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Marcellus M. Crocker

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Marcellus Monroe Crocker
Brig. Gen. Marcellus M. Crocker
Born(1830-02-06)February 6, 1830
Franklin,Indiana
DiedAugust 26, 1865(1865-08-26)(aged 35)
Washington, D.C.
Place of burial
Woodland Cemetery,Des Moines,Iowa
AllegianceUnited States of America
Union
Service/ branchUnited States Army
Union Army
Years of service1861 - 1865
RankBrigadier General
Commands4th Division,XVII Corps
Battles / warsAmerican Civil War

Marcellus Monroe Crocker(February 6, 1830 – August 26, 1865) was a general in theUnion Armyduring theAmerican Civil Warmost noted for his service in theWestern Theater.

Biography

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Crocker was born inFranklin, Indiana.He entered theUnited States Military Academyin 1847, but left at the end of his second year. He subsequently studied law and practiced inDes Moines, Iowa.

With the outbreak of the Civil War, he entered the army as thecaptainof the2nd Iowa Infantryin May 1861. He was promoted tocolonelof the13th Iowa Infantryon December 30, 1861. Crocker fought with distinction in theBattle of Shilohin April 1862, where he assumed command of a brigade during the first day. He commanded the "Iowa Brigade" at theSecond Battle of Corinthin October, 1862. He was promoted tobrigadier generalon November 29, 1862.

The following year, he participated in theVicksburg Campaign,conducting a raid inMississippi.Crocker had brought his brigade to a high state of discipline, and it was nicknamed "Crocker's Greyhounds" for its swift marching ability. After the re-enlistment of hisbrigadeas veteran volunteers, he assumed command of adivisionwhen GeneralIsaac F. Quinbywent on sick leave. Crocker led his division into action at theBattle of Jackson.On the morning of May 16, General Quinby returned to duty. However it was deemed necessary to retain Crocker in command of the division as it was deploying for battle atChampion Hill.Crocker received praise for his actions in that battle.

Throughout his military career Crocker suffered fromconsumption,which he referred to as "my old bronchial difficulty." He became very ill en route to join the army ofWilliam T. Shermanpreparing for theAtlanta Campaignand tendered his resignation on May 14, 1864, but it was not accepted by Secretary of War Stanton as "the department is unwilling that the Country should lose the service of so valuable an officer as General Crocker."[1]Instead, he was offered posting toNew Mexico Territory,where it was thought his health might improve in an arid climate. On June 10, 1864, Crocker gladly accepted the position and withdrew his resignation, but upon his arrival in the territory he found there was "no use of an officer of my rank in this department and I am commanding a post of six companies that could be as well or better commanded by a Captain."[2]Yet the assignment did benefit Crocker's health, and by late 1864 he asked to return to active field service, a request supported by Ulysses S. Grant who stated "I have never seen but three or four Division commanders his equal and we want his services."[3]Officially relieved at Santa Fe on March 1, 1865, and ordered to report to GeneralGeorge H. ThomasatNashville,Crocker arrived in St. Louis on April 21, 1865, but was again so ill that he could not proceed to his new assignment with the Army of the Cumberland and he once more asked to be mustered out of service. Granted a ninety-day leave of absence, he was ordered to personally report on matters in the Southwest directly to the War Department as soon as his health allowed.[4]

In late summer Crocker reported to the War Department, but his health continued to decline, and he died at Willard's Hotel on August 26, 1865, inWashington, D.C.[5]He is buried inWoodland Cemeteryin Des Moines, Iowa.[6]

Honors

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Crocker School, that stood in Des Moines on the North side of School St. between Sixth Ave. and Seventh St. from 1870 until ca. 1962, was named after him, as is the city's present-day Crocker Street.

A bronze bust of General Crocker stands on theVicksburg National Military Park.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^National Archives, RG 94, Entry 297, Letters Received, 1863-1894, M1064, C733, M. M. Croker to Lorenzo Thomas, January 1, 1864; M. M. Crocker to Edwin M. Stanton, May 14, 1864
  2. ^National Archives, RG 94, Entry 297, Letters Received, 1863-1894, M1064, C733, M. M. Crocker to Edwin M. Stanton, June 10, 1864; M. M. Crocker to Lorenzo Thomas, January 1, 1864
  3. ^National Archives, RG 94, Entry 297, Letters Received, 1863-1894, M1064, C733,U. S. Grant to Henry W. Halleck, December 28, 1864
  4. ^National Archives, RG 94, Entry 297, Letters Received, 1863-1894, M1064, C733,Grenville M. Dodge to John A. Rawlins, April 22, 1865; James A. Hardie to Grenville M. Dodge, April 25, 1865
  5. ^National Archives, RG 94, Entry 297, Letters Received, 1863-1894, M1064, C733,Samuel F. Chalfin to Messieurs Skyes and Chadwick, November 11, 1865
  6. ^Hudson, David; Marvin Bergman; Loren N. Horton (2008).The Biographical Dictionary of Iowa.Iowa City: Published for the State Historical Society of Iowa by the University of Iowa Press. pp. 107–109.ISBN9781587297243.OCLC296752419.RetrievedMay 11,2017– via Google Books.

References

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