[George Edward]. American soldier, born in Richmond, VA, on the 25th of January 1825; graduated at West Point in 1846, and entered the army as brevet second-lieutenant. He was in the war with Mexico, being present at the capture of the City of Mexico; was transferred to the infantry in July 1847; and in September breveted captain for gallantry at Chapultepec. He then served on garrison duty in Texas from 1849, becoming captain of the Ninth Infantry early in 1855. The year following he was on duty at Puget Sound, and rendered valuable service in connection with the northwest boundary dispute with Great Britain, for which Congress passed resolutions thanking him. June 25, 1861, he resigned his commission in the army. On reaching Virginia he was commissioned colonel in the Confederate army, and assigned to duty on the Rappahannock River. He was made brigadier-general in February 1862, his brigade being known as the “game-cock brigade.” At Gaines’s Mill, June 27, 1862, he was severely wounded. On his recovery he was made major-general, with a division of Virginians, which at Fredericksburg held the center of Lee’s line. At Gettysburg, July 3, 1863, his division led the assault. He had also a command at the capture of Plymouth, April 20, 1864; and in May prevented the capture of Petersburg by General Benjamin F. Butler. At Five Forks, April 1, 1865, he made a brave stand, but his division was cut to pieces. After the war he returned to Richmond, engaging in the life-insurance business. He died in Norfolk, VA, on the 30th of July 1875.
