Orlando B. Willcox

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Orlando Bolivar Willcox
April 16, 1823(1823-04-16) – May 11, 1907 (aged 84)
Orlando B. Willcox
Place of birth	New Orleans, Louisiana
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army/Union Army
Rank	Brigadier General
Battles/wars	American Civil War First Battle of Manassas Sharpsburg Fredericksburg Knoxville *Siege of Petersburg Mexican-American War Third Seminole War
Awards	Medal of Honor

Orlando Bolivar Willcox (April 16, 1823 – May 11, 1907) was an American soldier who served as a general in the Union army during the American Civil War.

1 Biography
2 Honors
3 Medal of Honor citation
4 See also
5 Notes
6 References

[edit] Biography

Willcox was born in Detroit, Michigan. He entered the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York, in 1843. Following graduation in 1847, he was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 4th U.S. Artillery. He would subsequently serve in the United States Army in various capacities over a period of forty years. Willcox served in the Mexican-American War, fought against the Indians on the frontier, and again in the Third Seminole War. Following the latter conflict, he resigned from the Army in 1857.^[1]

When the Civil War began, Willcox was practicing law in Detroit. He soon quit and was appointed colonel of the 1st Michigan Infantry. He was wounded and captured in the First Battle of Manassas while in command of a brigade in Heintzelman's Division. He later received the Medal of Honor in 1895 for "most distinguished gallantry" during the battle.^[1]

After his release and exchange more than a year later, he was commissioned Brigadier General of Volunteers and commanded the 1st Division of Ambrose Burnside's IX Corps in 1862. He led the Division at Sharpsburg and Fredericksburg.^[1]

During the 1863 draft riots, Willcox commanded the District of Indiana and Michigan. In 1864 he was given a promotion to Major General of Volunteers. He again led a division at Knoxville and during Grant's Overland Campaign vs. Richmond. Following the Siege of Petersburg, he led the first troops to enter Petersburg, Virginia, before ending the war serving in North Carolina.^[1]

Later, he was breveted Major General in the Regular Army. He put down the raids of Apache Indians as Commander of the Department of Arizona. For his service in the West, he was awarded a Vote of Thanks by the Arizona Legislature. Willcox retired in 1887 as a Brigadier General.^[1]

He died in Cobourg, Ontario, at 85 years of age and was buried in Section 1, Grave 18, of Arlington National Cemetery.^[2]

[edit] Honors

The town of Willcox, Arizona is named in his honor.

[edit] Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Colonel, 1st Michigan Infantry. Place and date: At Bull Run, Va., 21 July 1861. Entered service at: Detroit, Mich. Birth: Detroit, Mich. Date of issue: 2 March 1895.

Citation:

Led repeated charges until wounded and taken prisoner.^[3]