Arthur F . Devereux Arthur Forrester Devereux ( April 27 , 1838 – February 13 , 1906 ) was a captain in the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia prior to the Civil War and a colonel in the Union Army during the Civil War . He is notable for his expertise and proficiency in the instruction of military drill . During the Battle of Gettysburg , the 19th Massachusetts , under his command , played an important role in filling a breach in the Union lines during Pickett ' s Charge . After his active service had concluded , Devereux was awarded the honorary rank of brevet brigadier general , United States Volunteers , by appointment of President Andrew Johnson on February 21 , 1866 to rank from March 13 , 1865 , and confirmation by the U . S . Senate on April 10 , 1866 . Early career . Born in Salem , Massachusetts , Devereux attended Harvard College and the United States Military Academy at West Point . His father was George H . Devereux who had served as adjutant general of Massachusetts from 1848 – 1851 . His father ' s interest in military matters likely influenced Arthur Devereux ' s career . Devereux did not graduate West Point , however , and instead moved to Chicago , Illinois to pursue a career in business in 1854 . Chicago . Soon after moving to Chicago , Devereux became business partners with a young man of his own age , Elmer E . Ellsworth . In business they were unsuccessful . Before long , Ellsworth would move on to a career in law and Devereux would move back to Massachusetts . However , as peace - time militia soldiers , they were both highly successful . Both Devereux and Ellsworth became involved in the Illinois National Guard . Devereux became adjutant to Illinois National Guard Maj . Simon Bolivar Buckner , later a Confederate general during the Civil War and eventually a governor of Kentucky . Both Devereux and Ellsworth were acutely interested in the Zouave method of drill , inspired by the French Army units of the same name which fought in North Africa and wore elaborate uniforms influenced by Algerian fashions . Zouave militia units in the United States wore similar uniforms to their French counterparts and emphasized precision and showmanship in their drill . Ellsworth formed a Zouave company known as the Chicago Cadets which was placed under Adjutant Devereux ' s supervision . The two men frequently consulted with each other on the practice of precision Zouave drill . Later , during the Civil War , Ellsworth would command the 11th New York Infantry , a Zouave regiment . Ellsworth famously became one of the first Union Army officers killed in the war . Salem Light Infantry company . Returning to Massachusetts in 1855 , Devereux was eventually elected captain of the Salem Light Infantry company in 1859 . The Salem Light Infantry company was a prestigious Massachusetts militia unit with a long history , having been established in 1805 . Inspired by Ellsworth ' s Chicago Cadets , Devereux enhanced the Salem company ' s prestige by transforming it into a Zouave unit and training its members in precision drill . In 1860 , the company gave an exhibition drill for Massachusetts Gov . John Andrew and a large crowd of distinguished guests . The Salem Light Infantry was declared " a marvel of precision and exactness . " Civil War . 8th Massachusetts . After the Battle of Fort Sumter on April 12 , 1861 , the Salem Light Infantry company was assigned to the 8th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry for three months of service . The regiment arrived in Annapolis , Maryland on April 21 . Almost immediately after their arrival , the Salem Light Infantry , designated Company J of the 8th Massachusetts , was ordered aboard the USS " Constitution " to protect the vessel from attack by Confederate sympathizers . At the time , the " Constitution " was serving as a training ship at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis . As one of the original six frigates of the U . S . Navy , the warship was an important national symbol . The Navy soon towed the " Constitution " , with Devereux ' s Salem company on board , to New York City where she would be less vulnerable . Returning to Maryland , Devereux and his company rejoined the 8th Massachusetts , aiding in repairing railroads and serving guard duty outside of Baltimore . The 8th Massachusetts was mustered out of service on August 1 , 1861 . 