Lewis A . Grant Lewis Addison Grant ( January 17 , 1828 – March 20 , 1918 ) was a teacher , lawyer , soldier in the Union Army during the American Civil War , and later Assistant U . S . Secretary of War . He was among the leading officers from the state of Vermont , and received the Medal of Honor for " personal gallantry and intrepidity . " Early life . Grant was born in Winhall , Vermont , the son of James and Elizabeth ( Wyman ) Grant . He attended the district school of Townshend , Vermont , and the academy at Chester , Vermont . He then taught school for five years in New Jersey , in Chester , Vermont , and near Boston , meanwhile reading law . He was admitted to the bar in 1855 and established his law practice in Bellows Falls , Vermont . Civil War . Grant was mustered into the service of the United States on September 16 , 1861 , at St . Albans , Vermont , as major of the 5th Vermont Infantry . He was promoted to lieutenant colonel on September 25 , 1861 , and Colonel , on September 16 , 1862 . He was wounded at the Battle of Fredericksburg . He assumed command of the famed Vermont Brigade and led it during the 1863 Gettysburg Campaign . Grant was appointed brigadier general of volunteers on April 27 , 1864 , and accepted the appointment May 21 , 1864 . He was commissioned brevet major general of volunteers , to date from October 19 , 1864 , " for gallant and meritorious services in the campaign before Richmond , Virginia , and in the Shenandoah Valley ; " and was honorably discharged from the service August 24 , 1865 . He commanded the 2nd Brigade , 2nd Division , VI Corps , from February 21 , 1863 , to December 29 , 1863 , and from February 2 , 1864 , to September 29 , 1864 , and from October 8 , 1864 , to December 2 , 1864 ; the 2nd Division , VI Corps , from December 2 , 1864 , to February 11 , 1865 ; the 2nd Brigade , same Division , from February 11 , 1865 , to February 20 , 1865 , and from March 7 , 1865 , to June 28 , 1865 . During his service with the 5th Vermont Infantry , he participated in the following battles : Yorktown , Williamsburg , Goldings ' s Farm , Savage ' s Station , White Oak Swamp , Crampton ' s Gap , Antietam , and Fredericksburg . As a brigade or acting division commander , he participated in the following : the Second Battle of Fredericksburg and the Battle of Salem Church , Gettysburg , Fairfield , Second Battle of Rappahannock Station , the Mine Run Campaign , the Wilderness , Spotsylvania Court House , Cold Harbor , Siege of Petersburg , Charlestown , West Virginia , Gilbert ' s Crossing , Cedar Creek , the siege and assault on Petersburg ( where he was wounded in the head ) , and the Battle of Sayler ' s Creek during the Appomattox Campaign . Grant was acting commander of 2nd Division , VI Corps , at the height of its stand against the Confederate assault at Cedar Creek . He was recommended August 22 , 1866 , for appointment as a field officer in the regular army by General Ulysses S . Grant , and was appointed August 29 , 1866 , as lieutenant colonel of the 36th U . S . Infantry , to date from July 28 , 1866 , but declined the appointment . On May 11 , 1893 , he received the Medal of Honor for " Personal gallantry and intrepidity displayed in the management of his brigade and in leading it in the assault in which he was wounded , " at Salem Church , Virginia , May 3 , 1864 . Post war . After the war , Lewis Grant lived in Illinois , Iowa , and finally Minnesota . His son was Ulysses Sherman Grant , professor of geology , at Northwestern University . He was Assistant U . S . Secretary of War during the administration of President Benjamin Harrison . He died at Minneapolis , Minnesota , and is buried in Lakewood Cemetery ( Section 8 , Lot 416 , Grave 2 ) in that city . Medal of Honor citation . Rank and organization : Colonel , 5th Vermont Infantry . Place and date : At Salem Heights , Va . , May 3 , 1864 . Entered service at : Bellow Falls , Vt . Born : January 17 , 1828 , Winhall , Vt . Date of issue : May 11 , 1893 . Citation : Personal gallantry and intrepidity displayed in the management of his brigade and in leading it in the assault in which he was wounded .