George Lewis Gillespie Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George Lewis Gillespie Jr.
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Brigadier General George Lewis Gillespie Jr., Chief of Engineers 1901–1904
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| Born | October 7, 1841 Kingston, Tennessee |
| Died | September 27, 1913 (aged 71) Saratoga Springs, New York |
| Place of burial |
West Point Cemetery
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| Allegiance | United States of America Union |
| Service/ |
United States Army Union Army |
| Years of service | 1862–1905 |
| Rank | Major General |
| Unit |  U.S. Army Corps of Engineers |
| Commands held | Department of the East Chief of Engineers |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
| Awards | Medal of Honor |
George Lewis Gillespie Jr. (born October 7, 1841, died September 27, 1913) was a brave American soldier. He earned the Medal of Honor, which is the highest award a military person can get in the United States. He received it for his actions during the American Civil War.
Contents
Early Life and Military Start
George Lewis Gillespie Jr. was born on October 7, 1841, in Kingston, Tennessee. He went to the West Point military school. He was a very good student, graduating second in his class in 1862. After school, he became a 2nd lieutenant in the Army Corps of Engineers.
Serving in the Civil War
Even though he was from the South, Gillespie stayed loyal to the Union during the American Civil War. In September 1862, he joined the Army of the Potomac. He led two groups of engineers. These engineers built important things like forts and temporary bridges (called pontoon bridges). They worked throughout the war in Virginia. This continued until General Robert E. Lee surrendered in April 1865.
Medal of Honor
Gillespie received the Medal of Honor on October 27, 1897. He earned it for a very brave act on May 31, 1864. During the Battle of Cold Harbor in Virginia, he carried important messages. He had to go through areas where the enemy was shooting heavily. He delivered these messages to Major General Philip Sheridan. Later, Gillespie became Sheridan's Chief Engineer. He worked with him in the Army of the Shenandoah.
After the Civil War
After the Civil War ended, Gillespie continued his military career. He was a captain in the regular army. He also had a temporary promotion to lieutenant colonel.
He worked on many important engineering projects. He helped improve harbors in cities like Cleveland, Ohio, Chicago, Boston, and New York City. He started building a canal at the Cascades of the Columbia River. He also built the famous Tillamook Rock Lighthouse off the Oregon coast. Gillespie also served on the Mississippi River Commission for six years.
He was promoted several times. He became a major in 1871, a lieutenant colonel in 1886, and a colonel in 1895.
Spanish-American War and Later Career
When the Spanish–American War began, Gillespie was promoted to brigadier general in 1898. He was in charge of the Army's Department of the East. After the war, he returned to his rank of colonel.
On May 3, 1901, Gillespie was chosen to be the Chief of Engineers. He was promoted to brigadier general on the same day. He even served as the acting U.S. Secretary of War for a short time in August 1901. He helped organize important events. These included President William McKinley's funeral and the start of the Army War College building in 1903.
Redesigning the Medal of Honor
Around 1904, General Gillespie helped redesign the Medal of Honor. The old design from 1862 sometimes looked like a badge from a group called the Grand Army of the Republic. This group was for Union soldiers who fought in the Civil War. General Gillespie's new design changed the medal completely. It featured the head of Minerva (a Roman goddess) in the center of a star. This star was surrounded by a wreath. The ribbon also changed from red, white, and blue stripes to a light blue ribbon with thirteen white stars.
Gillespie's last job was Assistant Chief of Staff of the United States Army. He held this position from 1904 to 1905. He had the rank of major general.
Retirement and Death
Major General Gillespie retired from the Army on June 15, 1905. He had reached the required retirement age of 64. He passed away on September 27, 1913, in Saratoga Springs, New York. He was buried at the West Point military school cemetery in West Point, New York.
Family
General Gillespie was married to Rhobie Frances McMaster (1844-1921). They had two sons together: Robert McMaster Gillespie (1871-1947) and Laurence Lewis Gillespie (1876-1940).
