Major George Clinton Hopper, U.S.V.

Major George Clinton Hopper was born at Jordan, Onondaga County, New York, March 20, 1831. He received an education at the common schools of Seneca County and the Waterloo Academy, and at the age of fourteen entered the service of his father, a railroad contractor, who built a portion of the New York Central & Hudson River Railroad, then called the Auburn & Rochester Railroad. One year afterwards he removed to Michigan, and took position on the Michigan Central as clerk, where he remained five years; he then took the position of conductor, running between Detroit and Chicago ten years, when the outbreak of the war called him to the field.

He entered the First Michigan Infantry, and was mustered as first lieutenant at Ann Arbor, August 19, 1861. He went with his regiment to Washington about the 15th of September; camped at Bladensburg and Annapolis Junction, doing duty as railroad guard, in which duty he was in command of his company ten weeks. In April he was ordered to Old Point Comfort, and took part in the advance on Norfolk and Portsmouth, which resulted in restoring those places to the Union.

On April 28, 1862, he was promoted to captain. About June 20 he joined the Army of the Potomac at Gaines' Mill, and was engaged in the battles of Mechanicsville, June 26, and Gaines' Mill, June 27, 1862; was shot in the right side in the last battle, and sent to Washington.

Rejoining the regiment at Harrison's Landing, August 10, 1863, with his company, he supported General Averell in a reconnaissance to the south side of the James River, and had a fight with Confederate cavalry. August 29, 1862, was engaged on the skirmish line at Bull Run, and August 30, while charging on the enemy, was shot through the right thigh and taken prisoner; was paroled on the field, and taken to Washington. He was exchanged and rejoined the army December 20, 1862, and was in the "mud march," January 20, 1863.

He was promoted to major March 18, 1863; was under fire three days at Chancellorsville; supported the cavalry at Kelly's Ford in its fight at Brandy Station, June 9, 1863. He joined General Vincent's brigade at Aldie Gap, in their support of the cavalry in its advance to Ashby's Gap, June 21, 1863, and was engaged July 2 and 3, 1863, at Gettysburg.

On June 17 and 1 8 was engaged at Petersburg; on August 18, 19, and 21 was engaged in the battle of the Weldon Railroad.

On the 26th of September, 1864, he left the service, in accordance with an order dated September 21, for muster out.

He resumed his old business of conductor on the Michigan Central Railroad, which he followed for two years; he then was agent at Jackson, Michigan, for five years; assistant superintendent eighteen months, which he gave up to take the position of paymaster for the Michigan Central System, which he has filled nineteen years, and still holds.

Source: Officers of the Volunteer Army and Navy who served in the Civil War, published by L.R. Hamersly & Co., 1893, 419 pgs.

Related Links:

• Civil War Records
• Civil War Microfilm at the National Archives
• Hopper Surname

 

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