The subject of our sketch, Maj. Gen. William H. French, U.S. A., was born near Baltimore. His parents, natives of Massachusetts, removed to Maryland a short time previous to his birth. He commenced his classical studies at the University of Maryland, and afterwards continued them at Columbia College, Washington, D. C., from which, in 1833 he was appointed Cadet to West Point, and graduated with honor in 1837, in the same class as Maj. Gen. Hooker, of our army, and J. Braxton Bragg. of the Rebel service. He was assigned as second Lieutenant to the 1st Regiment U. S. Artillery and ordered to accompany an expedition to Florida. He was promoted 1st Lieut. July 11, 1838, and served on the frontier until the Spring of 1840, when his Regiment was ordered to Houlton, Maine; from there he was detailed on duty with the joint Commission to run the Northeastern Boundary. Early in May, 1846, he was sent with the first reinforcements to Gen. Taylor at Brazors, Texas, and was assigned to the command of the siege train (Mortar Batteries) in front of Matamoros. After he surrender of that city, and war was formally declared, he served with Taylor’s Battery, whose command lauded in the first line at the siege of Vera Cruz. He served throughout the war with Mexico, and was brevetted Captain for gallant and meritorious conduct at the battle of Cerro Gordo, April, 1847, and Major for gallant and meritorious services at Contreras and Churabusco, August, 1817.
While in command at Fort Duncan, Texas. February, 1861, he received private intelligence that Gen. Twiggs had delivered up San Antonia. He immediately marched with his command—three companies of Artillery —for the mouth of the Rio Grande, a distance of four hundred wiles in sixteen days, with but eight days rations. A Brownsville he joined four other companies and was ordered by Lieut. Gen. Scott to command according to his brevet rank, and reinforce and command Tortugas and Key West, Florida. He was promoted Major in the 2d U.S. Artillery, October 28, 1861, and appointed Brigadier General U. 8. Vols. Sept. 28, 1861.—In November, he left Key West and reported for duty at Washington. He was assigned to command a Brigade in Sumner’s Corps, Army of Potomac, and formed part of the front line at Fair Oaks, June 1, 1862, ; his Brigade fought nobly and lost very heavily. After the Peninsula campaign, at Rockville, in Maryland, he was given command of the 3d Division, Sumner’s Corps, Sept 12, 1862, which he ably commanded on the left of the center of attack at Antietam, holding his position against a much superior force in numbers for three hours; afterwards be drove the enemy. At Fredericksburg he was selected by Gen. Sumner to attack the center of the enemies’ works. In this attack his Division, although not successful, sustained is previous reputation and the honor of our arms, loosing about one-fourth in open attack. In June, 1863, he was appointed Maj. Gen. U. S. Vols., and confirmed in February, to date from November 29, 1862.
The Cecil Whig, Elkton, MD