John W. Sprague facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Wilson Sprague
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Brig. Gen. John W. Sprague
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| Born | April 4, 1817 White Creek, New York |
| Died | December 27, 1893 (aged 76) Tacoma, Washington |
| Place of burial |
Tacoma Cemetery, Tacoma, Washington
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| Allegiance | United States of America Union |
| Service/ |
United States Army Union Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1866 |
| Rank |  Brigadier General Brevet Major General |
| Unit | Army of the Tennessee |
| Commands held | 63rd Ohio Infantry 2nd Brigade, 4th Division, XVI Corps |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
| Awards |  Medal of Honor |
| Other work | Businessman, county treasurer, railroad executive |
John Wilson Sprague (born April 4, 1817 – died December 27, 1893) was an American soldier and a leader in the railroad industry. He became a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He fought in the Western Theater (the western part of the war). Sprague earned the Medal of Honor, which is the highest military award, for his bravery at the Battle of Decatur. After the war, he helped build railroads and was one of the people who started the city of Tacoma, Washington. He even served as Tacoma's first mayor.
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Early Life and Business Career
John W. Sprague was born in White Creek, New York, on April 4, 1817. His parents were Otis and Polly Sprague. He went to a local school and, at age thirteen, he attended the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. However, he left college early to start a grocery business.
In 1845, he moved to Milan, Ohio. There, he continued his work as a merchant, dealing with shipping and sales. Later, he settled in Sandusky and worked as the treasurer for Erie County, Ohio for one year (1851–1852).
John Sprague married Lucy Wright, but she passed away in 1844. He later married Julia Frances Choate, and they had five children together. In the late 1850s, he started a business with sailboats and steamers that operated on Lake Erie. He was involved in this business when the Civil War began.
Civil War Service
When the American Civil War started, President Abraham Lincoln asked for many volunteers to join the army. John Sprague quickly gathered a company of infantry soldiers. They were sent to Camp Dennison near Cincinnati. He became a captain in the 7th Ohio Infantry.
In August 1861, while on leave, Sprague and some fellow soldiers were captured in West Virginia. They became prisoners of war. Sprague was set free in January 1862 and went back to his unit.
Leading the 63rd Ohio Infantry
Later that month, Sprague was made a colonel and put in charge of the new 63rd Ohio Infantry regiment. This regiment was formed by combining parts of other units. After training, Sprague and his men traveled south by train to join Major General John Pope in Missouri. Sprague led his regiment during the Siege of Corinth in Mississippi. He then commanded the Ohio Brigade during the Battle of Iuka in 1862.
For several months, Sprague's unit was part of army operations in northern Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee. He took part in the Vicksburg Campaign in 1863. Later that year, his regiment joined forces under Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman. They moved east toward Chattanooga, Tennessee. Sprague's regiment was part of a group sent to protect the railroad to Decatur, Alabama.
Bravery at the Battle of Decatur
During the 1864 Atlanta Campaign, Sprague commanded the 2nd Brigade of the Sixteenth Army Corps. On July 22, 1864, during the Battle of Atlanta, there was a smaller fight near Decatur, Georgia. Sprague showed great skill and bravery. With only a small number of soldiers, he held off a much larger Confederate force. His actions saved the important supplies and ammunition wagons for several other Union army corps. His commanders praised him highly for this brave act.
Sprague was promoted to brigadier general on July 30, 1864. He then marched with General Sherman on the famous Sherman's March to the Sea. After that, he moved north during the Carolinas Campaign. He led his brigade from Raleigh, North Carolina, through Richmond, to Washington, D.C.. He also took part in the "Grand Review of the Armies" in May, a large parade celebrating the Union victory. In 1866, President Andrew Johnson nominated Sprague to be a brevet major general, which was approved.
From April 1865 to September 1866, Sprague worked for the Freedmen's Bureau in Arkansas. This organization helped newly freed slaves after the war. He was also in charge of operations in Missouri, Kansas, and the Indian Territory. In September 1865, he chose to leave the military service.
After the War: Railroads and Tacoma
After the Civil War, John Sprague became the manager of the Winona & St. Paul Railway in Minnesota. In 1870, he became the general manager for the Western Division of the Northern Pacific Railway. He played a key role in choosing the path for the railroad's Pacific Division, which went from what is now Kalama, Washington, to Tacoma, Washington. He also helped establish the city of Tacoma on Puget Sound.
In 1883, Sprague had the honor of driving the "golden spike." This spike marked the completion of his railroad division. However, he had to resign a few months later due to poor health.
Sprague was very active in helping the new city of Tacoma grow. He was president of the board of trade and led various banks and companies. He served as Tacoma's first mayor and became an important figure in its financial world. He was president of the National Bank, the Tacoma Chamber of Commerce, and the Tacoma Steam Navigation Company. His second wife, Julia, died in 1886. He later married Abigail Choate.
The town of Sprague, Washington, founded in 1880, was named after General Sprague. Lincoln County, Washington, was also originally named for him, but the name was changed due to political reasons.
John Sprague passed away at his home in Tacoma on December 27, 1893, after dealing with health issues for several years. He was buried in the city's cemetery. In 1894, the United States Congress awarded the Medal of Honor to General John W. Sprague for his outstanding bravery during the Battle of Decatur. Sadly, Sprague never saw his medal, as he died a few weeks before it arrived.
The John W. Sprague Camp of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War was named in his honor.
