James B. McPherson

Northern General James Birdseye McPherson

James Birdseye McPherson (born November 14, 1828 near Clyde , Ohio , † July 22, 1864 off Atlanta , Georgia ) was an officer in the United States Army and major general in the American Civil War .

He received military training at the West Point Military Academy and graduated in 1853 as the best of his class together with his later adversary John Bell Hood and began a career with the pioneers of the US Army.

When the American Civil War broke out, he remained loyal to the Union and was assigned to the staff of General Henry Wager Halleck . Shortly afterwards he became the commander of the pioneers in Grant's army and took part in the important battles of Fort Henry and Fort Donelson . McPherson quickly rose to Brigadier General and Major General of the Volunteers and took over a corps in Grant's army in the fall of 1862, with which he distinguished himself during Grant's first and second Vicksburg campaigns.

In 1864, when Sherman organized his armies for the campaign against Atlanta , he turned the Tennessee Army over to McPherson, whom he and Grant held in high regard . With this force, McPherson had a significant share in Sherman's successes during the campaign. One of McPherson's opponents was Confederate General John Bell Hood , who had been one of his comrades from the West Point days.

In July 1864, when the Northerners were close to their goal, McPherson was fatally wounded in the Battle of Atlanta.

According to him, McPherson County , South Dakota, McPherson County , Kansas and McPherson County , Nebraska named.

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personal data
SURNAME	McPherson, James B.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	McPherson, James Birdseye (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	General of the US Army
DATE OF BIRTH	November 14, 1828
PLACE OF BIRTH	near Clyde , Ohio
DATE OF DEATH	July 22, 1864
Place of death	near Atlanta , Georgia