Orris S . Ferry Orris Sanford Ferry ( August 15 , 1823 – November 21 , 1875 ) was a Republican American lawyer and politician from Connecticut who served in the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate . He was also a brigadier general in the Union Army during the American Civil War . Early life . Ferry was born on August 15 , 1823 in Bethel , Connecticut . He attended the Hopkins School , and worked at his father ' s shoe factory as a boy . It was here that he realized his love of books . At age 17 , Ferry entered Yale , where he served as one of the editors of the " Yale Literary Magazine " and was a member of Skull and Bones . He graduated in 1844 . Ferry first settled in Fairfield , Connecticut , where he studied law under Thomas B . Osborne . He then settled in Norwalk , Connecticut , and served in the office of Thomas B . Butler . Ferry married Charlotte Bissell , the daughter of Governor Clark Bissell . He was admitted to the bar in 1846 . The following year , he was commissioned a lieutenant colonel in the 12th Regiment of Connecticut Militia . During his time in the militia , Ferry did not fight in any battle or war . Early political career . Ferry served as a probate judge soon after being admitted to the bar . At age 32 , he was elected to a term in the Connecticut Senate representing the 12th District . He then served as the State ' s Attorney for Fairfield County from 1856 to 1859 . Ferry was a member of the Toleration Party , but in 1856 became a Republican . After joining the party , he campaigned for John C . Frémont . In 1857 , Ferry was nominated to serve in the United States House of Representatives , but lost the election . In 1859 , he was again nominated , and this time he won . House of Representatives . During his time in Congress , Ferry was known for extemporaneous speaking . He gave numerous speeches against slavery . Ferry was chosen as Connecticut ' s representative to the Committee of Thirty - Three . This Committee was created in the hopes that peace could be settled between the Northern and Southern states . However , Southern states continued to secede from the Union , and the committee was disbanded . Ferry also served on the Committee of Revolutionary Claims . In 1861 , he was renominated for his seat , but lost the election . American Civil War . At the outbreak of the American Civil War , and before regiments of Northern troops had arrived to defend Washington , there was a report of a plot to burn the capital . On April 18 , 1861 this report mobilized loyal citizens , including Ferry , and state senator A . Homer Byington , also of Norwalk to form a militia . This militia was led by Cassius Marcellus Clay , and came to be known as the Cassius Clay Guard . On July 23 , 1861 he was put in command of the 5th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry , and given the rank of colonel . The original regiment was the 1st Regiment Colts Revolving Rifles of Connecticut and was supposed to be led by Samuel Colt , but the unit never took the field . Its organization failing , the regiment was reorganized in May 1861 . In early March 1862 , Ferry led his troops across the Potomac River , and attacked the Confederates at Winchester , Virginia . This action would later lead to what became the First Battle of Winchester . Ferry was well praised for his ability as a leader and as a military strategist . Ferry was promoted to brigadier general on March 17 , 1862 . He was then put under the command of General James Shields , whose division joined that of Gen . Irvin McDowell . It was under McDowell that Ferry fought at the First Battle of Winchester . Ferry continued to serve under Shields , during the Valley Campaign . Battle of Cedar Mountain . Shortly after the First Battle of Winchester , Ferry and the 5th Connecticut Infantry were put under the command of Maj . Gen . Nathaniel Banks . On August 9 , Ferry , under Banks , encountered Stonewall Jackson at the Battle of Cedar Mountain . The Union troops attacked to gain early advantage , but a Confederate counterattack repulsed Banks ' s corps and won the day . Later that day , Union reinforcements under Maj . Gen . John Pope arrived . This led to a two day stand - off between the two armies . The battle ended in a Confederate victory . Services and resignation . During the war , Ferry served in the VII Corps , X Corps , and XVIII Corps . He was also the head of the District of Lehigh , from August 20 , 1863 until May 1864 , and served as the head of the District of Philadelphia from December 16 , 1864 until July 15 , 1865 . Ferry was brevet ted a major general of volunteers in recognition of his services during the Peninsula Campaign . He resigned from the military on July 15 , 1865 . His resignation followed the Confederate surrender . Senate career . After the Civil War , Ferry returned to both his political career and law practice . In 1866 , he ran against Lafayette S . Foster , the current incumbent of the Class III Connecticut Senate seat . Ferry won the election , and took his place in the U . S . Senate on March 4 , 1867 . He became very active in committees , and favored amnesty for members of the Confederacy . Ferry participated in the Impeachment of President Andrew Johnson , voting to convict . In 1869 , Ferry was attacked by a rare disease of his spine . This disease led to a slow deterioration of his spine . This slowed his workings in the Senate , but he continued to play an active role . From 1870 to 1871 , he served as the chairman of the Committee to Audit and Control the Contingent Expenses . From 1871 to 1875 , he was chairman of the Committee on Patents . Ferry also served on the United States Senate Committee on Health , Education , Labor , and Pensions . Ferry was considered a Liberal Republican , but he declined to be officially considered a Liberal Republican . In 1872 , Ferry was reelected for a second term . His main supporters were Democrats and Liberal Republicans . Alexander Caldwell scandal . In 1871 , Alexander Caldwell was elected to the Senate from Kansas . From the start , allegations of corruption and pay - offs emerged . In 1873 , Congressman Sidney Clarke , who assisted in Caldwell ' s election , testified that Caldwell ' s campaign had claimed that it would pay $ 250 , 000 to secure the election . Kansas Governor Thomas Carney testified that he was paid $ 15 , 000 to drop out of the race . An investigation followed ; its final report asked the Senate to expel Caldwell for not being " duly and legally elected " . On March 21 , 1873 , Ferry took to the floor of the Senate and gave a speech asking the Senate to expel Caldwell : " The crime of bribery goes down to the very foundations of the institutions under which we live . We all know it and . . . we shall stifle our consciences if we do not vote to expel . " After a survey of the Senate , Caldwell saw his inevitability of being expelled , and resigned , on March 23 . Later Senate career . In 1874 , Ferry gave a speech against the future Civil Rights Act of 1875 . After speaking , Senator Charles Sumner , both a friend of Ferry ' s and the proposer of the bill , stood up and said , " Mr . Ferry , your speech is far the most damaging blow my measure has yet received " . The Civil Rights Act would eventually pass , but was deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court , on the basis that Congress did not have the power to regulate the conduct of individuals . His last speech in Congress was considered an uncommonly eloquent dissertation on his former friend , William Alfred Buckingham . Death . After his final speech , Ferry left the capital for a new medical treatment . The treatment was to help heal his decaying spine , but the procedure failed . On November 20 , 1875 Ferry ' s friends and doctors helped take him home . He died of his spine disease the next day . His funeral was attended by dignitaries such as Schurz . Ferry was interred at Union Cemetery in Norwalk .