James B . Ricketts James Brewerton Ricketts ( June 21 , 1817 – September 22 , 1887 ) was a career officer in the United States Army , serving as a Union Army general in the Eastern Theater during the American Civil War . Early life and career . Ricketts was born in New York City . He graduated 16th in a class of 31 at the United States Military Academy in 1839 and was assigned to the 1st U . S . Artillery . Ricketts was married twice , first with Harriet Pierce , in 1840 , daughter of Benjamin Kendrick Pierce ( brother of future U . S . President Franklin Pierce ) and Josette Laframboise . After Harriet ' s early death in 1854 , he married Frances " Fannie " Lawrence . He served during the Canada border disturbances on garrison duty and then was promoted to first lieutenant in April 1846 . Ricketts saw considerable action during the Mexican - American War , participating in the Battle of Monterrey , and as commander of a gun , along with Abner Doubleday , held the Rinconada Pass during the Battle of Buena Vista . Despite his active service , he received no brevet promotions during the Mexican - American War , unlike many of his fellow officers . Following his return from Mexico , Ricketts served in various army posts . He was promoted to captain in August 1853 and served in Florida against the Seminole Indians , and subsequently on frontier duty in Texas . Civil War . At the beginning of the Civil War , Ricketts served in the defenses of Washington , D . C . , and commanded an artillery battery in the capture of Confederate - held Alexandria , Virginia , in early 1861 . His battery was then attached to William B . Franklin ' s Brigade of Samuel Heintzelman ' s Division . He was shot four times and captured at the First Battle of Bull Run on July 21 , when his battery ( Battery I , 1st US Artillery ) was overrun by Confederate infantry . For his personal bravery in the face of overwhelming odds , on that same day Ricketts was brevetted as a lieutenant colonel in the Regular Army He was confined as a prisoner of war in Richmond , although his wife Fannie was allowed to travel to Richmond and stay with him as his nurse . On December 18 , 1861 , he was exchanged for Confederate Colonel Julius A . De Lagnel . Ricketts was not paroled until January 1862 , when he was placed on medical leave to recuperate . On April 30 , 1862 , President Abraham Lincoln appointed Ricketts a brigadier general of volunteers to rank from July 21 , 1861 . The President had nominated Ricketts for the promotion on March 27 , 1862 , and the U . S . Senate confirmed the appointment on April 28 , 1862 . On his return to duty , Ricketts was assigned to command of a division in Irvin McDowell ' s corps , which he commanded at the Battle of Cedar Mountain , where he covered Nathaniel P . Banks ' s withdrawal . At Second Bull Run , his division was thrown forward by McDowell into Thoroughfare Gap to bar the advance of James Longstreet , who was seeking to unite his wing with that of Stonewall Jackson . Ricketts , who was being flanked and in danger of being cut off , withdrew . At the subsequent Battle of Antietam , he had two horses killed under him and he was badly injured when the second one fell on him . When he recovered sufficiently for duty , he was appointed to the Fitz John Porter court - martial . The trial was created to convict , with every judge beholden Edwin M . Stanton for tenure or impending promotion except for Benjamin M . Prentiss . Ricketts probably voted for acquittal and was not promoted . He did not return to the field until March 1864 , when he was assigned to a division of John Sedgwick ' s VI Corps , which he led through Ulysses S . Grant ' s Overland Campaign . His men were considered as low quality , many of them being former members of Robert H . Milroy ’ s maligned Winchester command . The division performed poorly at the Battle of the Wilderness and without note at Spotsylvania Court House . However , Ricketts received the brevet of colonel , Regular Army , for gallant and meritorious services at Cold Harbor , Virginia , June 3 , 1864 , where he and his men performed well . In July 1864 , Ricketts and his command , numbering only 3 , 350 men , were hurried north to oppose Jubal Early ' s attack on Washington , D . C . Ricketts fought at the Battle of Monocacy under Major General Lew Wallace , suffering the heaviest losses while holding the Union left flank . For his service there , on December 12 , 1864 , President Lincoln nominated Ricketts for appointment to the brevet grade of major general of volunteers , to rank from August 1 , 1864 , and the U . S . Senate confirmed the appointment on February 14 , 1865 . Ricketts was engaged in Philip Sheridan ' s Shenandoah Valley Campaign . At the Battle of Cedar Creek , he commanded the VI Corps in the initial hours of the fighting but was wounded by a Minié ball through his chest that disabled him for life . Despite his poor health , he returned to command of his division two days before Robert E . Lee ' s surrender at Appomattox Court House , April 9 , 1865 . Postbellum career . In late July 1865 , Ricketts was assigned to the command of a district in the Department of Virginia , a post he held until April 30 , 1866 , when he was mustered out of the volunteer service . On April 10 , 1866 , President Andrew Johnson nominated Ricketts for appointment to the brevet grade of brigadier general , United States Army , for gallant services at the Battle of Cedar Creek , to rank from March 13 , 1865 , and the U . S . Senate confirmed the appointment on May 4 , 1866 . On July 17 , 1866 , President Andrew Johnson nominated Ricketts for appointment to the brevet grade of major general , United States Army , " gallant and meritorious service in the field , " to rank from March 13 , 1865 , and the U . S . Senate confirmed the appointment on July 23 , 1866 . Ricketts was appointed lieutenant colonel , 21st U . S . Infantry in July 1866 , but he declined the post . Ricketts retired from active service on January 3 , 1867 , due to disability from wounds received in battle , and served on various courts - martial until January 1869 . He was placed on the retired list as a major general in the regular army , to rank from January 3 , 1867 , the date of his retirement . Never in good health due to his chest wound suffered while serving in the Shenandoah Valley , after Ricketts retired from the army , he lived in Washington , D . C . for the rest of his life . He died there in his home on September 27 , 1887 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery . His wife was buried alongside him when she died in 1900 . One of their sons , Basil Norris Ricketts , served in the Rough Riders under Theodore Roosevelt during the Spanish - American War and is buried near them . Ricketts ' grave marker reads :