Wells S. Jones

Last updated
Wells S. Jones
WSJones ACW.jpg
Born(1830-03-08)March 8, 1830
Ross County, Ohio
DiedMarch 21, 1914(1914-03-21) (aged 84)
Waverly, Ohio
Buried
Evergreen-Union Cemetery, Waverly
Rank Union Army colonel rank insignia.png Colonel
Union Army brigadier general rank insignia.svg Brevet Brigadier General
Commands held 53rd Ohio Infantry
Battles/wars American Civil War
Other workPolitician, physician

Wells S. Jones (August 3, 1830 – March 21, 1914) was an American physician, politician, and soldier. He served as an infantry officer in the Union Army in the Western Theater during the American Civil War, and was breveted a brigadier general near the end of the conflict. After the war, Jones studied to become a doctor at Starling Medical College, precursor to the Ohio State University College of Medicine.

Infantry military service branch that specializes in combat by individuals on foot

Infantry is the branch of an army that engages in military combat on foot, distinguished from cavalry, artillery, and tank forces. Also known as foot soldiers, infantry traditionally relies on moving by foot between combats as well, but may also use mounts, military vehicles, or other transport. Infantry make up a large portion of all armed forces in most nations, and typically bear the largest brunt in warfare, as measured by casualties, deprivation, or physical and psychological stress.

Officer (armed forces) member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority

An officer is a member of an armed forces or uniformed service who holds a position of authority.

Union Army Land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War

During the American Civil War, the Union Army referred to the United States Army, the land force that fought to preserve the Union of the collective states. Also known as the Federal Army, it proved essential to the preservation of the United States of America as a working, viable republic.

Contents

Early life

Wells S. Jones was born in 1830 in Paxton Township, within Ross County, Ohio. [1]

Paxton Township, Ross County, Ohio Township in Ohio, United States

Paxton Township is one of the sixteen townships of Ross County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 2,165 people in the township, 1,153 of whom lived in the unincorporated portions of the township.

Ross County, Ohio County in the United States

Ross County is a county located in the Appalachian region of the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2010 census, the population was 78,064. Its county seat is Chillicothe, the first and third capital of Ohio. Established on August 20, 1798, the county is named for Federalist Senator James Ross of Pennsylvania.

Civil War service

Jones during the American Civil War 53rd f&s wsjones.jpg
Jones during the American Civil War

When the American Civil War began in 1861 Jones volunteered for service in the Union Army. On October 3 he was elected captain of the 53rd Ohio Infantry Regiment, and saw action as such during the Battle of Shiloh and the Siege of Corinth. On May 2, 1862, Jones became colonel of the 53rd Ohio and its commanding officer. He led his regiment during the Siege of Vicksburg and at the Battle of Jackson of that campaign, both in 1863. Beginning April 1864 and into 1865 Jones exercised brigade command of various brigades of the Army of the Tennessee. Jones saw further action throughout the 1864 Atlanta Campaign, fighting at Missionary Ridge, Resaca, Dallas, Kennesaw Mountain, Atlanta, and Jonesboro. He participated in the 1864 March to the Sea, and Jones was wounded during operations around Fort McAllister, Georgia, on December 13. [2]

Captain is a title for the commander of a military unit, the commander of a ship, airplane, spacecraft, or other vessel, or the commander of a port, fire department or police department, election precinct, etc. Captain is a military rank in armies, navies, coast guards, etc., typically at the level of an officer commanding a company of infantry, a ship, or a battery of artillery, or similar distinct unit. The terms also may be used as an informal or honorary title for persons in similar commanding roles.

The 53rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The 53rd was present at the Battle of Shiloh and Battle of Vicksburg, among a number of other engagements.

Regiment Military unit

A regiment is a military unit. Their role and size varies markedly, depending on the country and the arm of service.

On March 13, 1865, Jones was breveted a brigadier general, cited for "gallant and meritorious services" during the war. He was mustered out of volunteers in the Union Army on August 11. [1] [2]

In many of the world's military establishments, a brevet was a warrant giving a commissioned officer a higher rank title as a reward for gallantry or meritorious conduct but without conferring the authority, precedence, or pay of real rank. An officer so promoted was referred to as being brevetted. The promotion would be noted in the officer's title.

Brigadier general (United States) one-star general officer in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps

In the United States Armed Forces, brigadier general is a one-star general officer with the pay grade of O-7 in the U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Air Force. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. The rank of brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed services. The NATO equivalent is OF-6.

Postbellum

After the war, Jones attended and graduated from Starling Medical College, Columbus, Ohio, in 1866. He also married Mary Frances Molineaux Wetmore, and the couple had at least one child together, Mary Kathleen born in 1886. Jones died in 1914 at Waverly, Ohio, and was buried in that city's Evergreen-Union Cemetery.

Columbus, Ohio Capital of Ohio

Columbus is the state capital of and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio. With a population of 879,170 as of 2017 estimates, it is the 14th-most populous city in the United States and one of the fastest growing large cities in the nation. This makes Columbus the third-most populous state capital in the US and the second-most populous city in the Midwest. It is the core city of the Columbus, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses ten counties. With a population of 2,078,725, it is Ohio's second-largest metropolitan area.

Waverly, Ohio Village in Ohio, United States

Waverly is a village in, and the county seat of, Pike County, Ohio, United States, located 14 miles south of Chillicothe. The population was 4,408 at the 2010 census. The town was formed in 1829, as the construction of the Ohio and Erie Canal along the west bank of the Scioto River brought new growth to the area. In 1861 the county seat was moved here from Piketon.

Notes

  1. 1 2 Hunt, p. 321.
  2. 1 2 Eicher, p. 325.

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References

David J. Eicher American editor

David John Eicher is an American editor, writer, and popularizer of astronomy and space. He has been editor-in-chief of Astronomy magazine since 2002. He is author, coauthor, or editor of 23 books on science and American history and is known for having founded a magazine on astronomical observing, Deep Sky Monthly, when he was a 15-year-old high school student.

International Standard Book Number Unique numeric book identifier

The International Standard Book Number (ISBN) is a numeric commercial book identifier which is intended to be unique. Publishers purchase ISBNs from an affiliate of the International ISBN Agency.

Further reading