Class of 1855

Alfred Thomas Archimedes Torbert: Born July 1, 1833

Military History. — Cadet at the Military Academy, Sep. 1, 1851, to July 1, 1855, when he was graduated and promoted in the Army to

Bvt. Second Lieut. of Infantry, July 1, 1855.

Served: on frontier duty, in conducting Recruits to Texas, 1855‑56,

(Second Lieut., 5th Infantry, July 19, 1855)

— Ft. McIntosh, Tex., 1856, — and Scouting against Lipan Indians, 1856; in Florida Hostilities against the Seminole Indians, 1856‑57; in garrison at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., 1857; on frontier duty on Utah Expedition, 1857‑60, — March to New Mexico, — and Ft. Stanton, N. M., 1860‑61; and on leave of absence, 1861.

First Lieut., 5th Infantry, Feb. 25, 1861.

Served during the Rebellion of the Seceding States, 1861‑66: in Mustering

(Captain, Staff — Asst. Quartermaster, Aug. 3, 1861: Declined)

New Jersey Volunteers into service, Apr. 17 to Sep. 1, 1861; in command of Regiment in the Defenses of Washington, D. C., near Alexandria,

(Colonel, 1st New Jersey Volunteers, Sep. 16, 1861)

Va., Sep. 17, 1861, to Mar. 10, 1862; in the Virginia Peninsular

(Captain, 5th Infantry, Sep. 25, 1861)

Campaign (Army of the Potomac), Mar. to Aug., 1862, being engaged in the siege of Yorktown, Apr. 5 to May 4, 1862, — Action at West Point, May 8, 1862, — Battle of Gaines's Mill, June 27, 1862, — and Battle of Charles City Cross-roads, June 30, 1862; in command of Brigade of 6th Corps, from Aug. 28, 1862, in the Northern Virginia Campaign, being engaged in the Battle of Manassas, Aug. 29‑30, 1862; in the Maryland Campaign (Army of the Potomac), Sep. to Nov., 1862,  p626 being engaged in the Battle of South Mountain, Sep. 14, 1862, where he was wounded, — Battle of Antietam, Sep. 17, 1862, — and March to Falmouth, Va., Oct.‑Nov., 1862; in the Rappahannock Campaign (Army

(Brig.‑General, U. S. Volunteers, Nov. 29, 1862)

of the Potomac), Dec., 1862, to Jan., 1863; on sick leave of absence, Jan. to June, 1863; in command of Brigade, 6th Corps (Army of the Potomac), in the Pennsylvania Campaign, June to Sep., 1863, being engaged in the Battle of Gettysburg, July 2‑3, 1863, — Skirmish at Fairfield,

(Bvt. Major, July 4, 1863,
for Gallant and Meritorious Services at the Battle of Gettysburg, Pa.)

Pa., July 5, 1863, — and Pursuit of the enemy to Warrenton, Va., July, 1863; in the Rapidan Campaign (Army of the Potomac), Oct. to Dec., 1863, being engaged in the Combat at Rappahannock Station, Nov. 7, 1863, — and Operations at Mine Run, Nov. 26 to Dec. 3, 1863; in command of 1st Division of Cavalry (Army of the Potomac), Apr.‑May, 1864; on sick leave of absence, May 8‑15, 1864; in command of the Cavalry, May 15‑26, and of 1st Division of Cavalry, May 26 to July 30, 1864 (Army of the Potomac), in the Richmond Campaign, being engaged in the Skirmishes at Milford Station, May 21, and North Anna River, May 23, 1864, — Action of Hanovertown (in command), May 27, 1864, — Battle of Hawes' Shop, May 28, 1864, — Action of

(Bvt. Lieut.‑Col., May 28, 1864,
for Gallant and Meritorious Services at the Battle of Hawes' Shop, Va.)

Matadequin Creek (in command), May 30, 1864, — Battle of Cold Harbor, May 31 to June 1, 1864, — Battle of Trevillian Station, June 11, 1864, — Skirmish at Mallory's Ford Cross-road, June 12, 1864, — Action of Tunstall's Station, June 21, 1864, — and Combat at Darbytown, July 28, 1864; as Chief of Cavalry of the Middle Military Division, Aug. 8, 1864, to Jan. 10, 1865, in the Shenandoah Campaign, being engaged in the Action of Winchester (in command), Aug. 17, 1864, — Action of Kearnysville (in command), Aug. 25, 1864, — Battle of Opequan, Sep. 19, 1864,

(Bvt. Maj.‑General, U. S. Volunteers, Sep. 9, 1864,
for Distinguished Services during the Rebellion)

(Bvt. Colonel, Sep. 19, 1864,
for Gallant and Meritorious Services at the Battle of Winchester, Va.)

— Actions (in command) of Milford, Sep. 22, Luray, Sep. 24, Waynesborough, Sep. 28, Mount Crawford, Oct. 2, and Tom's Run, Oct. 9, 1864, — Battle of Cedar Creek, Oct. 19, 1864, — Actions near Middletown, Nov. 12, Liberty Mills (in command), Dec. 22, and Gordonsville (in command), Dec. 23, 1864; on leave of absence, Jan. 10 to Feb. 27, 1865; in command of the Army of the Shenandoah, headquarters Winchester, Va.,

(Bvt. Brig.‑General, U. S. Army, Mar. 13, 1865,
for Gallant and Meritorious Services at the Battle of Cedar Creek, Va.)

Bvt. Maj.‑General, U. S. Army, Mar. 13, 1865,
for Gallant and Meritorious Services in the Field during the Rebellion)

Apr. 22 to July 12, 1865, — of the District of Winchester, Va., July 12 to Sep. 1, 1865, — and of the District of Southeastern Virginia, Sep. 1 to

(Mustered out of Volunteer Service, Jan. 15, 1866)

Dec. 31, 1865; and on leave of absence, Jan. 1 to Nov. 1, 1866.

Resigned, Oct. 31, 1866.

Civil History. — United States Minister Resident to the Central American States, Apr. 21, 1869, to July 10, 1871. U. S. Consul General at Havana, Cuba, July 10, 1871, to Nov. 6, 1873, and at Paris, France, Nov. 6, 1873, to May, 1878.

 p627  Drowned, Aug. 29, 1880, by the Wrecking of the Steamer Vera Cruz,
off Cape Canaveral, Fla.: Aged 47.

Buried, Methodist Episcopal Cemetery, Milford, DE.