Phelps, J. W. (John Wolcott), 1813-1885

Phelps was an officer in the US military. His career began as a cadet at West Point in the 1830s. He retired as a brigadier general in 1862.

From the description of Papers, 1833-1884. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 79136348

From the description of Diary, [19--?]. (Peking University Library). WorldCat record id: 60355023

John Wolcott Phelps (1813-1885), Brigadier General in the U.S. Army was a native of Vermont. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, served in the Mexican War, was made captain in 1850, and resigned in 1859. After the outbreak of the Civil War, Phelps returned to the military as Colonel of the First Regiment of Vermont Volunteers. In 1861 he was made Brigadier General of Volunteers. He assisted Farragut in the campaign to capture New Orleans and organized the first body of African-American troops in the U.S. Army. When General Benjamin Butler assigned these troops to a work detail rather than military duties, Phelps tendered his resignation. Phelps retired to his home in Vermont where he wrote several books and numerous articles on public affairs. In 1880 Phelps ran for president on the anti-Masonic American Party ticket. He received 700 votes.

From the guide to the John Wolcott Phelps papers, 1833-1884, (The New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division.)

Phelps was a career officer in the United States Army. He was a cadet at West point in the 1830s and retired as a brigadier general in 1862.

From the description of Diaries, 1857-1859. (Brigham Young University). WorldCat record id: 51592465

From the guide to the J. W. Phelps diaries, 1857-1859, (L. Tom Perry Special Collections)

John W. Phelps, (1813-1885), Brigadier General of the 12th Connecticut Volunteers.

From the description of John W. Phelps papers, 1862-1870. (Robert W. Woodruff Library of the Atlanta University Center, Inc.). WorldCat record id: 38477750

John Wolcott Phelps (1813-1885) was born in Guilford, Vermont, to John and Lucy Lovell Phelps on November 3, 1813. He was appointed to West Point on July 1, 1832, graduating in 1836. His military career prior to the Civil War included service in the Creek and Seminole Wars, the Mexican War, and the Mormon Expedition or Utah War of 1857-1858. In 1859, Phelps resigned from the U. S. Army and settled in Brattleboro, Vermont.

At the beginning of the Civil War, Phelps was appointed Colonel of the 1st Vermont Infantry. On May 27 1861, he was promoted to brigadier general. He served under Major General Benjamin F. Butler in the Gulf of Mexico, where his regiment took military possession of Ship Island, Mississippi. His troops also provided support to Commodore David Farragut's fleet in April 1862. and fought in the Battle of Forts Jackson and St. Philip. General Phelps was then stationed at Camp Parapet in Carrollton, just outside of New Orleans. While there, General Phelps organized fugitive slaves arriving at the camp into companies before formally requesting arms for these men from his commanding officer, General Butler. However, Butler told Phelps to put them to work as laborers cutting down trees around the camp instead. General Phelps refused and offered his resignation to first General Butler and later Abraham Lincoln in August 1862.

Phelps returned to Brattleboro following his military service. In 1883, he married Anna Bardwell Davis and the couple returned to his hometown of Guilford, Vermont. Phelps served as president of the Vermont Teacher's Association between 1865 and 1885 and wrote several books, eventually gaining a reputation as a scholar. In 1880, Phelps was the presidential candidate of the American Party (or Anti-Masonic Party). His ticket received only 1,045 votes nationwide. His campaign platform included ideas such as prohibition of alcohol and secret lodges, as well as justice for Native Americans, use of the Bible as a required school text, and the end of the electoral college.

From the description of John W. Phelps papers, 1835-1884. (Vermont Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 756915677

John Wolcott Phelps (1813-1885), American soldier, served in the Mexican War, was made captain in 1850, and resigned in 1859, but returned to the Civil War with a troop of volunteers he raised in Vermont.

He assisted Farragut in the campaign to capture New Orleans and organized the first body of African-American troops in the U.S. Army. After the federal government ordered the troops disbanded, Phelps resigned from the army.

From the description of John Wolcott Phelps papers, 1833-1884. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122597531