Joseph N. G. Whistler

Joseph Nelson Garland Whistler (October 19, 1822 – April 20, 1899) was an American Union brevet brigadier general during the period of the American Civil War.

Whistler was a cadet at the United States Military Academy from September 1, 1842 to July 1, 1846, when he was graduated and promoted in the Army to Brevet Second Lieutenant in the 8th Infantry on July 1, 1846. He was promoted to second lieutenant, 3d Infantry on January 7, 1847.

He served in the War with Mexico, from 1846 to 1848, being engaged in the Siege of Vera Cruz, March 9 to 29, 1847, the Battle of Cerro Gordo, April 17‑18, 1847, the Battle of Contreras, August 19‑20, 1847, the Battle of Churubusco, August 20, 1847. He was brevetted to First Lieutenant on, Aug. 20, 1847, for Gallant and Meritorious Conduct in the Battles of Contreras and Churubusco, Mexico.

He fought in the Battle of Chapultepec, September 13, 1847, and participated in the capture of Mexico City on September 13 to 14, 1847. He was in garrison at East Pascagoula, Mississippi, 1848; on frontier duty at San Elizario, Texas from 1849‑1850. He served at Fort Bliss, Texas in 1850, convoying wagon trains.

He later was stationed in the area of New Mexico for about a decade where he fought in skirmishes against the Apache and Navajo. His postings included - Cebolleta, N. M., 1850‑51, — Navajo Country, 1851, — Ft. Defiance, N. M., 1851‑53. He was promoted to First Lieutenant, 3d Infantry on June 6, 1852.

He served at Ft. Craig, N. M. from 1854‑56. He was then on Recruiting service,

1856‑58; on frontier duty at Los Lunas, New Mexico, 1858‑60, Ft. Fillmore, N. M., 1860, Ft. McIntosh, Texas, 1860‑61, Mouth of the Rio Grande, 1861, and Indianola, Texas, 1861, where he was captured by Texas insurgents, and paroled as a prisoner of war; and in garrison at Fort Hamilton, New York, 1861.

Shortly after the outbreak of the American Civil War, Whistler was promoted to captain in the 3rd Infantry on May 14, 1861. He was assigned to West Point as assistant instructor of infantry tactics on September 25, 1861 and served their until March 20, 1863. He was then re-assigned as Commissary of Musters for the Department of Virginia, April to May, 1863. He was commissioned as Colonel, 2d N. Y. Volunteer Artillery on May 6, 1863 and served in the Defenses of Washington, D. C. from May 6, 1863 to May 15, 1864. He was in the Richmond Campaign of the Army of the Potomac, from May to June, 1864, being engaged in the Battle of Spottsylvania from May 18 to 20, 1864, and also the Battle of North Anna, May 21‑25, 1864. He was brevetted to major to date from May 24, 1864, for Gallant and Meritorious Services at the Battle of North Anna, Virginia.

He was then engaged in the Battle of Tolopotomy, May 28‑29, 1864; Battle of Cold Harbor, June 1‑3, 1864, the assaults on Petersburg, June 16 and 18, 1864, and the Siege of Petersburg, June 19, 1864, where he was wounded and granted a sick leave of absence for being disabled by his wound from June to July, 1864. He was brevetted to Lieutenant Colonel effective June 19, 1864, for "Gallant and Meritorious Services in Front of Petersburg, Virginia".

Whistler was in command of a brigade in the Defenses of Washington, D. C. from July, 1864, to September 19, 1865, being engaged in the defense of the Capital, July 11‑12, 1864, against the Rebel Raiders under General Jubal Early. He was promoted to major of the 13th Infantry on December 31, 1864 and was brevetted to colonel and brigadier general on March 13, 1865, for "Gallant and Meritorious Services during the Rebellion".

During the Civil War, he was severely wounded at the Siege of PetersburgHe received his appointment as brevet brigadier general dated to March 13, 1865.

General Whistler was an Original Companion of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States - a military society for Union officers who served in the American Civil War.

He was on a leave of absence, October 17 to November 16, 1865 and was mustered out of Volunteer service on December 19, 1865. He was in command of the 3d Battalion, 13th Infantry, at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, November, 1865, to April, 1866. He was transferred to 31st Infantry on Sep. 21, 1866.

Whistler served on frontier duty at Ft. Rice, Dakota, Jan., 1866, to July, 1867; in command of Ft. Totten, Dak., to July, 1869; Fort Randall, Dakota, July, 1869 to September, 1870; and Ft. Sully, Dakota, September 24, 1870, to October 25, 1872. He commanded the escort to Union Pacific Railroad Survey, August 28 to Oct. 25, 1871.

He was on leave of absence to Jan. 12, 1873; in garrison at Newport Barracks, Ky., Jan. 12, 1873, to Oct. 27, 1874, being in command from Nov. 10, 1873. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel, 5th Infantry, February 18, 1874.

On frontier duty in command of Fort Ripley, Kansas, on November 6, 1874, to August 9, 1876, — and of Camp on Tongue River, Montana, August 28 to December 30, 1876; on Detached Service at St. Paul, Min., to Jan. 29, 1877; on leave of absence to Dec. 1, 1877; and in command of Fort Snelling, Minnesota, Dec. 29, 1877, to May 21, 1878, — and Ft. Keogh, Mon., June 5, 1878, to June 23, 1879; on duty at Poplar Creek Agency, Montana, to Aug. 28, 1879; in command of Fort Keogh, Montana, to Sep. 15, 1879; at headquarters, Department of Dakota, St. Paul, Minnesota, to October 18, 1879; on sick leave of absence, to May 10, 1880; in command of Fort Keogh, Montana, to May 30, 1881; on court martial duty to July 8, 1881; in command of Ft. Keogh (of regiment to Nov. 8, 1882) to July 10, 1883.

Whistler was promoted to colonel of the 15th Infantry on May 31, 1883 and was on sick leave of absence until Oct. 16, 1883; and in command of regiment and post of Fort Buford, Dakota, to October 19, 1886.

Whistler retired from active service on October 19, 1886, having reached the mandatory retirement age of 64.

General Whistler died on April 20, 1898, at Wadsworth, New York at the age 77.

He was the grandson of John Whistler, an Irish-born soldier who served under General Burgoyne during the Revolutionary War and was captured at the Battle of Saratoga. His father was Colonel William Whistler who served in the Army for 60 years. His first cousin was the famous artist James Abbott McNeill Whistler.