| Isaac Ridgeway Trimble | |
|---|---|
| May 15, 1802 – January 2, 1888 (aged 85) | |
 Gen. Events 1252 - Pope Innocent IV issues the Papal bull Ad exstirpanda, which authorizes but also limits the Year 1802 ( MDCCCII) was a Common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar or a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Events 366 - The Alamanni cross the frozen Rhine River in large numbers invading the Roman Empire. Year 1888 ( MDCCCLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Isaac R. Trimble | |
| Place of birth | Culpeper County, Virginia |
| Place of death | Baltimore, Maryland |
| Allegiance | United States of America Confederate States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Army Confederate States Army |
| Years of service | 1822-1832 1861-1863 |
| Rank | Major General |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
| Other work | Railroad executive |
Isaac Ridgeway Trimble (May 15, 1802 – January 2, 1888) was a U.S. Army officer, a civil engineer, a prominent railroad construction superintendent and executive, and a Confederate general in the American Civil War, most famous for his leadership role in the assault known as Pickett's Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg. Culpeper County is a county located in the US state &mdash officially " Commonwealth " &mdash of Virginia. The Commonwealth of Virginia ( is an American state The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The Confederate States of America (also called the Confederacy, the Confederate States, and CSA) formed as the government set up from 1861 The United States Army is a military organization whose primary mission is to "provide necessary forces and capabilities. The War Department was established by the Confederate Congress in an act on February 21, 1861. Major General or Major-General is a Military rank used in many countries Causes of the war See also Origins of the American Civil War, Timeline of events leading to the American Civil War The coexistence of a slave-owning South Background In the spring of 1862 "Southern morale. was at its nadir" and "prospects for the Confederacy's survival seemed bleak Start of the Peninsula Campaign Opposing forces See also [[Seven Days Confederate order of battle]] [[Seven Days Union order of battle]] Almost Background and opposing forces See also Northern Virginia Campaign See also [[Second Bull Run Confederate order of battle]] [[Confederate order of battle]] Background and movement to battle See also [[Gettysburg Campaign]] [[Gettysburg Battlefield]] [[Gettysburg Confederate order of battle]] [[Confederate order of battle]] Events 1252 - Pope Innocent IV issues the Papal bull Ad exstirpanda, which authorizes but also limits the Year 1802 ( MDCCCII) was a Common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar or a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Events 366 - The Alamanni cross the frozen Rhine River in large numbers invading the Roman Empire. Year 1888 ( MDCCCLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a The United States Army is a military organization whose primary mission is to "provide necessary forces and capabilities. A civil engineer is a person who practices Civil engineering, one of the many engineering professions The War Department was established by the Confederate Congress in an act on February 21, 1861. Causes of the war See also Origins of the American Civil War, Timeline of events leading to the American Civil War The coexistence of a slave-owning South See also Battle of Gettysburg See also [[Gettysburg Battlefield]] [[Gettysburg Confederate order of battle]] [[Confederate order of battle]] and [[Gettysburg Union order Background and movement to battle See also [[Gettysburg Campaign]] [[Gettysburg Battlefield]] [[Gettysburg Confederate order of battle]] [[Confederate order of battle]]
Contents |
Youth, education, building railroads
Trimble was born in Culpeper County, Virginia. Culpeper County is a county located in the US state &mdash officially " Commonwealth " &mdash of Virginia. The Commonwealth of Virginia ( is an American state He moved to Kentucky and was nominated by that state to attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, from which he graduated in 1822, commissioned as a second lieutenant of artillery. The Commonwealth of Kentucky ( is a state located in the East Central United States of America. "USMA" redirects here For other uses see USMA (disambiguation The United States Military Academy (also known as USMA, West Point is a federal military reservation (and a Census-designated place) located North of the Village of Highland Falls in Orange County New York Second Lieutenant is the lowest commissioned officer Military rank in many Armed forces. Artillery (from French artillerie) is a military Combat Arm which employs any apparātus machine He served in the 3rd and 1st U. S. Artillery regiments, but left the U. S. Army in 1832 to pursue the emerging business of railroad construction.
