Philip Kearny

Philip Kearny, Jr., (June 2, 1815 – September 1, 1862) was a United States Army officer, notably in the Mexican and Civil wars.

Civil War

When the American Civil War broke out in 1861, Kearny returned to the United States and was appointed a brigadier general, commanding the 1st New Jersey Brigade, which he trained efficiently. The Army had been reluctant to restore his commission due to his disability, but the shocking Union defeat at the First Battle of Bull Run made them realize the importance of seasoned combat officers. His brigade, even after he left to command a division, performed spectacularly, especially at the Battle of Glendale. He received command of the 3rd Division of the III Corps on April 30, 1862. He led the division into action at the Battle of Williamsburg and the Battle of Fair Oaks. At Williamsburg, as he led his troops onto the field, Kearny shouted (in a notable quote), "I'm a one-armed Jersey son-of-a-gun, follow me!" Here again the general bravely led the charge with his sword in hand, reins in his teeth. His performance during the Peninsula Campaign earned him much respect from the army and his superiors. However, he held much contempt for the commander of the Army of the Potomac, Major General George B. McClellan, whose orders (especially those to fall back) he frequently ignored. After the Battle of Malvern Hill, which was a Union victory, McClellan ordered a withdrawal, and Kearny wrote:

Related Topics:
American Civil War - 1861 - Brigadier general - Brigade - Union - First Battle of Bull Run - Division - Battle of Glendale - III Corps - April 30 - 1862 - Battle of Williamsburg - Battle of Fair Oaks - Peninsula Campaign - Army of the Potomac - George B. McClellan - Battle of Malvern Hill

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: I, Philip Kearny, an old soldier, enter my solemn protest against this order for retreat. We ought instead of retreating should follow up the enemy and take Richmond. And in full view of all responsible for such declaration, I say to you all, such an order can only be prompted by cowardice or treason.

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Kearny is credited with devising the first unit insignia patches used in the U.S. Army. In the summer of 1862, he issued an order that his officers should wear a patch of red cloth on the front of their caps to identify themselves as members of his unit. The enlisted men, with whom Kearny was quite popular, quickly followed suit of their own volition. Members of other units picked up on the idea, devising their own insignia, and these evolved over the years into the modern shoulder patch. (Daniel Butterfield is credited with taking Kearny's idea and standardizing it for all corps in the Army of the Potomac, designing most of the corps symbols.)

Related Topics:
Daniel Butterfield - Corps

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By the end of August 1862, General Kearny led his division at the disastrous Second Battle of Bull Run, which saw the Union Army routed and almost destroyed by the Confederate Army of Robert E. Lee. The Union army retreated towards Washington and fought with the pursuing Confederates on September 1, 1862, at the Battle of Chantilly. In a violent storm complete with lightning and pouring rain, Kearny decided to investigate a gap in the Union line and dismissively responded to the warnings of a subordinate with "The Rebel bullet that can kill me has not yet been molded." Subsequently riding into Confederate troops, Kearny ignored a demand to surrender and while attempting to escape, a single bullet penetrated the base of his spine, killing him instantly. Confederate General A.P. Hill, upon hearing the gunfire, ran up to the body of the illustrious soldier with a lantern and exclaimed, "You've killed Phil Kearny, he deserved a better fate than to die in the mud." His body was returned to the Union, accompanied with a note by General Lee. Ironically, there were rumors rampant at the time in Washington that Abraham Lincoln was contemplating replacing George B. McClellan with none other then "Kearny the Magnificent".

Related Topics:
Second Battle of Bull Run - Confederate - Robert E. Lee - September 1 - 1862 - Battle of Chantilly - A.P. Hill - Abraham Lincoln - George B. McClellan

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Kearny was buried at Trinity Churchyard in New York. On July 4, 1862, he was promoted posthumously to major general. In 1912 his remains were exhumed and re-interred at Arlington National Cemetery, where there is a statue in his honor, one of only two equestrian statues at Arlington.

Related Topics:
Trinity Churchyard - July 4 - 1862 - Major general - 1912 - Arlington National Cemetery

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The city of Kearny, New Jersey, is named in the general's honor. Likewise, Fort Phil Kearny in Wyoming was named for him; however, it existed only two years. New Jersey is represented by a statue of Kearny in the National Statuary Hall Collection in the U.S. Capitol.

Related Topics:
Kearny, New Jersey - Fort Phil Kearny - Wyoming - National Statuary Hall Collection - U.S. Capitol

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