Henry Pleasants facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Henry Clay Pleasants
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|---|---|
| Born | February 16, 1833 Buenos Aires, Argentine Confederation |
| Died | March 26, 1880 (aged 47) Pottsville, Pennsylvania |
| Place of burial |
Charles Baber Cemetery, Pottsville
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| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/ |
Union Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1865 |
| Rank |  Lieutenant colonel Brevet brigadier general |
| Unit | 6th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment 48th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment |
| Commands held | 2nd Bde, 2nd Div, IX Corps |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
Henry Clay Pleasants (born February 16, 1833 – died March 26, 1880) was a smart engineer who worked with coal mines. He was also an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He is most famous for planning and building a secret tunnel. This tunnel was filled with explosives under the Confederate army's lines. This happened near Petersburg, Virginia, in 1864. The explosion led to the Battle of the Crater. Sadly, the Union soldiers could not use this chance to win the Siege of Petersburg.
Contents
Early Life and Engineering Career
Henry Pleasants was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. His father was American, and his mother was Spanish. He moved to the United States when he was 13 years old. He went to school in Philadelphia.
After school, he worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad. He also worked in anthracite coal mines. In 1857, he moved to Pottsville, Pennsylvania. There, he became a civil engineer in the mining business.
Serving in the Civil War
When the Civil War started, Henry Pleasants joined the army. He became a second lieutenant in the 6th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. This group served for three months. In July 1861, he joined the 48th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment. He became a captain.
His regiment first fought in the western parts of the war. Later, they moved to the eastern parts. They fought in big battles like Antietam and Fredericksburg.
The Petersburg Tunnel Project
By 1864, Pleasants was a lieutenant colonel. He was in charge of the 48th Pennsylvania regiment. His unit was fighting outside Petersburg. Many of his soldiers were coal miners. They suggested digging a tunnel under the Confederate lines.
Pleasants took this idea to his leaders. They approved the plan. He faced many problems, like not having enough supplies. Union generals were also not very interested at first. But after other attacks on Petersburg failed, they supported his idea more.
The Battle of the Crater
Pleasants and his men successfully dug the tunnel. They filled it with explosives. When it blew up, nearly 300 Confederate soldiers died. But the Union troops, led by Ambrose Burnside, did not use this chance well. They suffered many losses in the Battle of the Crater. The Confederates were able to take back their original positions.
Pleasants was put in temporary command of a larger group of soldiers. This was the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, IX Corps. He served in this role from June 18, 1864, to June 25, 1865. He left the volunteer army on December 18, 1864.
On January 13, 1866, President Andrew Johnson honored Pleasants. He was given the special rank of brevet brigadier general. This rank was given for his brave service at Petersburg.
Life After the War
After leaving the army, Pleasants went back to Pottsville. He continued his work as a mining engineer. He worked for the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company. He became the Chief Engineer and later the Superintendent.
Henry Clay Pleasants died in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, on March 27, 1880. He was buried in the Charles Baber Cemetery in Pottsville.
See also
In Spanish: Henry Pleasants para niños
