Turner Gustavus Morehead (1814–1892) was an officer in the

Mexican–American War The Mexican–American War (Spanish language, Spanish: ''guerra de Estados Unidos-México, guerra mexicano-estadounidense''), also known in the United States as the Mexican War, and in Mexico as the United States intervention in Mexico, ...

and

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

and Brevet Brigadier General in the Union Army.

Early life

Turner Gustavus Morehead, was born at

Baltimore Baltimore is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland. With a population of 585,708 at the 2020 census and estimated at 568,271 in 2024, it is the 30th-most populous U.S. city. The Baltimore metropolitan area is the 20th-large ...

, Maryland, on March 18, 1814, was educated and grew to young manhood in that city, but shortly after arriving of age, removed to

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

. He soon joined the militia unit, the " Artillery Corps Washington Grays" in May, 1835. His unit was one called up to end the

Buckshot War The Buckshot War was the outbreak of unrest in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania that transpired after the Pennsylvania gubernatorial and legislative elections in 1838 when both the Whig and Democratic parties claimed control over the Pennsylvania House of ...

. At the beginning of the

the Greys voted not to volunteer for service, and Morehead resigned and offered his services to the state.

Mexican-American War

In November 1846, he was enrolled in Philadelphia as a captain in command of Company G, First Pennsylvania Regiment, known as the "Jefferson Guards". He took an active part through to the end of the war in Scott's

Mexico City Campaign Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...

, principally the engagements of the

Siege of Veracruz On 9 March 1847, during the Mexican–American War, the United States military made an amphibious landing and besieged the key Mexican seaport of Veracruz. The port surrendered twenty days later. The U.S. forces then marched inland to Mexico ...

, National Bridge, Cerro Gordo, Castle Perote,

Huamantla Huamantla () is a small city in Huamantla Municipality, the municipality of the same name in the eastern half of the Mexican state of Tlaxcala. The area has a long indigenous history, but the city itself was not founded until the early colonial per ...

, and the Siege of Puebla. Discharged July 29, 1848, Morehead returned to Philadelphia, but soon began his participation in the " Philadelphia Blues" Battalion.

Civil War

As colonel commanding the Philadelphia Blues when the

broke out, Morehead immediately offered the services of his battalion to the governor of

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...

. The governor accepted and ordered to expand the battalion into a full regiment which was mustered into three months of service on April 17, 1861, as the 22nd Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers with Turner G. Morehead remaining as colonel. The 22nd Regiment quickly proceeded to Baltimore, where it served, partly as provost guard. Colonel Morehead assumed command of the city when its police commissioners were arrested by General

Banks A bank is a financial institution that accepts deposits from the public and creates a demand deposit while simultaneously making loans. Lending activities can be directly performed by the bank or indirectly through capital markets. As banks ...

, five companies of the 22nd were detailed for duty in the central part of the city for ten days, anticipating trouble from the large secessionist faction in the city. Other detachments of the regiment seized large quantities of arms and ammunition secreted in the city in the possession of suspected secessionists. One company was also detailed to guard a magazine in the city until the close of its term of service. At the end of its term of service, the regiment returned to Philadelphia and was mustered out on August 7, 1861. Almost immediately, Colonel Morehead was authorized to recruit another regiment, this one for a full three years' service, and on August 21, 1861, only two weeks after being mustered out, he was again mustered in as Colonel of what afterward became the 106th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, but at that time was known as the Fifth California Regiment, of

Edward Dickinson Baker Edward Dickinson Baker (February 24, 1811October 21, 1861) was an American politician, lawyer, and US army officer. In his political career, Baker served in the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois and later as a U.S. Senator from Oregon. ...

California Brigade The Philadelphia Brigade (also known as the California Brigade) was a Union Army brigade that served in the American Civil War. It was raised primarily in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with the exception of the 106th regiment which con ...

. Morehead brought with him a number of soldiers of the disbanded 22nd Regiment. Morehead shared all the dangers of the men in his 106th Pennsylvania Infantry which went on to serve throughout the whole war. First at

Ball's Bluff The Battle of Ball's Bluff (also known as the Battle of Leesburg or Battle of Harrison's Island) was an early battle of the American Civil War fought in Loudoun County, Virginia, on October 21, 1861, in which Union Army forces under Major Gener ...

