Born: 11/14/1828 in Clyde, OH
Died: 07/22/1864 in Atlanta, GA
USMA: 1853, class rank: 01/52

McPherson, James B., major-general, was born in Sandusky
county, Ohio, Nov. 14, 1828; entered West Point from his native
state, in 1849, and graduated at the head of his class, June
30, 1853, being at once appointed brevet second lieutenant of
engineers and assistant instructor of practical engineering at
the academy, a compliment never before awarded to so young an
officer. He was next appointed assistant engineer on the
defences of New York harbor, and on the improvement of the
navigation of the Hudson river, having previously been made
full second lieutenant of engineers. In Jan., 1857, he was
placed in charge of the construction of Fort Delaware, and
subsequently of the erection of fortifications on Alcatraz
island, San Francisco bay, Cal., and was also connected with
the survey of the Pacific coast. In Dec., 1858, he was
promoted to first lieutenant, and in 1861 was ordered from the
Pacific coast to take charge of the fortifications of Boston
harbor. The same year he was made captain, and upon the
appointment of Maj. Gen.- Halleck to the command of the
Department of the West in November, he was chosen aide-de-camp
to that general, and at the same time was promoted as
lieutenant-colonel. In the expeditions against Forts Henry and
Donelson he was chief engineer of the Army of the Tennessee,
and subsequently was at Shiloh and as colonel on Gen. Halleck's
staff held the chief engineering charge of the approaches to
Corinth which ended in its evacuation. On May 15, 1862, he was
made brigadier-general of volunteers, and appointed general
superintendent of military railroads in the district of West
Tennessee the following June. In Sept., 1862, Gen. McPherson
held a position on the staff of Gen. Grant and for his
gallantry at Corinth was promoted to be major-general, dating
from Oct. 8, rising to that position in the short space of nine
years, and by merit alone. From that time till the close of
the siege of Vicksburg, during which he commanded the center of
the Federal army, his career was one course of triumph. Upon
Grant's recommendation Gen. McPherson was immediately confirmed
a brigadier-general in the regular army, dating from Aug. 1,
1863, and soon after conducted a column into Mississippi and
repulsed the enemy at Canton. In the memorable expedition to
Meridian he was second in command to Gen. Sherman, and during
the Atlanta campaign his command was the Department of the
Tennessee, including the entire 15th, 16th, and 17th corps. He
distinguished himself at Resaca, Dallas, Allatoona, Kolb's
farm, and Kennesaw mountain. In superintending the advance of
his skirmish line in the battle before Atlanta, on July 22,
1864, he had ridden from left to right, and was returning when
he was suddenly confronted by a party of the enemy's
skirmishers, and received a shot in the breast, causing almost
instant death.

Source: The Union Army, vol. 8