Horatio P. Van Cleve facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Horatio Phillips Van Cleve
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Horatio P. Van Cleve
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| Born | November 23, 1809 Princeton, New Jersey |
| Died | April 24, 1891 (aged 81) Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| Place of burial |
Lakewood Cemetery, Minneapolis, Minnesota
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| Allegiance | United States of America Union |
| Service/ |
United States Army Union Army |
| Rank |  Brigadier General Brevet Major General |
| Commands held | 2nd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry |
| Battles/wars | |
Horatio Phillips Van Cleve (born November 23, 1809 – died April 24, 1891) was an important general who fought for the Union Army during the American Civil War. He had a long career, serving his country both in the military and in government roles.
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Horatio Van Cleve's Early Life
Horatio Van Cleve was born in Princeton, New Jersey. He studied at Princeton University for two years. After that, he joined the United States Military Academy in 1827. He graduated in 1831.
After graduating, he became a second lieutenant in the infantry. He served at military posts on the frontier in the Michigan Territory. In 1836, he left the Army and moved to Michigan. He worked as a teacher in Cincinnati, Ohio, from 1840 to 1841. Later, he became a farmer near Ann Arbor, Michigan.
In 1855, Van Cleve worked as an engineer for the state of Michigan. Then, he became a United States Surveyor of Public Lands in Minnesota. In 1856, he started raising livestock.
Service in the Civil War
When the Civil War began, Horatio Van Cleve joined the Union Army. On July 22, 1861, he became a colonel of the 2nd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment.
He met his wife, Charlotte Ouisconsin Clark Van Cleve, when they were both at Fort Winnebago. Her father and Horatio were stationed there. Charlotte later wrote a book called Three Score Years and Ten. It was about her memories of Fort Snelling and her travels in the midwest. She was the first white woman born in the Wisconsin Territory, in a place called Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin.
Key Battles and Promotions
Van Cleve served under Major General George Henry Thomas at the Battle of Mill Springs. Because of his good service there, he was promoted. On March 21, 1862, he became a brigadier general of volunteers.
He led a brigade at the Siege of Corinth. Later, he commanded a division at the Battle of Perryville. He was hurt during the Battle of Stones River, but he recovered. After getting better, he returned to lead his division.
Van Cleve also fought in the Battle of Chickamauga. After this battle, he was in charge of the military post and forces at Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He commanded the defenses of the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad. He stayed in this role until he left the army in 1865. In 1866, he was given an honorary promotion. He became a brevet major general, which was effective from March 13, 1865.
Life After the War
After the Civil War, Horatio Van Cleve continued to serve. He was the adjutant general of Minnesota from 1866 to 1870. He held this position again from 1876 to 1882.
Horatio Van Cleve passed away in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on April 24, 1891. He is buried in Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis. His home in Minneapolis was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. Before he died, he even had his favorite horse buried in the front yard of his house.
A park in Minneapolis is named in his honor.