Trimble helped survey the route of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad ( B&O) was one of the Oldest railroads in the United States and the first Common carrier railroad He was a construction engineer for the Boston and Providence Railroad, and Pennsylvania Railroad predecessors Baltimore and Susquehanna Railroad, Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad, and Baltimore and Potomac Railroads. The Boston and Providence Rail Road was a former railroad in New England. The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Railroad, founded in 1846 The Northern Central Railway was a rail line connecting Baltimore Maryland with Sunbury Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad was the Pennsylvania Railroad 's main line from Philadelphia Pennsylvania southwest to Baltimore Maryland The Baltimore and Potomac Rail Road was part of the Pennsylvania Railroad 's main line from Baltimore Maryland southwest to Washington DC. In his final job, as a superintendent, he relocated permanently to Maryland.
Civil War
When Trimble realized that Maryland would not secede from the Union, he returned to his Virginia home and joined the Confederate army as a colonel of engineers in 1861. Secession (derived from the Latin term secessio is the act of withdrawing from an organization union or especially a political entity During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty-three Colonel ( RP ˈkɜnəl GA ˈkɜrnəl is a Military rank of a Commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every country He was promoted to brigadier general on August 9, 1861, and by November 16 was in command of a brigade in the (Confederate) Army of Northern Virginia. Brigadier General is the lowest ranking General Officer in some countries usually sitting between the ranks of Colonel and Major General. Events 48 BC - Caesar's civil war: Battle of Pharsalus - Julius Caesar decisively defeats Pompey at Pharsalus Year 1861 ( MDCCCLXI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 534 - A second and final revision of the Codex Justinianus is published
Trimble first saw combat as part of Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's campaign in the Shenandoah Valley and he distinguished himself in the Battle of Cross Keys by ordering a dangerous close-in musket volley that routed Union troops under John C. Frémont. Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson (January 21 1824 &ndash May 10 1863 was a Confederate general during the American Civil War, and probably the Background In the spring of 1862 "Southern morale. was at its nadir" and "prospects for the Confederacy's survival seemed bleak The Shenandoah Valley region of western Virginia and West Virginia is bounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains to the east and the Appalachian The Battle of Cross Keys was fought on June 8, 1862, in Rockingham County Virginia, as part of Confederate Army Maj A musket is a muzzle -loaded Smoothbore Long gun, which is intended to be fired from the shoulder John Charles Frémont ( January 21, 1813 July 13, 1890) was an American military officer, explorer, the During the Seven Days Battles under Jackson, his brigade fought hard at Gaines' Mill and he sought to follow up the unsuccessful assault on Malvern Hill by making a night attack, but his request was refused. Start of the Peninsula Campaign Opposing forces See also [[Seven Days Confederate order of battle]] [[Seven Days Union order of battle]] Almost The Battle of Gaines' Mill, also known as the First Battle of Cold Harbor or the Battle of Chickahominy River, took place on June 27, 1862 The Battle of Malvern Hill, also known as the Battle of Poindexter's Farm, took place on July 1, 1862, in Henrico County Virginia, was
In the Second Battle of Bull Run, Trimble's brigade defeated a Union brigade at Freeman's Ford. Background and opposing forces See also Northern Virginia Campaign See also [[Second Bull Run Confederate order of battle]] [[Confederate order of battle]] He then marched with Jackson around Maj. Gen. John Pope's main force and captured a supply depot in their rear, along with two artillery batteries, which eventually compelled Pope to attack Jackson's strong defensive positions and suffer a severe defeat. John Pope ( March 16, 1822 &ndash September 23, 1892) was a career United States Army officer and Union general in Trimble was wounded in the leg with an explosive bullet and he had to deal with poor health (due in part to his advanced age) for many months in his recovery. Although he was promoted to major general in January 1863, he was unable to command a division due to his health, and he was assigned to light duty as commander of the Valley District in the Shenandoah Valley. Major General or Major-General is a Military rank used in many countries
By June 1863, Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia had crossed the Potomac River on its second invasion of the north and Trimble was desperate to get back into action, particularly because he was familiar with the area from his railroad days. Robert Edward Lee (January 19 1807 &ndash October 12 1870 was a career United States Army officer, an Engineer, and among the most celebrated The Army of Northern Virginia was the primary military force of the Confederate States of America in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid- Atlantic coast of the United States. He joined Lee's headquarters unsolicited, but wore out his welcome hanging around without formal assignment. Riding north, he caught up with Lt. Gen. Richard S. Ewell on the way to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and joined his staff as a supernumerary, or senior officer in command of nothing. Richard Stoddert Ewell ( February 8, 1817 &ndash January 25, 1872) was a career U Harrisburg is the Capital of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in the United States of America He and Ewell quarreled frequently due to this clumsy arrangement and Trimble's lack of tact.
