General Alfred Pleasanton
Does anyone have any info about this Civil War general? Supposedly, my gggrandfather served under him as a colonel. Thank you. Steve
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I don't have it documented but, I believe the general is from the Maryland Pleasonton's who moved from Deleware, where the family name is spelled Pleasanton. I believe the town in California, along I-695, is named after the general.
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Re: General Alfred Pleasanton-military bio
"The Harper Encyclopedia of Military Biography...Trevor N. Dupuy, Curt Johnson & David L. Bongard c1992. pub. 1995, Castle Books pg. 600 Pleasanton Alfred (1824-1897), American general. Principal wars; U.S. - Mexican War (1846-8); Civil War (1861-5). Principal battles; Palo Alto, Resaca de la Palma (both nera Brownsville, Texas)(18460; South Mountain (Maryland), Antietam, Fredericksburg (1862); Chancellorsville (near Fredericksburg), Brandy Station (near Culpeper), Gettysburg (1863); Westport (now part of Kansas City, Missouri 1864)
Born in Washington D.C. (June 7, 1824), he graduated from West Point & was commissioned in the 2d Dragoons (1844); serving in the Mexican War, he won a brevet to 1st lieutenant for Palo Alto (May 8, 1846) & Resca de la Palma (May 9); as 1st lieutentant (Sept 1849) he served on the western frontier, & as captain (March 1855) he was posted to Col. William S. Harney's staff in St. Louis, seeing action in several Indian campaigns (1855-61); led 2nd Cavalry Regiment on a march from Utah to Washington D.C. (Sept. 1861), & was promoted to major (Feb. 1862); served with distinction during the Peninsula campaign (April-July 1862), & afterwards was made a brigadier general of volunteers (July); commanded a cavalry division at South Mountain (Sept. 14)(winning a brevet to lieutenant colonel), Antietam (Sept. 17), & Fredericksburg (Dec. 13); at Chancellorsville his skilled cavalry & artillery screen covered the retreat of Gen. Howard's XI Corps & slowed Jackson's advance (May 2, 18630; surprised J.E.B. Stuart's cavalry at Brandy Station & fought him to a draw (June 9); promoted to major general of voluteers (late June), he commanded the Army of the Potomac's cavalry at Gettysburg (July 1-3) & was rewarded with brevet to colonel; transferred to Missouri (early 1864), he played a mojor role in the defense of that state against Gen. Sterling Price's invasion (Oct. 1864); defeated Price in a series of battles around Jefferson City (Oct. 8-25), culminating in Pleasanton's vistory at Westport (Oct. 23); brevetted brigadier & major general (march 1865), but he reverted to his permanent rank of captain after the war ended; he disliked having to serve under wartimes subordinates, & resigned from the Army (Jan. 1868)...promoted to major on the retired list (Oct. 1888); died in Washington D.C. (Feb. 17, 1897) An able & resourceful cavalry commander, one of the relative handful of competent cavalrymen the Union possessed. (by) DLB (David L Bongard) Sources; Warner, Erza, Generals in Blue. Baton Rouge 1977 WAMB (Webster's Biographical Dictionary. Springfield, Mass., 1953)" not my family .
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Re: General Alfred Pleasanton
If you are still looking for info for General Pleasanton, my husband is his 3 X nephew and we have a great deal of info we can share. Just let me know. I will say that altho he did have some family here in Delaware, he himself was born in Washington, DC and the only other connection w Delaware is that he did come here to recruit volunteers for the Civil War. And the town of Pleasanton, CA was named for him but without his knowledge. One of his soldiers had originally been planned to be the nominee, but declined and asked instead that the town be named for the man he admired most in the world, Major General Alfred Pleasanton.
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Re: General Alfred Pleasanton
Noticed your post on Alfred Pleasonton. I am a member of a living history organization and portray General Pleasonton. I have studied him for many years and there is much I do not know (cannot find). I am also contemplating writing a bio of him someday. Any help or information you would be willing to share would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
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Re: General Alfred Pleasanton
I would be happy to help you with information on Alfred. If you will give me your email, I can then send you the info you wish. Most of our material is of course, family related, but we do have alot of his military papers, correspondence, pictures, etc. I'm glad to hear that you are portraying him and would be interested in knowing what made you choose him. We also belong to a similiar organization so I find that fascinating. Please let me know and I will be happy to help. Thanks, B. Bishop
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Re: General Alfred Pleasanton
Thank you very much for your response. My email is twobay@teleport.com and I welcome your assistance. I will keep all other comments to future email correspondence and sincerely look forward to it. Many thanks. Bill
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Re: General Alfred Pleasanton
Just wondering if you received my response to your message. I will have an opportunity to portray General Peasonton at this years Gettysburg's 150th Anniversary as a guest of Lincoln's Generals (my organization is www.uniongenerals.org). Hope to hear from you sometime in the near future. Thank you very much for your offer to help me with learning more about Alfred. Bill Fuzia
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Re: General Alfred Pleasanton
I would appreciate any info regarding General Pleasanton. My name is Paul Pleasanton. My father was Winford Arthur Pleasanton, born in 1909 in Millington, Maryland. I live in California near Pleasanton, California strictly by accident. My email address is paulp94606@aol.com
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Re: General Alfred Pleasanton
My name is Heather Pleasanton and I'm interested in learning about the general as well. My grandfathers name was William Collins pleasanton and his father was William Lloyd pleasanton. I can't find much info past that other than they're from the Dover, Delaware area..
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