1. Major General Frederick Steele was an American military officer who served in the Army in the Mexican-American War, Yuma War, and American Civil War.
22 Facts About Frederick Steele
1. 2.
Frederick Steele is most noted for capturing the Arkansas state capitol at Little Rock in 1863, escaping the besieged riverport city of Camden through successful deception tactics, and having repulsed an attack by Confederate forces under generals Kirby Smith and Sterling Price at Jenkins Ferry in 1864.
3.
Frederick Steele was meritoriously mentioned for distinguished bravery, and was promoted to first lieutenant in June 1848.
4.
Frederick Steele served in California during the Yuma War until 1853, and then to Fort Ridgely in Minnesota Territory and then Kansas Territory, and Nebraska Territory until the Civil War.
5.
Frederick Steele received his captain's commission on February 5,1855.
6.
On May 14,1861, Frederick Steele was appointed major in the 11th US Infantry and fought at the Battle of Wilson's Creek.
7.
On January 30,1862, Frederick Steele was appointed brigadier general of US volunteers, to rank from January 29,1862.
8.
Frederick Steele commanded the District of Southeast Missouri, but following the Union victory at the Battle of Pea Ridge he took command of the 1st Division in the Army of the Southwest and briefly commanded the army from August 29 to October 7,1862.
9.
Frederick Steele's division was transferred to the Army of the Tennessee becoming the 11th Division in the XIII Corps.
10.
Frederick Steele fought at the Battle of Chickasaw Bayou in December 1862 and in the Battle of Arkansas Post in January 1863.
11.
Frederick Steele's division was renamed the 1st Division in Major General William T Sherman's XV Corps during the Siege of Vicksburg.
12.
Frederick Steele was assigned command of VII Corps in the Department of Arkansas in the Trans-Mississippi Theater, holding command from January 6,1864, to December 22,1864.
13.
Frederick Steele made the decision based on this confirmed intelligence, to await provisions en route from Little Rock and to scour the countryside for additional grain and forage, await developments in Louisiana and then decide whether to continue south or return to Little Rock.
14.
In point of fact, Frederick Steele sent several messages to Union Army Chief of Staff Henry Halleck, to Sherman and to his Department commander General John Schofield prior to the expedition, warning of a dearth of forage and provisions in southwest Arkansas, and calling the military competency of political general Nathaniel Banks into question.
15.
Frederick Steele was finally compelled, against his better judgment, by newly appointed General-in-Chief Ulysses Grant to undertake the expedition to cooperate with Banks.
16.
Frederick Steele led a force of African American soldiers, officially designated the "Column from Pensacola", in Major General Edward Canby's Army of West Mississippi between February 18,1865, and May 18,1865.
17.
Frederick Steele's troops fought at the battles of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakeley.
18.
Frederick Steele was transferred to Texas in June 1865 and placed in command of United States forces along the Rio Grande.
19.
Frederick Steele subsequently commanded the Department of the Columbia, overseeing the Snake War.
20.
On July 28,1866, Frederick Steele had been appointed to the permanent grade of colonel of the 20th US Infantry Regiment.
21.
In November 1867, Frederick Steele took a leave of absence for health reasons.
22.
Frederick Steele is buried in Woodlawn Memorial Park Cemetery, Colma, California.