On July 1, 1863, the Battle of Gettysburg began and Ewell's Second Corps reached the battlefield in early afternoon, smashing into the Union XI Corps and driving them south through the town to Cemetery Hill. "July 1st" redirects here For the Ayumi Hamasaki song see H (song. Year 1863 ( MDCCCLXIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Background and movement to battle See also [[Gettysburg Campaign]] [[Gettysburg Battlefield]] [[Gettysburg Confederate order of battle]] [[Confederate order of battle]] The XI Corps ( Eleventh Army Corps) was a Corps of the Union Army during the American Civil War, best remembered for its humiliating defeats at Cemetery Hill is a key terrain feature in Gettysburg Pennsylvania, the northernmost extent of Cemetery Ridge. Trimble wrote the following about his encounter with Ewell:[1]
The battle was over and we had won it handsomely. General Ewell moved about uneasily, a good deal excited, and seemed to me to be undecided what to do next. I approached him and said: "Well, General, we have had a grand success; are you not going to follow it up and push our advantage?"
He replied that General Lee had instructed him not to bring on a general engagement without orders, and that he would wait for them.
I said, "That hardly applies to the present state of things, as we have fought a hard battle already, and should secure the advantage gained". He made no rejoinder, but was far from composure. I was deeply impressed with the conviction that it was a critical moment for us and made a remark to that effect.
As no movement seemed immediate, I rode off to our left, north of the town, to reconnoitre, and noticed conspicuously the wooded hill northeast of Gettysburg (Culp's), and a half mile distant, and of an elevation to command the country for miles each way, and overlooking Cemetery Hill above the town. Returning to see General Ewell, who was still under much embarrassment, I said, "General, There," pointing to Culp's Hill, "is an eminence of commanding position, and not now occupied, as it ought to be by us or the enemy soon. I advise you to send a brigade and hold it if we are to remain here. " He said: "Are you sure it commands the town?" [I replied,] "Certainly it does, as you can see, and it ought to be held by us at once. " General Ewell made some impatient reply, and the conversation dropped.
– Isaac R. Trimble, Southern Historical Society Papers
Observers have reported that the "impatient reply" was, "When I need advice from a junior officer I generally ask for it. " And that Trimble threw down his sword in disgust and stormed off. A more colorful version of this account has been immortalized in Michael Shaara's novel, The Killer Angels. Michael Shaara ( June 23, 1928 - May 5, 1988) was an American writer of Science fiction, Sports fiction, and The Killer Angels ( 1974) is a historical novel by Michael Shaara that was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1975.
