James S . Negley James Scott Negley ( December 26 , 1826 – August 7 , 1901 ) was an American Civil War General , farmer , railroader , and U . S . Representative from the state of Pennsylvania . He played a key role in the Union victory at the Battle of Murfreesboro . Early life . Negley was born in Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania , son of Jacob Negley and Barbara Anne Negley . His sister Sarah married Thomas Mellon . He was educated in public schools , and graduated from the Western University of Pennsylvania ( now called the University of Pittsburgh ) . He served in a volunteer regiment , Company K of the Duquesne Greys , 1st Pennsylvania Volunteers , during the Mexican - American War . After the war , he became a farmer and horticulturist . Civil War . On April 19 , 1861 , Negley was appointed brigadier general in the Pennsylvania Militia . He raised a brigade of Pennsylvania volunteers and served under Robert Patterson in the Shenandoah Valley in 1861 . His appointment as brigadier general expired on July 20 but he was reappointed brigadier general of volunteers on October 1 , 1861 . In October , he was placed in command of the 7th Brigade in the Department of the Ohio . He commanded the Union expedition ( raid ) against Chattanooga during the Confederate Heartland Offensive . The expedition proved to be a successful demonstration of the Union Army ' s ability to strike deep into the heart of Confederate held territory . On November 29 , 1862 , he was appointed major general of volunteers and took command of the 8th Division in the Army of the Ohio . His division became the 2nd Division in George H . Thomas ' Center Wing of the XIV Corps during the Battle of Stones River . On the second day of fighting , he led a successful counterattack against Maj . Gen . John C . Breckinridge on the Union left flank . He commanded his division during the Tullahoma Campaign and the Battle of Chickamauga . During the maneuvering that preceded the Battle of Chickamauga , Negley ' s division , in the advance of Maj . Gen . George H . Thomas ' s corps , was almost trapped in a cul - de - sac named McLemore ' s Cove , but command confusion in the Confederate Army of Tennessee allowed them to escape in what became known as the battle of Davis ' Crossroads . After the Union defeat at Chickamauga , Negley , whose division became scattered during the second day ' s fighting , was relieved of command , but was acquitted of any wrongdoing during the battle . The most recent study of his actions is highly critical to the general for vanishing from sight without anyone knowing where to find him . Negley , however , blamed his misfortunes on on the prejudices toward him of West Point graduates . When Ulysses S . Grant became general - in - chief in 1864 he discussed restoring Negley to command . However , after serving on several administrative boards , Negley resigned in January 1865 . Fort Negley , built in Nashville , Tennessee in 1862 was named after him . It was the largest stone inland fort built during the war . Postbellum career . After the war , Negley was elected as a Republican to the United States Congress in 1868 and served from 1869 to 1875 . He served on the board of managers of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers from 1874 to 1878 and from 1882 to 1888 . He was re - elected to Congress in 1884 and served from 1885 to 1887 . After retiring from politics , he was engaged in the railroad industry . He was a Veteran Companion of the Military Order of Foreign Wars . Negley died in Plainfield , New Jersey , aged 74 . He is buried in the Allegheny Cemetery in Pittsburgh .