19th Massachusetts . Having completed his first term of service , Devereux immediately sought involvement with a new regiment . On August 22 , 1861 , he was commissioned lieutenant colonel of the 19th Massachusetts . The commanding officer of the regiment , Col . Edward Winslow Hinks had great respect for Devereux ' s expertise in military drill . He therefore placed the training of the 19th Massachusetts under Devereux ' s supervision . To prepare the regiment for action , Devereux enlisted the aid of several members of the Salem Light Infantry company to serve as drill masters . After their first winter of service on picket duty in the vicinity of Washington , D . C . , the 19th Massachusetts was attached to the 3rd Brigade , 2nd Division , of the II Corps in the Army of the Potomac . Devereux was placed on sick leave just before the Seven Days Battles and therefore missed the unit ' s first severe action . The unit was involved in the Second Battle of Bull Run on August 30 , 1862 . During the Battle of Antietam on September 17 , 1862 , the 19th Massachusetts , as part of Maj . Gen . John Sedgwick ' s division , took part in an infamous charge on Confederate lines in the West Woods . The division was virtually surrounded by Confederates and suffered heavy casualties . Lt . Col . Devereux was wounded during this action . Col . Hinks suffered a severe wound at Antietam which required his extended absence from the army . In his place , Devereux took command of the 19th Massachusetts . Devereux ' s promotion to colonel was effective November 29 , 1862 . Devereux and the 19th Massachusetts played a significant role in the Battle of Gettysburg on July 3 , 1863 . Confederate forces attempted a massive frontal assault on the Union position known as Pickett ' s Charge . The attack only managed to breach Union lines in one small place along Cemetery Ridge . The spot is now referred to as the " high - water mark " of the Confederacy , not only because it was the furthest position reached by Confederate troops during the charge but also because the failure of Pickett ' s Charge is regarded as the major turning point of the Civil War . The 19th Massachusetts happened to be one of several Union infantry regiments positioned at the high - water mark . The regiment had been placed slightly to the south of the " copse of trees " which served as the target of the Confederate units during the charge . The 19th Massachusetts was in line with the 42nd New York . The two units were the second line of defense in their brigade . As the Confederate charge struck the Union position , a gap in the Union line opened in front of the 19th Massachusetts between their brigade and the adjacent brigade commanded by Brig . Gen . Webb . Seeing the break , Devereux turned to the colonel of the 42nd New York and , gesturing to the gap said , " Mallon , we must move ! " At that moment , Maj . Gen . Winfield S . Hancock rode by and Devereux called out to Hancock , " They have broken through ! Shall I get in there ? " To which Hancock replied , " Go at them ! " The 19th Massachusetts and the 42nd New York together filled the gap , entering a pandemonium of hand - to - hand combat . In the brutal fighting , the 19th Massachusetts captured four Confederate regimental flags which Devereux personally delivered to his brigade commander after the battle . Following the Battle of Gettysburg , Devereux was detached from the regiment to assist in the draft service in Massachusetts . During the fall of 1863 , he was in command of the garrison at Camp Wightman on Long Island in Boston Harbor . Brigade command . Returning to the Army of the Potomac in November 1863 , Devereux was placed in command of the Second Brigade , Second Division , II Corps . In that capacity , he was selected to lead a dangerous charge during the planning of the Battle of Mine Run on November 30 , 1863 . Fortunately , the attack was called off . Devereux was forced to resign his command on February 27 , 1864 , according to historian James Bowen , due to , " imperative family considerations . " Devereaux was nominated by President Andrew Johnson on February 21 , 1866 for the award of the honorary grade of brevet brigadier general , U . S . Volunteers , to rank from March 13 , 1865 , for gallant services during the war and the U . S . Senate confirmed the award on April 10 , 1866 . Family and post - war life . About the time of his resignation in 1864 , Devereux married Clara Anna Rich of Haverhill , Massachusetts . They had three sons and four daughters . Arthur Devereux went back to a business career after the war , first in Boston , then in New York and eventually settling with his wife and children in Cincinnati , Ohio . In Ohio , Devereux became a representative in the Ohio legislature . His wife , Clara , pursued a career in journalism , writing editorials and a social column for the " Cincinnati Commercial Gazette " , among other publications , and became one of the best - known female journalists of her time . In the latter decades of the 19th century , the Devereux family played a key role in defining the elite social circles of Cincinnati . In 1894 , Clara Devereux published " Mrs . Devereux ' s Blue Book of Cincinnati " , a social register of notable residents of that city . She was assisted by her daughter , Marion , who later took up her mother ' s mantle and wrote an influential social column during the early 20th century which , according to a more recent journalist , " made Cincinnati aristocrats quake for 29 years . " Arthur Devereux died on February 13 , 1906 and was laid to rest in Cincinnati .