On July 3, 1863, Trimble was one of the three division commanders in Pickett's Charge. Events 324 - Battle of Adrianople Constantine I defeats Licinius, who flees to Byzantium. Year 1863 ( MDCCCLXIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common See also Battle of Gettysburg See also [[Gettysburg Battlefield]] [[Gettysburg Confederate order of battle]] [[Confederate order of battle]] and [[Gettysburg Union order He stepped in to replace W. Dorsey Pender, of A.P. Hill's Corps, who was mortally wounded the previous day. William Dorsey Pender ( February 6, 1834 &ndash July 18, 1863) was one of the youngest and most promising Generals fighting Ambrose Powell Hill (November 9 1825 &ndash April 2 1865 was a Confederate general in the American Civil War. Trimble was at a great disadvantage because he had never worked with these troops before. His division participated in the left section of the assault, advancing just behind the division led by J. Johnston Pettigrew (formerly by Henry Heth). James Johnston Pettigrew ( July 4, 1828 &ndash July 17, 1863) was an author lawyer linguist diplomat and a Confederate Henry "Harry" Heth (ˈhiːθ not /ˈhɛθ/ December 16, 1825 &ndash September 27, 1899) was a career U The slaughter of the assault is well known. Trimble rode his horse, Jinny, and was wounded in the leg, the same left leg as at Second Bull Run. His leg was amputated by Dr. Hunter McGuire and he could not be taken along with the retreating Confederates, because of fear of infection that would result from a long ambulance ride back to Virginia, so he was left to be captured by Union soldiers. Hunter Holmes McGuire MD ( October 11, 1835 – September 19, 1900) was a Physician, Teacher, and Orator. Of the charge at Gettysburg Trimble said: "If the men I had the honor to command that day could not take that position, all hell couldn't take it. "[2]
Gettysburg was the end of Trimble's military career. He spent the next year and a half in Federal hands at Johnson's Island and Fort Warren. Johnson's Island is a 300- Acre (1214 ha) island in Sandusky Bay, located on the coast of Lake Erie, 3 miles (5 km from the city of Sandusky Fort Warren is a historic Fort on the 28-acre Georges Island at the entrance to Boston Harbor. He was recommended for parole soon after capture, but former U.S. Secretary of War Simon Cameron recommended against it, citing Trimble's expert knowledge of northern railroads. Parole may have different meanings depending on the field and judiciary system The Secretary of War was a member of the United States President's Cabinet, beginning with George Washington 's administration Simon Cameron ( March 8, 1799 &ndash June 26, 1889) was an American politician who served as United States Secretary of He was finally paroled in Lynchburg, Virginia, on April 16, 1865, just after Lee's surrender. Lynchburg is an Independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Events 1178 BC - A Solar eclipse may have marked the return of Odysseus, legendary King of Ithaca, to his kingdom Year 1865 ( MDCCCLXV) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year
Post-war years, heritage
After the war, Trimble was equipped with an artificial leg and returned to Maryland to resume his engineering work. Records of the Pennsylvania Railroad indicate that he resigned as chief engineer of the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad in July 1867.
Isaac Trimble died in Baltimore, Maryland, and is buried there in Green Mount Cemetery, arguably the most famous Maryland resident who fought for the Confederacy. Green Mount Cemetery is a historic Cemetery located in Baltimore Maryland, United States. In 1849, Trimble built Baltimore's historic 1849 President Street Station. The oldest big city train station in America, it was restored in 1997 to serve as the Baltimore Civil War Museum. The Baltimore Civil War Museum in Baltimore Maryland, United States, is a unique building with a curved roof supported by an arched truss was originally the
In popular media
Isaac Trimble was played by actor W. Morgan Sheppard in the movies Gettysburg and Gods and Generals. William Morgan Sheppard (born August 24, 1932) sometimes credited as W Gettysburg is a 1993 Film that dramatizes the decisive Battle of Gettysburg in the American Civil War. Gods and Generals is a Novel which serves as a Prequel to Michael Shaara 's 1974 Pulitzer Prize -winning work about the
References
- Eicher, John H. , and Eicher, David J. , Civil War High Commands, Stanford University Press, 2001, ISBN 0-8047-3641-3.
- Tagg, Larry, The Generals of Gettysburg, Savas Publishing, 1998, ISBN 1-882810-30-9.
- Trimble, Isaac R. , "The Battle and Campaign of Gettysburg", Southern Historical Society Papers, vol. XXVI, 1898.
Notes
- ^ Trimble, Southern Historical Society Papers.
- ^ Quoted in Brothers' War web site, citing Gettysburg National Military Park audio tour.
Further reading
- Trimble, David C. , Furious, Insatiable Fighter: A Biography of Maj. Gen. Isaac Ridgeway Trimble, C. S. A. , University Press of America, 2005, ISBN 0-7618-3251-3.
External links
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