, then in the

Peninsula Campaign The Peninsula campaign (also known as the Peninsular campaign) of the American Civil War was a major Union operation launched in southeastern Virginia from March to July 1862, the first large-scale offensive in the Eastern Theater. The oper ...

where fought at Fair Oaks, Savage Station, Battle of Glendale or Charles City Cross Roads and

Malvern Hill Malvern Hill stands on the north bank of the James River in Henrico County, Virginia, USA, about eighteen miles southeast of Richmond. On 1 July 1862, it was the scene of the Battle of Malvern Hill, one of the Seven Days Battles of the American ...

. Then he fought at

Antietam The Battle of Antietam ( ), also called the Battle of Sharpsburg, particularly in the Southern United States, took place during the American Civil War on September 17, 1862, between Confederate General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virgin ...

and Fredericksburg. Although never wounded, Morehead was injured when his horse was shot from under him at Antietam:

Colonel Morehead's horse was shot from under him, and, falling, held him fast until released by Sergeant Joseph Taylor and Corporals McNeal and Stephen Taylor of Company C. After going some distance to the rear the Colonel found he had lost his sword, a handsome one, that had been presented to him by the Regiment, and went back after it, though urged not to do so by the men, but he said, "Yes I will, that sword was given me by my men and I told them I would protect it with my life and never see it dishonored, and I am not going to let them damned rebels get it", so he went back to where his horse lay and got it and returned in safety to the regiment although the enemy was near enough to demand his surrender, and fired at him because he refused.

Morehead was detailed frequently to the command of different brigades of the

II Corps 2nd Corps, Second Corps, or II Corps may refer to: France * 2nd Army Corps (France) * II Cavalry Corps (Grande Armée), a cavalry unit of the Imperial French Army during the Napoleonic Wars * II Corps (Grande Armée), a unit of the Imperial French ...

, yet he only received a brevet promotion to brigadier general on March 15, 1865, after he had resigned on April 5, 1864, returning home on account of disabilities caused by disease.

Later life

After the War General Morehead engaged in the wholesale shoe business until appointed Weigher of the Port of Philadelphia, a position he held for many years. He early entered the

Grand Army of the Republic The Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) was a fraternal organization composed of veterans of the Union Army (United States Army), Union Navy (United States Navy, U.S. Navy), and the United States Marine Corps, Marines who served in the American Ci ...

, and became commander of E. D. Baker Post No. 8 of Philadelphia, also a member of the Union Veteran Legion and the

Military Order of the Loyal Legion The Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (MOLLUS), or, simply, the Loyal Legion, is a United States military order organized on April 15, 1865, by three veteran officers of the Union Army. The original membership was consisted ...

. In 1882, he moved to

Asbury Park, New Jersey Asbury Park () is a beachfront city located on the Jersey Shore in Monmouth County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is part of the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2020 United States census, the city's population was 15,188, a decr ...

, where he resided until his death on May 28, 1892.

Family

General Morehead was married to Louisa A. Kidd, and had three children born to them, two sons and one daughter. One son and the daughter survived him. His son, Gustavus Kidd, followed in the footsteps of his father, and early entered the

National Guard National guard is the name used by a wide variety of current and historical uniformed organizations in different countries. The original National Guard was formed during the French Revolution around a cadre of defectors from the French Guards. ...

in 1875. Like his father he rose to the command of the same company "The Artillery Corps Washington Grays", by then renamed Company G, First Regiment, National Guards of Pennsylvania.Ward, History of the One hundred and sixth regiment, p.430]

References

External links

Colonel Turner Gustavus Morehead, 106th Pennsylvania Volunteers
photo) {{DEFAULTSORT:Morehead, Turner Gustavus American military personnel of the Mexican–American War Union army colonels People of Pennsylvania in the American Civil War Philadelphia Brigade 1814 births 1892 deaths United States Army officers Military personnel from Baltimore Burials at Mount Peace Cemetery Grand Army of the Republic officials