McLaughlen

Jeff Davis County, Texas
Napoleon Bonaparte McLaughlen

( December 8,1823-1887)
Col., 57th Regt. Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry
Brevet Brig. Gen. U.S.V. September 30 1864, Brevet Brig. Gen. U.S.A. March 13 1865

Napoleon Bonaparte McLaughlen worked his way up from private to sergeant in the old 2d Dragoons between 1850 and 1860 and was commissioned a second lieutenant when the Civil War broke out. He emerged from the war the colonel of a Masschusetts volunteer regiment and with a brevet of brigadier general. He retired a major of the 10th Cavalry in 1882, shortly after leaving Fort Davis and died in 1887. One of the most colorful officers to command Fort Davis (1879-80, 1880-810) was Maj. Napoleon Bonaparte McLaughlen, who enlisted as a dragoon private in 1850 and during the Civil War rose to the rank of brevet brigadier general. Napoleon Bonaparte McLaughlen was born in Chelsea, Vermont, 8 December, 1823; died in Middletown, New York, January27, 1887. He enlisted in the 2d United States dragoons in 1850, rose to be sergeant, re-enlisted when his term of service expired, and on March 27, 1861, was appointed a lieutenant in the 1st cavalry. He was promoted 1st lieutenant in May, transferred to the 4th cavalry in August, and served as inspector-general of the Army of Kentucky. On July 17, 1862, he was commissioned captian, and on October 1st was appointed colonel of the 1st Massachusetts volunteers. He was engaged at Fredericksburg, receiving the brevet of major for Chancellorsville, won another brevet at Gettysburg, fought at Locust Grove and in the battle of the Wilderness, and commanded a provisional brigade at Spottsylvania. In June, 1864, he rejoined his regiment in front of Atlanta, but in September was appointed colonel of the 57th Massachusetts veteran volunteers, commanded a brigade at the siege of Petersburg, and also at the battle of Poplar Grove Church, and for his gallantry in this engagement was brevetted brigadier-general of volunteers and assigned to duty according to his brevet rank. He did good service in defence of Fort Steedman, receiving the brevet of colonel in the United States army. Napoleon Bonaparte McLaughlen was career U. S. army cavalry officer who was brevetted brigadier general of volunteers during the Civil War. He was captured at Fort Stedman, Virginia, and remained in Libby Prison, in Richmond till the surrender of General Lee. He was brevetted brigadier-general, United States army, in March, 1865, for gallant conduct in the field during the war, mustered out of the volunteer service on 10 August, 1865, promoted major in the 10th cavalry on May 17, 1876, and placed on the retired list on June 26, 1882. Residence: Vermont occupation: Army Officer

Service Record:
Commission in on 27 May 1850.
Promoted to Brevet Major on 03 May 1862
Enlisted as a Colonel on 01 October 1862 at the age of 37
Discharged on 28 October 1862
Commission in Company S, 1st Infantry Regiment Massachusetts on 15 December 1862.
Promoted to Brevet Colonel on 02 July 1863
Mustered out Company S, 1st Infantry Regiment Massachusetts on 28 May 1864
Commission in Company S, 57th Infantry Regiment Massachusetts on 05 September 1864.
Promoted to Brevet Brig-Gen on 30 September 1864
Promoted to Brevet Colonel on 13 March 1865
Promoted to Full Brig-Gen on 13 March 1865
POW on 25 March 1865 at Fort Stedman, VA
Paroled on 02 April 1865 at Libby Prison, Richmond, VA
Mustered out Company S, 57th Infantry Regiment Massachusetts on 10 August 1865

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