John W. Phelps

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John Wolcott Phelps (November 13, 1813 – February 2, 1885), was a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War, an author, an ardent conservative and presidential candidate.

Phelps was born in Guilford, Vermont, the son of Judge John and Lucy (Lovell) Phelps. He was appointed to the U.S. Military Academy on July 1, 1832, and graduated on July 1, 1836, with the brevet rank of Second Lieutenant, and was assigned to the 4th U.S. Artillery. He was promoted to Second Lieutenant on July 28, 1836. He was promoted to First Lieutenant on July 7, 1838, and Captain on March 31, 1850. He resigned from the army on November 2, 1859. During this period he served in the Seminole Wars in Florida and the Mexican-American War.

Until the beginning of the Civil War, he resided in Brattleboro, Vermont, where he wrote forceful articles pointing out the danger of the constantly increasing political influence of the slave states. Phelps was profoundly alienated from the course of 19th century American development, and was a critic especially of slaveholders, immigrants, and Masons.

On May 2, 1861, Phelps was appointed Colonel of the 1st Vermont Infantry and was mustered into U.S. service on May 8. His regiment arrived at Fortress Monroe, Virginia on May 13. On May 27, commanding the 1st Vermont Infantry, 4th Massachusetts Infantry and 7th New York Infantry, Phelps moved 10 miles to Newport News, at the mouth of the James River. He was promoted to brigadier general on August 9, 1861, to rank from May 17, 1861, and remained at Fortress Monroe when his three months' regiment returned to Vermont. In late 1861, Phelps was transferred to the Department of the Gulf with Major General Benjamin F. Butler, commanded Ship Island, Mississippi, for a while, and cooperated with Commodore David Farragut's efforts to open the lower Mississippi River in April and May 1862.

While in garrison at Camp Parapet, Louisiana, in 1862, he organized a unit of Negro troops, but was ordered by the government to dismantle the unit. As a result, he resigned his commission on August 21. When colored troops were eventually authorized, he was offered a major general's commission, but declined.

Phelps returned to Brattleboro, Vermont, where he resided until 1883, when he removed to Guilford. He authored and translated several works of literature and was the candidate for the American Party for president in 1880. He was vice president of the Vermont Historical Society from 1863 to 1885 and the Vermont Teacher's Association from 1865 to 1885. He died in in Guilford in 1885.

[edit] References

• Boatner, Mark M., The Civil War Dictionary. New York: David McKay Co., 1959.
• Peck, Theodore S., compiler. Revised Roster of Vermont Volunteers and lists of Vermonters who served in the Army and Navy of the United States During The War of the Rebellion, 1861-66. Montpelier, Vt: Press of the Watchman Publishing Co., 1892.
• Sifakis, Stewart, Who Was Who in the Union. New York: Facts on File, Inc., 1988.
• Warner, Ezra, Generals In Blue. Louisiana State University Press, 1964.

Preceded by James B. Walker

American Party presidential candidate 1880 (lost)

Succeeded by (none)