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Civil War Soldiers - Morell

Morell, George W., major-general, U.S. Army, was born in Cooperstown, N. Y., Jan. 8, 1815. He was graduated at the United States military academy in 1835 and assigned to the corps of engineers, but resigned in 1837 to become assistant engineer in the construction of the Charleston & Cincinnati railroad. He held a similar position with the Michigan Central railroad in 1838-39, then removed to New York city, and was admitted to the bar in 1842. From 1854 to 1861 he was commissioner of the United States circuit court for the Southern district of New York. He had been appointed, in 1846, major of a New York regiment of volunteers for the Mexican war, but it was never mustered in, and at the beginning of the Civil war he was colonel and chief of staff to Gov. Sanford for organizing regiments and forwarding them to the seat of war. On Aug. 9, 1861, he was commissioned brigadier-general of volunteers, and in 1861-62 he served in the defenses of Washington. He served subsequently in the Army of the Potomac in the Peninsular campaign, commanding a brigade in the skirmish at Howard's bridge, April 4, 1862, and in the siege of Yorktown, April to May, 1862. He commanded the 1st division of Hancock's corps in the capture of Hanover Court House, and at Beaver Dam creek, Gaines' mill, and Malvern hill. He was promoted major-general of volunteers, July 4, 1862, but the appointment expired March 4, 1863, the nomination not being made to the senate. Gen. Morell subsequently took part in the battles of Manassas, or second Bull Run, and Antietam, where he pursued Lee's fleeing cavalry after the battle, and on Sept. 20 was driven back from the heights of the river bank near Shepherdstown ; and he was in command of troops guarding the upper Potomac from Oct. to Dec, 1862. He was then on waiting orders at Washington, 1862-63, in command of a draft rendezvous at Indianapolis, Ind., 1863-64, and was mustered out of the service Dec. 15, 1864. He then engaged in farming near Scarborough, N. Y., and died there, Feb. 12, 1883.

Source: The Union Army: A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal States 1861-1865, Volume 8 Biographical, 1908
 


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