Thomas O. Osborn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thomas Ogden Osborn
|
|
|---|---|
Thomas O. Osborn
|
|
| Born | August 11, 1832 Licking County, Ohio |
| Died | March 27, 1904 (aged 71) Washington, D.C. |
| Place of burial | |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/ |
United States Army Union Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1865 |
| Rank |  Brigadier General Brevet Major General |
| Unit | Army of the James |
| Commands held | 1st Brigade, 1st Division, XXIV Corps |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
Thomas Ogden Osborn was an important American lawyer, soldier, and diplomat. He was born in 1832 and lived until 1904. During the American Civil War, he was a brave general for the Union Army. After the war, he served his country as the U.S. Minister to Argentina for many years.
Contents
Early Life
Thomas Osborn was born in a place called Licking County, Ohio. This was in 1832. In 1854, he finished his studies at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.
Osborn then studied law in Crawfordsville, Indiana. He learned from Lew Wallace, who would also become a Civil War general. In 1858, Osborn moved to Chicago and started his own law practice.
Fighting in the Civil War
When the Civil War began, Thomas Osborn joined the Union Army. On October 11, 1861, he became a lieutenant colonel in the 39th Illinois Infantry. A lieutenant colonel is an officer rank below a colonel. The next year, on January 1, he was promoted to colonel. A colonel is a high-ranking officer who commands a regiment.
Early Battles
Colonel Osborn led his soldiers in many battles in the eastern part of the United States. In 1862, he fought against Confederate forces led by Stonewall Jackson. Osborn's unit was part of the Valley Campaign. They took part in the Battle of Port Republic on June 9.
From July to September 1863, Osborn helped with Union attacks on Charleston, South Carolina. These attacks included important forts like Fort Wagner and Fort Sumter.
Important Commands
In 1864, Osborn was given command of the 1st Brigade. A brigade is a large group of soldiers, usually led by a general. This brigade was part of the 1st Division of the XXIV Corps. A division is an even larger group of soldiers, and a corps is a very big army unit. These units were part of the Army of the James.
Wounded in Battle
On May 14, 1864, Osborn was badly hurt at the Battle of Drewry's Bluff. A musket ball hit his right elbow and stayed in his arm. He had to stay in the hospital until September.
By December, he was well enough to return to duty. However, his injured elbow never fully healed. It remained stiff for the rest of his life.
Final War Actions
During the Siege of Petersburg in 1864 and 1865, Osborn led a brigade in the XXIV Corps. On March 10, 1865, he was given the honorary rank of Brevet Brigadier General. A brevet rank is a temporary promotion for bravery or good service.
On April 2, 1865, Osborn's soldiers played a key role in capturing Fort Gregg. This helped the Union Army break through the Confederate lines. For this brave action, he was given the honorary rank of major general on the same day.
On May 1, 1865, he was officially promoted to brigadier general in the United States Volunteers. He then led the 1st Division of the XXIV Corps from May 2 to July 8. Osborn left the Army on September 28, 1865.
After the War
After the war, Osborn went back to being a lawyer in Chicago. He also started several businesses. He held some government jobs too. From 1867 to 1869, he was the treasurer for Cook County, Illinois.
In 1874, he joined the State Department. The President appointed him as the U.S. Minister to Argentina. He worked in Buenos Aires until 1885. He helped with important talks about the border between Argentina and Chile. This was for the Boundary treaty of 1881 between Chile and Argentina.
In 1904, Thomas Osborn passed away in Washington, D.C.. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
