This antique CDV photograph features a family sitting on a Lookout Mountain in Tennessee with Moccasin bend in the background. The photograph came from the family photo album of George Lewis Gillespie Jr. and this may be Gillespie with his family in the photograph. The early CDV has no photographers name, the back of the card is blank. Very good condition! !
George Lewis Gillespie Jr.From Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaGeorge L. Gillespie Jr.Brigadier General George Lewis Gillespie Jr., Chief of Engineers 1901–1904BornOctober 7, 1841
Kingston,TennesseeDiedSeptember 27, 1913(aged71)
Saratoga Springs,New YorkPlace of burialWest Point CemeteryAllegianceUnited States of America
UnionService/branchUnited States Army
Union ArmyYearsof service1862–1905RankMajor GeneralCommands heldDepartment of the East
Chief of EngineersBattles/warsAmerican Civil WarAwardsMedal of Honor
George Gillespie Jr., (October 7, 1841 – September 27, 1913) was an American soldier who received the highest military decoration that the United States bestows to members of the military, theMedal of Honor, for his actions during theAmerican Civil War.
Biography
George Lewis Gillespie was born October 7, 1841, inKingston, Tennessee. He graduated second in the Class of 1862 at theUnited States Military Academyand was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant in theCorps of Engineerson June 17, 1862.
A Southerner who remained loyal to the Union, Gillespie joined theArmy of the Potomacin September 1862. He commanded two companies of the engineer battalion which built fortifications and pontoon bridges throughout the Virginia campaigns until GeneralRobert E. Lee\'ssurrender at Appomattoxin April 1865.
On October 27, 1897, Gillespie received theMedal of Honorfor carrying dispatches through enemy lines under withering fire to Major GeneralPhilip Sheridanat theBattle of Cold Harbor, Virginia on May 31, 1864.[1]He was later Sheridan\'s Chief Engineer in theArmy of the Shenandoahand the Military Division of the Gulf.
At the end of the war, Gillespie held the Regular Army rank of captain and abrevet(temporary promotion) to the rank of lieutenant colonel.
After the Civil War, Gillespie successively supervised the improvement of harbors atCleveland, Ohio,Chicago,Boston, andNew York City. He initiated construction of the canal at the Cascades of theColumbia Riverand built the famousTillamook Rock Lighthouseoff theOregoncoast. Gillespie also served on the Board of Engineers and for six years as president of theMississippi RiverCommission.
He was promoted to major on September 5, 1871, lieutenant colonel on October 12, 1886 and colonel on October 2, 1895.
With the outbreak of theSpanish–American War, Gillespie was promoted to brigadier general of Volunteers on May 27, 1898. He commanded the Army\'sDepartment of the Eastuntil October 31, 1898 when he was discharged from the Volunteers and reverted to his Regular Army rank of colonel.
Gillespie was appointed asChief of Engineerson May 3, 1901 and promoted to brigadier general the same day. He was actingU.S. Secretary of Warin August 1901. He had charge of ceremonies at PresidentWilliam McKinley\'s funeral and at the laying of the cornerstone of theArmy War Collegebuilding in 1903.
About 1904 he redesigned the United States Army\'s version of theMedal of Honor. The new design replaced the original design dating from 1862 which was often erroneously mistaken for the membership badge of theGrand Army of the Republic—an organization for Union veterans of theAmerican Civil War. General Gillespie\'s design entirely changed the planchet to feature the head ofMinervain the center of a star surrounded by a wreath. The ribbon was changed from red, white and blue stripes to a light blue ribbon with thirteen white stars.
Gillespie\'s final assignment was as Assistant Chief of Staff of the United States Army from 1904 to 1905 with the rank ofmajor general.
Gillespie was a companion of the District of Columbia Commandery of theMilitary Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States(MOLLUS) and was assigned MOLLUS insignia number 4061. He was also a member of theSociety of the Army of the Potomac.
Major General Gillespie retired from the Army on June 15, 1905, having reached the mandatory retirement age of 64. He died on September 27, 1913, inSaratoga Springs, New York. He was buried in the post cemetery at theUnited States Military AcademyatWest Point, New York.
