David Stuart (brigadier general) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David Stuart
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Col. David Stuart
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| Born | March 12, 1816 Brooklyn, New York |
| Died | September 11, 1868 (aged 52) Detroit, Michigan |
| Buried |
Elmwood Cemetery, Detroit, Michigan
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| Allegiance | United States of America Union |
| Service/ |
United States Army Union Army |
| Rank |  Brigadier General (negated) |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
| Other work | U.S. Congressman from Michigan |
David Stuart (born March 12, 1816 – died September 12, 1868) was an important person from Michigan. He was a politician and also an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
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Who Was David Stuart?
David Stuart was born in Brooklyn, New York. His father, Robert Stuart, was famous for discovering the South Pass in Wyoming. David went to several colleges, including Oberlin College and Amherst College, and finished his studies in 1838. After college, he studied law and became a lawyer in Detroit, Michigan.
Stuart's Political Career
David Stuart became a politician. He was elected as a Democrat to the United States Congress. He served in the Thirty-third Congress from March 4, 1853, to March 3, 1855. While in Congress, he led a special group called the Committee on Expenditures in the Department of the Treasury. This committee looked at how the government spent its money.
He tried to be re-elected in 1854 but did not win. After that, he moved to Chicago, Illinois. There, he worked as a lawyer for a big train company called the Illinois Central Railroad.
Joining the Civil War
When the American Civil War began, David Stuart decided to join the Union Army. The Civil War was a big conflict in the United States between the northern states (the Union) and the southern states (the Confederacy). Stuart was very dedicated. He gathered 2,000 volunteers and even paid for their equipment himself.
He quickly became a military leader. On July 22, 1861, he was made a lieutenant colonel in the 42nd Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Later, on October 31, 1861, he became a colonel of the 55th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment.
Battles and Service
Colonel Stuart led his soldiers in important battles. He commanded the 2nd Brigade in William T. Sherman's division at the Battle of Shiloh. During this battle, he was badly wounded.
Later, he was appointed as a brigadier general of volunteers on November 29, 1862. During the Vicksburg Campaign, he led his brigade in battles like Chickasaw Bayou and Arkansas Post.
However, something unusual happened. On March 11, 1863, the U.S. Senate decided not to confirm his promotion to brigadier general. Because of this, David Stuart resigned from the army on April 3, 1863.
Life After the War
After leaving the army, David Stuart went back to being a lawyer. He practiced law in Detroit, Michigan. He passed away in Detroit on September 12, 1868. He is buried in Elmwood Cemetery in Detroit.
