Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 10.djvu/375

 WEITZEL

WELLER

assistant professor of engineering at the academy, 1859-60. He was promoted 1st lieutenant, July 1, 1860 ; was engaged on the fortifications at Wash- ington, D.C., at Fort Pickens, Fla., and at Cin- cinnati. Ohio, and in February, 1862, became chief-engineer on Gen. B. F. Butler's staff. He planned the capture of New Orleans, and was commissioned brigadier-general of volunteers, Aug. 29, 1863. The following month he planned the La Fourche expedition ; ascended the Mis- sissippi to Donaldsonville, moved down on Thibo- deaux, and at Georgia Crossing, about ten miles northwest of Thibodeaux, defeated a strong Con- federate force, Oct. 27, 1862, and was brevetted major, U.S.A. He remained in possession of La Fourche county, and his command was materially strengthened by Banks when that officer relieved Butler and planned to move up the Mississippi river. On Jan. 14, 1863, Weitzel crossed to the Teche and destroyed the Confederate gunboat Cotton and took fifty prisoners. He remained in this country, opposing General Taylor, who had about 4000 men, until Banks crossed in Taylor's rear and surprised him, just as Weitzel was feigning an attack in front. Weitzel was pro- moted captain, corps of engineers, March 3, 1863, and took command of the 2d brigade, 1st division (C. C. Augur) of Banks's army. He began the attack at Port Hudson, May 27, 1863, and during the siege that followed, held the extreme riglat of the Federal line. He was brevetted lieutenant- colonel, U.S.A.. July 8, 1863, for gallant and meritorious services at Port Hudson, and imme- diately after the surrender, led the 1st division to the relief of Donaldsonville, La. He fought an engagement at Koch's plantation on July 13, and Taylor withdrew to the Lower Teche. In September, 1863, Weitzel participated in the ex- pedition to Sabine Pass, Texas ; later in the western Louisiana campaign and in April, 1864, was transferred to the command of the 2d division, 18th corps. Army of the James, under Butler. In the march from the James river to Drewry's Bluff, he led the advance up the Richmond turn- pike, skirmishing sharply all the way to Proctor's creek, whei'e the main body being ordered up, Weitzel took position on the right, and held it during the advance and the battle of May 16. He •was appointed chief engineer of the Army of the James on May 20, 1864, and on August 29 was brevetted major-general of volunteers for meri- torious and distinguished services during the re- bellion, and on September 30, became commander of the 18th, later the 25th corps. He fought at Fort Harrison, Sept. 30. 1864 ; was brevetted colonel, U.S.A., for gallant and meritorious services there, and in December, 1864. took part in the first ex- pedition against Fort Fisher. In March, 1865, he took command of all the troops north of the Ap-

pomattox river, and it was his command that en- tered Richmond, April 3, 1865. He was brevetted brigadier-general and major-general, U.S.A., March 13, 1865 ; was in command of the Rio Grande district, Texas, April, 1865-February, 1866, and was mustered out of the volunteer service, March 1, 1866. He was promoted major, Aug. 8, 1866, and lieutenant colonel in 1882, He died in Philadelphia, Pa., March 19, 1884.

WELCH, Adonijah Strong, senator, was born in East Hampton, Conn., April 12, 1821. Here- moved to Michigan in 1839 ; was graduated from the University of Michigan, A.B., 1846, A.M., 1852 ; was principal of the Jonesville, Mich. , high school, 1847-49 ; was admitted to the bar, 1847 ; visited California, 1849-51, and was principal of the State Normal school at Ypsilanti, Mich., 1851- 65. In the latter year he settled in Pensacola, Fla. He removed to Jacksonville ; was chair- man of the state Republican committee, 1868, and upon Florida's re-admission to the Union be- came a Republican U.S. senator, serving July 2, 1868-March 3, 1869. He removed to Iowa in 1869 ; was president of the State Agricultural college at Ames, Iowa, 1869-83, visiting Europe in 1882 as commissioner to inspect agricultural colleges, and was professor of psychology in the college, 1883-89. He received the honorary de- gree of LL.D. from the Iowa State Agricultural college, and from Michigan university in 1873 and 1878, respectively. He is the author of: Analysis of the English Sentence (1850); Object Lessons {18Q1) ; Talks on Psychology (1888), and The Teachers' Psychology (1888). He died in Pasadena, Cal., March 14, 1889.

WELLER, John B., governor of California, was born in Butler county, Ohio, in 1812. He was a Democratic representative from the 2d dis- trict of Ohio in the 26th-28th congresses, 1839- 45 ; served in the Mexican war as lievitenant-col- onel and subsequently as colonel of an Ohio reg- iment, 1846-47, and was appointed first U.S. commissioner to Mexico under the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, 1848, serving until his re- moval to California about 1850. He was elected U.S. senator from California as successor to John C. Fremont, defeating him for re-election after 142 ballots, and taking his seat, March 17, 1852, his term expiring March 8, 1857. He was gov- ernor of California, 1858-60 ; U.S. minister to Mexico from Nov. 7, 1860, to May 14, 1861, and a delegate to the Democratic national convention of 1864. He died in New Orleans, 1^., Aug. 7, 1875.

WELLER, Reginald Heber, bishop coadjutor of Fond du Lac and 199th in succession in the American episcopate, was born in Jefferson city, Mo., Nov. 6, 1857 ; son of the Rev. Reginald Heber and Emma Amanda (Look) Weller ; grandson of the Rev. George and Harriet Caroline (Birck-