Isaac C. Pugh

Isaac C. Pugh
Born (1805-11-23)November 23, 1805
Christian County, Kentucky
Died November 19, 1874(1874-11-19) (aged 68)
Decatur, Illinois
Place of burial Greenwood Cemetery
Allegiance United States of America
Union
Service/branch Union Army
Years of service 1832, 1846-1847, 1861-1864
Rank Brevet Brigadier General, U.S.V
Commands held 41st Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment
Battles/wars

Black Hawk War
Mexican War
American Civil War

Other work merchant, clerk, postmaster

Isaac Campbell Pugh[1] (November 23, 1805 – November 19, 1874) was a United States volunteer soldier who was a veteran of the Black Hawk War, Mexican War and American Civil War rising to the rank of Brevet brigadier general.

Early life

Pugh was born in Christian County, Kentucky. He moved to Macon County, Illinois and became a private and served during the Black Hawk War. In 1846 he became a captain in the 4th Illinois Volunteer Regiment during the Mexican War and was mustered out of the volunteer service the following year.

Civil War

Fort Donelson

Pugh's most notable military service came during the American Civil War. He volunteered and became the captain of A Company when the 8th Illinois Volunteer Regiment was mustered in on 23 April 1861.[2] When the 8th was demobbed three months later, he formed the 41st Illinois Volunteer Regiment which he commanded as colonel,[2][3] and would chiefly be associated with for the rest of the war. Pugh led the regiment into action at the Battle of Fort Donelson fighting with John McArthur's brigade on the extreme right of the Union line.

Shiloh

After Fort Donelson the 41st Illinois was assigned to the 1st Brigade in Stephen A. Hurlbut's 4th Division of the Army of the Tennessee. Shortly after the fighting began at the Battle of Shiloh, the 1st Brigade's commander Col. Nelson G. Williams was severely wounded and command of the brigade was turned over to Pugh.[4] Colonel Pugh ably led the brigade through the two days of fighting at Shiloh in the vicinity of "Bloody Pond".

Vicksburg and Jackson

After Shiloh, General Jacob G. Lauman was transferred to command the 1st Brigade and Pugh returned to command of his regiment. He led his regiment in the subsequent Siege of Corinth and Battle of Hatchie's Bridge. When General Lauman was elevated to command of the 4th Division, Pugh again assumed command of the 1st Brigade. Pugh's 1st Brigade and the rest of the 4th Division were assigned to the XVI Corps during the Siege of Vicksburg and the following expedition against Jackson, Mississippi. During the siege of Jackson (10–17 July 1863), General Lauman ordered Pugh to make an attack against Brig. Gen. Daniel W. Adams' entrenched brigade. This attack resulted in heavy casualties for Pugh's brigade and Lauman was subsequently relieved of command.

Furlough and Atlanta Campaign

Pugh continued in brigade command until October 1863 when the veteran officers and soldiers of the 41st Illinois were granted a furlough while the new recruits in the regiment fought in the Red River Campaign and at Tupelo. Pugh returned to active duty with the veterans of the regiment in 1864. Instead of reuniting the entire regiment in Mississippi, Pugh commanded the so-called "Veterans Battalion" of the 41st Illinois and was sent to Georgia to join William T. Sherman's campaign against Atlanta.[5] Pugh's Veteran Battalion was assigned to railroad guard duty near Marietta, Georgia. Pugh briefly commanded the 2nd Brigade, 4th Division in the XVII Corps which was composed of regiments primarily on guard duty in Georgia. He was mustered out of the volunteer service with the rest of his regiment on August 20, 1864.

Command History[3]

Later life

Pugh returned to his home in Decatur, Illinois and served as a clerk and postmaster there before his death on November 19, 1874. He is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Decatur.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ "41st Illinois Volunteer Infantry". Dieterich, Illinois: Dieterich Community Unit School District (CUSD) #30.
  2. 1 2 Johns, Jane Martin (1912). Personal recollections of early Decatur, Abraham Lincoln, Richard J. Oglesby and The Civil War. Decatur, Illinois: Decatur chapter Daughters of the American Revolution by Review Printing and Stationery Company. p. 130. OCLC 2504772.
  3. 1 2 Eicher p.442
  4. ↑ Official Records
  5. ↑ Civil War Archive: 41st Illinois

References

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