Assistant Secretary Of War Lewis A. Grant

Assistant Secretary Of War Lewis A. Grant was mustered into the service of the United States September 16, 1861, at St. Albans, Vermont, as major with the field and staff, Fifth Vermont Infantry Volunteers, to serve for three years; was mustered in as lieutenant-colonel, same regiment, to date September 25, 1861; as colonel, same regiment, to date September 16, 1862. The regiment was assigned to the Army of the Potomac, and participated in the advance of that army in the spring of 1862. During his service with the Fifth Vermont Infantry Volunteers, that regiment took part in the following battles Yorktown, Virginia, April 4 and May 4, 1862; Williamsburg, Virginia, May 5, 1862; Golding's Farm, Virginia, June 28, 1862; Savage Station, Virginia, June 29, 1862; White Oak Swamp, Virginia, June 30, 1862; Crampton's Gap, Maryland, September 14, 1862; Antietam, Maryland, September 17, 1862, and Fredericksburg, Virginia, December 13-14, 1862.

He was honorably discharged as colonel to date May 20, 1864, to enable him to accept an appointment as brigadier-general of volunteers. He was appointed brigadier-general U. S. Volunteers April 27, 1864; accepted appointment May 21, 1864.

He commanded the Second Brigade, Second Division, Sixth Army Corps, from February 21, 1863, to December 29, 1863; from February 2, 1864, to September 29, 1864, and from October 8, 1864, to December 2, 1864; the Second Division, Sixth Corps, from December 2, 1864, to February 11, 1865; the Second Brigade, same division, from February 11, 1865, to February 20, 1865, and from March 7, 1865, to June 28, 1865.

1864, "for gallant and meritorious services in the present campaign before Richmond, Virginia, and in the Shenandoah Valley;" and was honorably discharged the service August 24, 1865. Under the provisions of the act of Congress approved June 3, 1884, and the acts amendatory thereof, he is considered as commissioned to the grade of major Fifth Vermont Volunteers, to take effect from September 7, 1861, to fill an original vacancy.

He was recommended August 22, 1866, by General U. S. Grant, commanding the army of the United States, for appointment as a field-officer in the regular army; was appointed August 29, 1866, lieutenant-colonel Thirty-sixth Regiment U. S. Infantry, to date from July 28, 1866, and declined the appointment November 6, 1866.

General Grant's field services were with or in command of the celebrated Vermont brigade whose fighting qualities were so well known in the Army of the Potomac, and whose soldierly dependence was of such character that it was transferred, with the regular division of the Army of the Potomac, in August, 1863, to New York City, to assist in quelling the riots occasioned there by the draft for men. As soon as this duty was completed, the troops were, in the fall of the same year, transferred to the field with the Army of the Potomac.

General Grant was appointed Assistant Secretary of War in 1890, which office he now 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
• Grant Surname