Julius Peter Garesché

Julius Peter Garesché

Lieutenant Colonel Julius Peter Garesché
Born April 26, 1821 (1821-04-26)
Havana, Cuba
Died December 31, 1862
Stones River, Tennessee
Allegiance United States Union Army (1841–1862)
Rank
Lieutenant Colonel (U.S.)
Commands held Chief of staff to Maj. Gen. William S. Rosecrans.
Battles/wars American Civil War
*Battle of Stones River

Julius Peter Garesché (April 26, 1821 – December 31, 1862) was an American professional soldier. He was killed at the Battle of Stones River, Tennessee. The Union Army's Battery Garesché was named for him.

Contents

Life

Garesché was born near Havana, Cuba. He was sent to Georgetown College, Washington, in 1833, and remained there four years. There he was appointed to the United States Military Academy at West Point, and graduated with the class of 1841, receiving his commission as a second lieutenant in the 4th U.S. Artillery. The five subsequent years were spent on the frontier and in garrison duty. During the Mexican-American War he served with distinction, and was appointed assistant adjutant-general, with the rank of captain in 1855.

A Catholic, in Washington he organized the first local conference of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, and during his residence at the capital acted as its president. He contributed frequently on Catholic, social and political questions, to the New York "Freeman's Journal" and "Brownson's Quarterly Review", and in September, 1851, in recognition of his services to the Church, received from Pope Pius IX the decoration of a Knight of St. Sylvester.

When the American Civil War broke out, he declined a commission as brigadier general of volunteers, and was made chief of staff, with the rank of lieutenant colonel in the regular army, to Maj. Gen. William S. Rosecrans. In this capacity he participated in the operations of the Army of the Cumberland at the Battle of Stones River. Riding with General Rosecrans toward the Round Forest, Garesché was decapitated by a cannonball. The battle was his first combat during the Civil War. General Philip H. Sheridan soon afterward happened upon the lifeless body and removed Garesché's West Point ring and personal Bible.

See also

Biography portal
United States Army portal
American Civil War portal

References

External links

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainHerbermann, Charles, ed (1913). Catholic Encyclopedia. Robert Appleton Company.