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Gouverneur Kemble Warren Biography

Gouverneur Kemble Warren Image

WARREN, Gouverneur Kemble (1830-82). An American soldier, born at Cold Spring, N. Y. He graduated at West Point in 1850, and took part as chief topographical engineer in the Sioux Expedition of 1855 and participated in the action of Blue Water. From 1859 to 1861 he was assistant professor of mathematics at West Point, but in May of the latter year he accepted a lieutenant colonelcy in the Fifth New York Volunteers. He took part in the battle of Big Bethel on June 10, and in August he was commissioned colonel of his regiment. He took part in the Peninsular campaign, and later commanded a brigade of the Army of the Potomac during the Maryland campaign. A few days after the battle of Antietam he was commissioned brigadier general of volunteers, but in February, 1863, he was relieved of his brigade, and was appointed chief topographical engineer of the Army of the Potomac, a position which he filled at the time of the battle of Fredericksburg. In May, 1863, he was promoted to be a major general of volunteers, and soon afterward was appointed chief engineer of the Army of the Potomac. At the battle of Gettysburg he was the first to recognize the importance of Little Round Top, and for his promptness and gallantry in securing possession of it he was brevetted colonel in the regular army. From March, 1864, to April, 1865, he commanded the Fifth Corps and participated in the important battles of the Richmond campaign. After the battle of Five Forks be was relieved of his command by General Sheridan. A court of inquiry relieved his reputation of any stain. In May, 1865, he resigned his commission in the volunteer service, and during the following years he was employed on surveys and harbor improvements. He published several books, including Explorations in the Dacota Country (1855-56); Preliminary Report of Explorations in Nebraska and Dacota in the Years 1855-57 (1858); and An Account of the Fifth Army Corps at the Battle of Five Forks (1866). Consult the Biographical Memoirs of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. ii (Washington, 1886).

The New International Encyclopaedia, Vol. XXIII (New York: Dodd, Mead & Co., 1920) 332.