George strong

Union Army general

Elisha Hunt Rhodes (March 21, &#; January 14, ) was an American soldier who served in the UnionArmy of the Potomac for the entire duration of the American Civil War, rising from corporal to colonel of his regiment by war's end. Rhodes' illustrative diary of his war service was quoted prominently in Ken Burns's PBS documentary series The Civil War, read by Christopher Murney.

Early life

Rhodes was born in Pawtuxet, Rhode Island, to Elisha H. Rhodes and Eliza A. Chase. He had several sisters and two brothers. At age 14, Rhodes attended Potter and Hammond's Business Academy in Providence.

His father drowned when his schooner, the merchant ship Worcester, was sunk by a hurricane on December 10, He was buried on Linyards Cay, Abaco in the Bahamas.

Civil War

Rhodes served with the 2nd Rhode Island Volunteer Infantry throughout its service during the American Civil War.

Rhodes enlisted in the war with his mother's permission.

Elisha hunt rhodes diary He was Adjutant of Prescott Post, No. Elisha Hunt Rhodes - Wikiwand for Edge. Adjutant-General's Office.

At first he believed war to be an adventure. During the war, he advanced from corporal to lieutenant colonel in command of the regiment.

He enlisted on June 5, and was appointed to the rank of corporal. He was promoted to sergeant major on March 1, and to 2nd lieutenant on July 24 of the same year.

On April 15, he was promoted to 1st lieutenant and placed in command of Company B.

He became the regiment's adjutant, with the rank of 1st lieutenant, on November 6, He served in this capacity until the regiment was reorganized on June 17,

On June 21, he was promoted to captain and assigned to Company B but was also ordered to command the regiment, which he did for the remainder of the war.

He received a brevet (honorary promotion) to the rank of major on December 5,

On February 6, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and placed in command of the regiment.

Biography of elisha hunt rhodes timeline Rhodes, Elisha Hunt Early life [ edit ]. When he was thirteen years of age he began a seafaring life, which he continued until his death. External links [ edit ].

On April 2 he received a brevet to the rank of colonel in recognition of his service in the Petersburg campaign. He was mustered out of service, along with his regiment, on July 13,

Postbellum career

After the war, he became a successful businessman and became active in veterans' affairs. He never missed a regimental reunion of the 2nd Rhode Island Volunteer Infantry.

He married Caroline Pearce Hunt (–) on June 12, and had a son, Frederick Miller Rhodes and a daughter Alice Caroline Rhodes Chace.

Biography of elisha hunt rhodes timeline chart OCLC Since the war, Gen. Rhodes enlisted in the war with his mother's permission. Dyer, Frederick Henry

He was appointed as collector of U. S. Internal Revenue in Rhode Island in

From June 25, until March 21, he served as the commander of the Brigade of Rhode Island Militia with the rank of brigadier general.

During his time in office General Rhodes helped transform the militia into a more professional organization and established the state training ground at Quonset Point in North Kingstown.

Memberships

Rhodes was very active in the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), the largest of several organizations for Union veterans. He was Adjutant of Prescott Post, No. 1, in , Commander of the post the next year, Assistant Adjutant General of the Department of Rhode Island in , Commander of the department in –73, member of the National Encampment in – He served for one year (–78) as the GAR's national senior vice commander.

He was also Vice President of the Society of the Army of the Potomac in , and president of the Second Rhode Island Volunteer Association. He was also president of the Rhode Island Soldiers' and Sailors' Historical Society since its formation in , and in was Vice President of the 6th Army Corps Association.

In he was elected as a companion of the Massachusetts Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (MOLLUS) — a military society composed of officers who had served in the Union armed forces during the Civil War.

He was assigned MOLLUS insignia number

An active Freemason, having joined the fraternity while home on leave in , he served as Worshipful Master of Harmony Lodge, No. 9, in Cranston, Rhode Island. He was later elected Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Rhode Island for

Death and burial

Rhodes died in Providence on January 14, He and his wife are buried at the Rhodes family plot in Swan Point Cemetery in Providence.

Legacy

Elisha Hunt Rhodes is most remembered for his wartime journal and letters published as All For the Union by a great-grandson, Robert H.

Rhodes. This diary reflects Rhodes' ideas about the Civil War, including his unwavering belief that the Union must be preserved, as well as his Christian faith and belief in God. At the end it shows a somewhat conflicted young man who wanted to be home with his family after trials of war but who also found life in the Army very agreeable to him. His writings were made famous by their incorporation into filmmaker Ken Burns' landmark PBS-TV documentary series The Civil War.

His large collection of personal relics and mementos is now owned by the Rhode Island Historical Society in Providence.

Biography of elisha hunt rhodes timeline of events Reenlisting, with the patriotic purpose of seeing the war through, his efficient labours were rewarded by a further promotion. Rhodes has prepared papers on historical and biographical subjects upon several occasions, and takes an active interest in civil, social and religious affairs. Wikiwand for Firefox. He was successively promoted through the various company grades, having, as First Lieutenant, for a time command of Company B, which position he held until Nov.

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