Person Information

Biography

William Buel Franklin was a Union General during the Civil War and was very active in the early years of the War, mainly fighting around Washington, D.C. He went to West Point and graduated in 1843. He served in the Mexican War until 1848. When the Civil War began he was made Brigadier General of Volunteers and fought at the First Battle of Bull Run. He then became division commander in the Army of the Potomac, serving in the Peninsular Campaign in 1862. He fought as Major General at the Battle of Antietam and was partially blamed for the defeat at Fredericksburg by his commanding officer (Gen. Burnside) and a congressional committee. However, Burnside's orders were acknowledged to be confusing and the committee did not have access to them. He resigned from the army in 1866 and worked in business in Hartford after the war.

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Biography and Citation Information:
Biography: 
William Buel Franklin was a Union General during the Civil War and was very active in the early years of the War, mainly fighting around Washington, D.C. He went to West Point and graduated in 1843. He served in the Mexican War until 1848. When the Civil War began he was made Brigadier General of Volunteers and fought at the First Battle of Bull Run. He then became division commander in the Army of the Potomac, serving in the Peninsular Campaign in 1862. He fought as Major General at the Battle of Antietam and was partially blamed for the defeat at Fredericksburg by his commanding officer (Gen. Burnside) and a congressional committee. However, Burnside's orders were acknowledged to be confusing and the committee did not have access to them. He resigned from the army in 1866 and worked in business in Hartford after the war.
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Friday, May 9, 2014 - 10:15
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Friday, May 9, 2014 - 10:15