Edwin V. Sumner

Edwin V. Sumner was a career United States Army officer who rose to the rank of major general during the American Civil War. Known for his imposing physical presence and aggressive leadership, he was one of the oldest active corps commanders in the Union Army. His long military service included significant roles in the Mexican–American War and the early campaigns of the Army of the Potomac.

Early life and career

Edwin Vose Sumner was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on January 30, 1797. He began his military career in 1819 as a second lieutenant in the 2nd U.S. Infantry Regiment. His early service included garrison duty and participation in the Black Hawk War of 1832. Sumner served on the western frontier, including a notable stint as the commanding officer of Fort Leavenworth in Kansas Territory. During the 1850s, he commanded the 1st U.S. Cavalry Regiment and was involved in the tense period of Bleeding Kansas, where he worked to maintain federal authority. His reputation for discipline and courage was well-established long before the outbreak of the American Civil War.

Mexican–American War

During the Mexican–American War, Sumner served with distinction under Major General Winfield Scott during the Veracruz campaign. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel of the 2nd U.S. Dragoons and saw action at the Battle of Cerro Gordo. His most celebrated moment came at the Battle of Molino del Rey, where he led a daring cavalry charge. For his gallantry in these engagements, he received a brevet promotion to the rank of colonel. The experience gained in Mexico honed his skills in maneuver and combat, which he would later apply on a larger scale during the Civil War.

Civil War service

With the outbreak of the American Civil War, Sumner was appointed a brigadier general in the Union Army in March 1861. He commanded a division during the Peninsula Campaign in 1862, fighting at the Battle of Williamsburg and the Battle of Seven Pines. In June 1862, he was promoted to major general and given command of the II Corps of the Army of the Potomac. He led this corps through the bloody Battle of Antietam, where his troops were heavily engaged in the fighting at the Sunken Road. Following this battle, he was briefly considered as a potential replacement for General George B. McClellan as commander of the army. He commanded his corps again at the disastrous Battle of Fredericksburg, where his assaults on the Confederate positions at Marye's Heights resulted in severe casualties.

Death and legacy

In January 1863, following the Battle of Fredericksburg, Sumner was relieved of field command and reassigned to a departmental command in the Department of the Missouri. While en route to his new post, he suffered a sudden heart attack and died in Syracuse, New York, on March 21, 1863. He was buried in Oakwood Cemetery in that city. Remembered as "Bull Head" Sumner for an apocryphal story of a musket ball bouncing off his skull, his legacy is that of a brave, steadfast, and aggressive officer from the old army. His death marked the passing of one of the senior professional soldiers in the Union Army during a critical period of the war. Category:1797 births Category:1863 deaths Category:Union Army generals Category:People from Boston