Jasper A. Maltby facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jasper Adalmorn Maltby
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| Born | November 3, 1825 Kingsville, Ohio |
| Died | December 12, 1867 (aged 41) Vicksburg, Mississippi |
| Place of burial | |
| Allegiance | United States of America Union |
| Service/ |
United States Army Union Army |
| Years of service | 1846–1848 1861–1867 |
| Rank |  Brigadier General |
| Unit | Army of the Tennessee |
| Commands held | 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, XVII Corps Department of Vicksburg |
| Battles/wars | Mexican War |
| Other work | gunsmith, military mayor of Vicksburg, Mississippi |
Jasper Adalmorn Maltby (born November 3, 1826 – died December 12, 1867) was an important general in the Union Army. He served during the American Civil War. Maltby took part in major battles, including the Vicksburg Campaign in 1863. Before becoming a soldier, he was a skilled gunsmith. He even invented one of the first ever telescopic sights for guns.
Contents
Early Life and First War Service
Jasper Maltby was born in 1826 in a small town called Kingsville, Ohio. He went to local schools there. Later, he joined the army as a private. This was during the Mexican–American War, which happened from 1846 to 1848.
Maltby was hurt in battle on September 20, 1847. This happened during the Battle of Chapultepec. He left the army with honor on August 3, 1848. After the war, he moved to Chicago, Illinois. He then settled in Galena, Illinois, where he worked as a gunsmith.
Serving in the Civil War
When the Civil War began, Maltby joined the army again. He enlisted as a private on December 26, 1861. He joined the 45th Illinois Infantry regiment. On the same day, he was chosen to be the lieutenant colonel of his regiment.
Battles and Injuries
In 1862, Maltby fought in the attack on Fort Donelson in Tennessee. He was wounded in his elbow and both thighs during this battle. He had to go home to Galena to get better. After he recovered, he was promoted to colonel.
The next year, Maltby led his Illinois troops. They were part of Ulysses S. Grant's plan to attack the Confederate defenses of Vicksburg, Mississippi. Maltby was wounded again on June 25 during an attack on Fort Hill.
Union soldiers had dug a tunnel under the Confederate lines. They filled it with 2,200 pounds of gunpowder. The huge explosion blew a large hole in the Confederate defenses. Maltby's 45th Illinois soldiers charged into the crater. It was about 40 feet wide and 12 feet deep.
However, the Confederate soldiers quickly recovered. They stopped the Union troops from moving forward. The Union soldiers were trapped in the pit. The Confederates then rolled artillery shells with short fuses into the crater. This caused many deaths. Maltby was badly hurt in his head and right side. He never fully recovered from these injuries. But he was still able to stay in the army.
Promotions and Commands
Maltby was promoted to brigadier general on August 4, 1863. On September 8, he took command of the 3rd Brigade. This brigade was part of the 3rd Division of the XVII Corps. This corps belonged to the Army of the Tennessee.
For most of 1864, Maltby's brigade stayed in Vicksburg. During this time, much of the Union army was fighting in Georgia and Tennessee. Maltby had to take a break during the summer. He was recovering from problems caused by his Vicksburg wounds.
After the War
When the Civil War ended in 1865, Maltby stayed in Vicksburg. He remained in the Regular Army. He served as the city's military governor. This meant he was in charge of the city's military affairs. He held this position from September 6, 1867, until December 12, 1867. He stepped down because he was very ill.
Maltby died ten days later in Vicksburg. He passed away from either yellow fever or a heart attack. His body was brought back to Galena, Illinois. He was buried there in Greenwood Cemetery.
Jasper Maltby had a brother named William H. Maltby. William was a captain in a Confederate artillery unit. He was captured during a fight on Mustang Island in Texas. Jasper Maltby used his influence to help his brother. He arranged for William to be released and sent to Vicksburg. William stayed there until he could be exchanged for a Union prisoner.
