James A. Cunningham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James Adams Cunningham
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| Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives | |
| In office July 1865 – December 1865 |
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| Adjutant General of Massachusetts | |
| In office 1867–1879 |
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| Preceded by | William Schouler |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 27, 1830 Boston, Massachusetts |
| Died | July 17, 1892 (aged 61) Chelsea, Massachusetts |
| Resting place | Oak Grove Cemetery, Gloucester, Massachusetts |
| Nationality | American |
| Spouse | Ann Eliza Lane |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States of America Union |
| Branch/service | Union Army |
| Years of service | 1861 – 1865 |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel Brevet Brigadier General |
| Commands |
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| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
James Adams Cunningham (born November 27, 1830 – died July 17, 1892) was a brave officer who volunteered to serve in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He started as a company commander and later led a whole regiment.
Cunningham's unit was first stationed at Fort Warren in Boston, where they guarded prisoners. In 1862, his unit moved to the battlefront. He fought in many important battles with the Army of the Potomac. By 1864, he was in charge of the 32nd Massachusetts Regiment. Near the end of the war, he showed great courage during the Appomattox Campaign. He even earned the honorary rank of brevet brigadier general. During the Battle of Appomattox Court House, James Cunningham was the one who received the flag of surrender from General Robert E. Lee.
After the war, Cunningham continued to serve the public. He worked with the Massachusetts General Court and became the Adjutant General of Massachusetts.
Contents
Early Life and Family
James Cunningham was born in Boston in 1830. When he was a young man, he moved to Gloucester, Massachusetts. There, he worked as a stagecoach driver. He married Ann Eliza Lane, who was from New Jersey. Together, they had two children before the Civil War began.
Civil War Service
Leading a Company
Soon after the Civil War started, James Cunningham helped gather a group of volunteer soldiers in Gloucester. This group became Company D of the 1st Battalion Massachusetts Infantry in November 1861. Cunningham became the second-in-command, with the rank of 1st lieutenant. Most of the men in his company were fishermen from Gloucester. At first, they were known for being a bit wild!
During the winter of 1861–1862, Cunningham's battalion was stationed at Fort Warren. This was a large fort in Boston Harbor. There, the soldiers trained in infantry and artillery drills. They also guarded about 1,000 Confederate prisoners. On March 6, 1862, Cunningham was promoted to captain. He was then put in charge of Company F.
In May 1862, the battalion moved to the battlefront in northern Virginia. That summer, four more companies joined them, making it a full regiment of ten companies. On September 3, 1862, this unit was officially named the 32nd Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. It became part of the V Corps in the main Union army, the Army of the Potomac.
Throughout 1862, Captain Cunningham led Company F in battles like Second Bull Run, Antietam, and Fredericksburg. In 1863, he fought in the battles of Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and Mine Run. In 1864, Cunningham was still leading his company. He saw action in the Overland Campaign. This was a series of battles meant to weaken the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia and capture their capital, Richmond. The Overland Campaign ended in a long standoff called the Siege of Petersburg.
Commanding a Regiment
Many senior officers in the 32nd Massachusetts were killed or wounded during the Overland Campaign and the Siege of Petersburg. Because of this, James Cunningham was promoted to lieutenant colonel in the summer of 1864. By the end of September, he was in command of the entire regiment. He would lead the regiment for the rest of the war.
In late March 1865, the Confederate army left their positions at Petersburg. They began to retreat towards western Virginia. This led to the Appomattox Campaign, which eventually ended the war. During this campaign, on April 2, 1865, Cunningham showed great bravery after the Battle of Five Forks. This battle, fought on April 1, 1865, forced the Confederates to start their retreat from Petersburg and Richmond.
That night, Cunningham was put in charge of a brigade of skirmishers. These are soldiers who go ahead of the main army to scout and engage in light fighting. He was ordered to lead the chase after the retreating Confederate army. Under the watchful eye of Major General Philip Sheridan, Cunningham quickly moved his men westward. They covered many miles, capturing hundreds of Confederates and a lot of their supplies.
For his outstanding service during the campaign against Richmond and his bravery at the Battle of Five Forks, President Andrew Johnson nominated Cunningham for an honorary rank. On January 18, 1867, he was nominated for brevet brigadier general. This rank was made official on February 21, 1867, by the U.S. Senate.
Over the next week, the Union cavalry and V Corps (including Cunningham's 32nd Massachusetts) chased the Confederates. This chase ended with the Confederate surrender at the Battle of Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865. Near the end of the battle, Cunningham saw a white flag of truce through his field glasses. He rode forward and found that a Confederate officer was carrying the flag. This officer wanted to tell Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant that Confederate General Robert E. Lee wished to discuss surrender terms.
After the war ended, Cunningham and the rest of the 32nd Massachusetts were officially released from service on June 29, 1865.
Life After the War
Right after the war, Brevet Brig. Gen. Cunningham entered politics. He briefly served as a representative in the Massachusetts General Court in 1865. In late 1866, he accepted a new role. He became the Adjutant General of Massachusetts. This meant he was the commanding general of the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia. He took over from William Schouler and held this position until 1879.
In 1882, Cunningham became the superintendent of the Massachusetts Soldier's Home in Chelsea. He held this job for ten years. James Adams Cunningham passed away in Chelsea on July 17, 1892. He was buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Gloucester, Massachusetts.
