General Frederick Steele

General Frederick Steele was a prominent figure in the American Civil War, serving as a Major General in the United States Army. Born in New Castle County, Delaware, Steele graduated from West Point in 1843, alongside other notable figures such as Ulysses S. Grant and James Longstreet. He went on to serve in various military campaigns, including the Mexican-American War, where he fought in the Battle of Monterrey and the Battle of Buena Vista under the command of Zachary Taylor. Steele's military career was marked by his involvement in several key battles and his interactions with other notable military leaders, such as William Tecumseh Sherman and George B. McClellan.

● Early Life and Education

Steele was born on April 14, 1819, in New Castle County, Delaware, to a family with a strong military tradition. His father, Frederick Steele Sr., was a veteran of the War of 1812, and his uncle, John Steele, was a Captain in the United States Navy. Steele attended West Point, where he graduated in 1843, ranking 30th out of 39 cadets in his class, which included other future Civil War generals such as Ulysses S. Grant, James Longstreet, and John Bell Hood. During his time at West Point, Steele was influenced by instructors such as Dennis Hart Mahan and Charles Ferguson Smith, who would later play important roles in the American Civil War. After graduating, Steele was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the 2nd Dragoons and went on to serve in the Mexican-American War, fighting in battles such as the Battle of Palo Alto and the Battle of Resaca de la Palma under the command of Zachary Taylor and John E. Wool.

● Military Career

Steele's military career spanned over two decades, during which he served in various campaigns and battles. He was promoted to First Lieutenant in 1846 and served in the Mexican-American War, where he fought in the Battle of Monterrey and the Battle of Buena Vista. After the war, Steele was stationed in Texas and New Mexico, where he participated in several Indian Wars campaigns, including the Comanche Wars and the Apache Wars, alongside other notable military leaders such as Kit Carson and George Crook. In 1861, Steele was promoted to Colonel and given command of the 8th Iowa Infantry Regiment, which he led during the Battle of Shiloh and the Battle of Corinth under the command of Ulysses S. Grant and Don Carlos Buell. Steele's military career was marked by his interactions with other notable military leaders, including William Tecumseh Sherman, George B. McClellan, and Ambrose Burnside.

● American Civil War

During the American Civil War, Steele played a significant role in several key battles and campaigns. He was promoted to Brigadier General in 1862 and given command of a division in the Army of the Tennessee, which he led during the Battle of Champion Hill and the Battle of Big Black River Bridge under the command of Ulysses S. Grant and John A. McClernand. Steele's division was also involved in the Siege of Vicksburg, where he worked alongside other notable military leaders such as William Tecumseh Sherman and James B. McPherson. In 1864, Steele was promoted to Major General and given command of the Department of Arkansas, where he led campaigns against Confederate forces in Arkansas and Louisiana, including the Red River Campaign under the command of Nathaniel P. Banks and Andrew J. Smith. Steele's military career was also influenced by his interactions with other notable figures, including Abraham Lincoln, Salmon P. Chase, and William H. Seward.

● Post-War Career

After the American Civil War, Steele continued to serve in the United States Army, where he was involved in several Indian Wars campaigns, including the Comanche Wars and the Apache Wars. He was stationed in Texas and New Mexico, where he worked alongside other notable military leaders such as George Crook and Nelson A. Miles. In 1867, Steele was appointed as the commander of the Department of the Columbia, where he oversaw the construction of Fort Vancouver and the Fort Walla Walla under the command of Philip H. Sheridan and Christopher C. Augur. Steele's post-war career was marked by his interactions with other notable figures, including Ulysses S. Grant, William Tecumseh Sherman, and Philip H. Sheridan.

● Personal Life

Steele married Martha McKinley Steele in 1848, and the couple had several children together. He was a member of the Episcopal Church and was known for his strong sense of duty and loyalty to the United States of America. Steele was also a close friend and colleague of other notable military leaders, including Ulysses S. Grant, William Tecumseh Sherman, and George B. McClellan. After his death on March 12, 1868, in San Mateo, California, Steele was buried in Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery in Kansas, alongside other notable military leaders such as George Armstrong Custer and Jeb Stuart. Steele's legacy as a military leader and his contributions to the American Civil War and the Indian Wars continue to be studied by historians and military scholars today, including those at the United States Army Command and General Staff College and the National War College.