Joseph A. Mower

Joseph Anthony Mower
General Joseph A. Mower
Born	(1827-08-22)August 22, 1827 Woodstock, Vermont
Died	January 6, 1870(1870-01-06) (aged 42) New Orleans, Louisiana
Place of burial	Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States of America Union
Service/branch	Union Army
Years of service	1847-48 1855-70
Rank	Major General
Commands held	11th Missouri Volunteer Infantry XX Corps
Battles/wars	American Civil War Battle of Iuka Battle of Corinth Battle of Jackson Siege of Vicksburg Battle of Richmond Battle of Fort De Russy Battle of Pleasant Hill Battle of Old River Lake Battle of Tupelo Battle of Rivers Bridge Battle of Bentonville
Other work	carpenter

Joseph Anthony Mower (August 22, 1827 – January 6, 1870) was a Union general during the American Civil War. He was a competent officer and well respected by his troops and fellow officers to whom he was known as "Fighting Joe". William T. Sherman said of Mower, "he's the boldest young officer we have".

Biography

Mower was born in Woodstock, Vermont. He entered the U.S. army in 1855, having previously served as a private in the Mexican War.^[1] During the Civil War, he became colonel of the 11th Missouri Volunteer Regiment and fought at the siege of Corinth. He assumed command of the 2nd Brigade/2nd Division in the Army of the Mississippi and led it into action at the battle of Corinth. He was wounded in the neck and taken prisoner by Confederate forces but he was recovered by Union soldiers the same day.

He was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers on November 29, 1862. He recovered from his wounds and returned to command a brigade during the Vicksburg Campaign and siege of Vicksburg where he caught the attention of William T. Sherman. During the Red River Campaign he commanded the 1st and 3rd Divisions of the XVI Corps and won brevets in the regular army for actions at the battles of Fort De Russy and Yellow Bayou. He commanded the 1st Division of the Right Wing-XVI Corps at the battle of Tupelo.

He was promoted to major general on August 12, 1864, and General Sherman ordered Mower to join the Union forces in Atlanta. He commanded the 1st Division of the XVII Corps during the March to the Sea and the Carolinas Campaign. His division played a significant role in the battles of Salkehatchie and Bentonville. Sherman made him commander of XX Corps in the Army of Georgia late in the war. After the fighting had ceased he sailed for Texas along with General Gordon Granger. He was placed in command of the District of Eastern Texas. He died in New Orleans, Louisiana on January 6, 1870.

See also

• List of American Civil War generals

References

• Eicher, John H., & Eicher, David J., Civil War High Commands, Stanford University Press, 2001, ISBN 0-8047-3641-3.
• Joseph Anthony Mower from the Handbook of Texas Online
• Foote, Shelby., 'The Civil War A Narrative, Red River to Appomattox' A Random House Book, ISBN 0-394-46512-1