Chief of Cavalry, Middle Military Division
(1833-80) Graduated in the West Point class of 1855. On September 16, 1861, he became colonel of the 1st New Jersey Infantry. During the first 3 years of the Civil War, Torbert acted as an infantry commander, fighting in the campaign of 1862 on the Virginia Peninsula, in the campaigns of 2nd Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. He was promoted to brigadier general to rank from November 29, 1862. In 1864, he was assigned to command a cavalry division under General Phil Sheridan. Torbert took part in the several cavalry actions that summer and in August became chief of cavalry of the Middle Military Division in the Shenandoah Valley. He inflicted a severe defeat on the Confederate cavalrymen Thomas L. Rosser and Lunsford L. Lomax at Tom's Brook, in early October, and later that month saw action at Cedar Creek. He drowned in 1880 when the steamer Vera Cruz, which he was traveling on, sunk off Cape Canaveral.
War Date Endorsement Signed: 3 1/4 x 3 1/8, in ink, Hd. Qrs. Cav. Mid. Mil. Div., November 28th, 1864. Respectfully forwarded recommended, A.T.A. Torbert, Bvt. Major General, Chief of Cavalry. Very desirable. |