James Brewerton Ricketts (1817 - 1887)

Born 21 Jun 1817 in New York City, New York County, New York, United States

Ancestors

Died 22 Sep 1887 at age 70 in Washington, District of Columbia, United States

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Biography

James Ricketts is Notable.

Maj. Gen. James Ricketts served with the United States Army during the Mexican-American War
Service Started: 1839
Unit(s): 1st United States Artillery
Service Ended: Jan 3, 1867

Maj. Gen. James Ricketts served in the United States Civil War.
Enlisted: 1839
Mustered out: Jan 3, 1867
Side: USA
Regiment(s): 1st United States Artillery

Major General James B. Ricketts was a career army soldier who fought in the Mexican American War and the American Civil War. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1839 and joined the 1st U.S. Artillery Regiment. He was engaged in heavy fighting during the Mexican–American War and was in the Battle of Monterrey and the Battle of Buena Vista. After the end of that war, he participated in another war, the 3rd Seminole War. During the American Civil War, he would remain loyal to the Union. On July 21, 1861, at the 1st Battle of Bull Run, he was shot 4 times and was later captured and exchanged. At Antietam, he was injured when his horse, who had been shot, fell on top of him. Despite this, he would later become a general and command the 6th Corps of the Union Army from April 6, 1864, to April 13, 1864, and October 16, 1864 – October 19, 1864, when at the Battle of Cedar Creek he was wounded badly once more in the chest, but he would continue to fight as a commander of a division until the end of the war, and he retired on January 3, 1867. He died due complications from the wound he received at the Battle of Cedar Creek on September 27, 1887, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetary.

He married twice during his life, first to Harriet Pierce, and second to Frances "Fannie" Lawrence and had issue, one of whom, Basil Norris Ricketts, was in the Rough Riders under Theodore Roosevelt during the Spanish American War. Basil Norris Ricketts is buried near his father and mother Frances in Arlington.

Ricketts' grave marker reads:

Assigned to artillery on the Canadian frontier. Served through the War with Mexico. Frontier duty in Texas. Engaged in twenty seven battles of the rebellion. Was wounded five times. Prisoner of war in Richmond. Died September 27, 1887 from wounds received while commanding the Sixth Army Corps in the Shenandoah Valley. He gave his honors to the world again. His blessings part to heaven, and sleeps in peace.

Sources

• Maj General James B Ricketts at Geni.com

• Find A Grave: Memorial #5841868

• "GEN. J. B. RICKETTS. Death of Another Well-Known Officer." The National tribune. (Washington, D.C.), 29 Sept. 1887. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.

• Wikipedia:James_B._Ricketts