% reported by the same author.[2]
After Gettysburg, Tilton retained brigade command until August 18, 1863. He returned to regimental command until November 19, when he again resumed brigade command. When theArmy of the Potomac was reorganized in 1864 forLt. Gen.Ulysses S. Grant'sOverland Campaign, Tilton was assigned to lead his regiment in Jacob Sweitzer's brigade of Griffin's division. He served in that role in theBattle of the Wilderness, theBattle of Spotsylvania Court House, and theBattle of Cold Harbor, as well as in the early stages of theSiege of Petersburg. Tilton remained in regimental command until June 18, 1864, when he again became acting brigade commander until August 22. During this time he was engaged in action at the battles ofJerusalem Plank Road andGlobe Tavern.
Tilton was mustered out of volunteer service on October 17 of that year. On December 12, 1864,[3]PresidentAbraham Lincoln nominated Tilton for the award of the honorary grade ofbrevetbrigadier general,United States Volunteers, to rank from September 9, 1864, for distinguished services during the war.[4] TheU.S. Senate confirmed the award on February 20, 1865.[3]
In 1866 General Tilton became a member of theAncient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts. He was also a member of the Massachusetts Commandery of theMilitary Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States.
Tilton served as governor of the National Soldiers' Home inTogus, Maine, from 1869 to 1883. He retired to a home inBoston, Massachusetts.[5]
He died inNewtonville, Massachusetts, and was buried atMount Auburn Cemetery inCambridge, Massachusetts.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link).| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
