George B . Boomer George Boardman Boomer ( July 26 , 1832 – May 22 , 1863 ) was a Union Army colonel who served as a brigade commander between February 12 , 1863 and May 22 , 1863 during the American Civil War . His principal service was during the heavy engagement of his brigade on May 16 , 1863 at the Battle of Champion Hill during the Vicksburg campaign and in the second assault on Vicksburg on May 22 , 1863 . Colonel Boomer was killed near the Railroad Redoubt on the second day of major assaults on the City of Vicksburg on May 22 , 1863 . He was commissioned Brigadier General around the time of his death . Biography . Boomer was born in Sutton , Massachusetts on July 26 , 1832 . He attended Worcester Academy and graduated in 1847 . Because of poor eyesight , Boomer did not go on to college . Instead , he joined his brother - in - law in building bridges across the Mississippi River . At the outbreak of the Civil War , he raised a company for the Union Army which became part of the 26th Missouri Volunteer Infantry Regiment and by 1863 was promoted to colonel . He distinguished himself at Vicksburg as brigade commander under Major General James B . McPherson . Battle of Champion Hill . Boomer and his men distinguished themselves in the Battle of Champion Hill on May 16 , 1863 . Below is the description of the battle by Benjamin Devor Dean , the second commanding colonel of Boomer ' s 26th Missouri : " The 26th went into this engagement under very trying circumstances . General Hovey ’ s Division was being hard pressed , and falling back , the Third Brigade , Col . Boomer , commanding , was ordered up on the double - quick . The ground over which the 26th Missouri passed , was very much obstructed , and in consequence some of the companies had to break the line of battle and move by the flank under the shells of the enemy . On reaching the line of battle , notwithstanding our fatigue , the 10th Iowa and 93d Illinois immediately engaged the enemy ; the 5th Iowa and 26th Missouri lying down behind them waiting their turn which soon came . Colonel Boomer , our gallant brigade commander , seeing the enemy approaching on our right flank , ordered the 26th Missouri to meet them , which it did on the double quick by " about face , " " half wheel " and forward movement , getting possession of a deep ravine which the enemy was trying to secure . The position gained by the above movement was a strong one , and enabled us to stop the enemy who outnumbered the 26th Missouri , which finally drove the Confederates from before it , after firing forty rounds of ammunition . Being nearly surrounded by the enemy , we changed our position under heavy fire , but the position was so strong that the loss was slight considering the hot engagement . We charged the rebels , drove them back and captured a number of prisoners . On falling back to Acting General Boomer ’ s position , he earnestly complimented the 26th Missouri for their gallant conduct on the field . " Death . Six days after the heroic actions at Champion Hill , Colonel Boomer was killed in the second assault on Vicksburg on May 22 , 1863 . According to Benjamin Devor Dean , on May 22 Colonel Boomer led his men on a brave charge upon one of the forts that made up Vicksburg ' s defenses . Colonel Boomer had advised against storming the fort , warning his superiors that it had not yet been " silenced " of its arms . But his superiors did not listen to his advice , so Colonel Boomer and his men charged the fort gallantly . As Boomer predicted , the fort had not been silenced and immediately he and his men came under heavy fire - " an incessant shower of shot , shell and rifle balls . " Colonel Boomer and his men were momentarily forced to take cover . Soon afterwards , Colonel Boomer courageously decided to push on - he personally " rose up , and had shouted " Attention ! " as if to resume the charge , when a rifle ball struck him in the head , killing him instantly . " Colonel Boomer , who was already an Acting General at the time , had just been commissioned Brigadier General - but he himself would never know this . Reportedly , the commission as Brigadier General arrived in camp shortly after his death . His body was returned to Worcester , Massachusetts and thousands attended his funeral . He was buried in Rural Cemetery in Worcester and the monument honoring him is a thirty - foot column with a large eagle at the top . His bravery was written about at the time . A memoir of Colonel Boomer ' s life was published by his sister , Mary Amelia Boomer Stone , in 1864 .