Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 10.djvu/384

 AVERTS

WEST

expeditions against Tuspan ami Tampiro. He wajs transferreil to the screw-frigate Minnesota, Capt. G.J. Vim Brunt, Admiral Stringham's flag- sliip, during the Burnside expedition. He fouglit at ilatter.is Inlet. and was later put in command of the rti/jA-.e and of the Stars and Strijies, being engaged at Roanoke Island. He was promoted commander. July 16. 1802. and in command of the Conemaiajh performed blockade duty until 1S65, wlien hewas transferred to t\\e Pou'hatan. With this boat in ^lay, 1865, he blockaded the stoni'icall. a boat recently sold to Spain by the « onfederates in Havana harbor, until she was turned over to the United States. He was pro- moted captain, July 2.j, 1866; commodore, April 27, 1871. and reiir-admiral. Feb. 4, 1875, He was retired by his own request in 1877, and died in Nevvp.irt, R. I., July 13. 18S6.

WERTS, George Theodore, governor of New Jersey, was born at Hackettstown. Warren county,

N.J. .March 24. 1846; son of Peter and (Van-

atta) Werts. In 1849 the family removed to Bor- dentown. Pa., and Werts later attended the State mo-lel sc1)o<j1 at Trenton, N.J. He was admitted to the bar in 1867; was recorder of Morristown, 1883-85, and mayor, 1886-92; served in both liouses of the state legislature, 1886-92, being at one time president of the senate. He was ap- jiuinted justice of the supreme court of New Jersey in 1892, but resigned that same year to ac- cept the Democratic nomination of governor. He wa-s governor of New Jersey, 1893-96, and in 1890 resumed the practice of law in Morristown and .Tersey City.

WESSELLS, Henry Walton, soldier, was born in Litchtield, Conn., Feb. 20, 1809; son of Ashbel and Grace (Ward) Wessels. He was graduate-l at the U.S. Military academy in 1833; assigne<l to the 2d infantry; commissioned 2d lieutenant, June 28, 1836, and served in the Florida war. 1837-40. He was promoted 1st lieutenant, July 7, 1838, served in the war with Mexico, 1846-48, and fought at Vera Cruz, Cerro Gordo, Contreras, where lie was wounded, and at Churubusco and City of Mexico. He was bre- vetted major, Aug. 20, 1847, for gallant and meritorious conduct at Contreras and Churu- busco. He did garrison duty in Kansas, 1800-61; was promoted major, June 6, 1861, and on Aug. 22, 1861, was commissioned colonel of the 8th Kansas volunteers. He was on the Missouri border until February, 1862. when his command wiis transferred to the Army of the Potomac. He was promoted brigadier-general of volunteers, April 25, 1862, and ff)uglit at Yorktown, com- manding the 2<1 brigade of the 3d division (later the 2d) under General Casey, of the 4th corps under E. D. K<-yes. At Fair Oaks Casey's divi- sion hold the first line of defence. Wessells'.s

brigade manning the centre of this line. They were driven from their position by D. H. Hill's division. General Wessells being wounded. Dur- ing the retreat from Malvern Hill on July 2, 1862, Wessells's brigade formed the rear-guard of Keyes's corps, and while the cavalry was holding the battle field he established his command about two miles in the rear in line of battle. After the trains and the body of the army had been trans- ferred to the James river, the cavalry on July 2, 1862, passed through Wessells's lines at noon, leaving his brigade the rear-guard of McClellan's entire army. He participated in the defence of Suffolk, Va., Sept. 20-Dec. 1, 1862. He was stationed in North Carolina, 1862-64, and com- manded in the defence of Plymouth, which on April 17, 1864, was attacked by Gen. R. F. Hoke. The Confederate ram Albemarle ran down the Roanoke river to Plymouth, sank the Southjield and drove the Miami away. General Hoke at- tacked the fortification for a few days, and on Aug. 20, 1864, Wessells surrendered. He was confined at Richmond, Va., at Danville, Va., at Macon, Ga., and at Charleston, S.C., and was one of the prisoners placed under fire of the Union batteries on Morris Island, S.C., being released, Aug. 8, 1864. He was promoted lieu- tenant-colonel, U.S.A., Feb. 16, 1865, and for the next year was in command of the draft rendez- vous at Hart's Island, N.Y. He was brevetted colonel, U.S.A., April 20, 18G4, and brigadier- general, U.S.A., March 13, 1865. He was mustered out of the volunteer service, Jan. 15, 1866, and served in Nebraska and Dakota until he was retired Jan. 1, 1871, He was married to Hannah, daughter of Isaac and Mary (Morris) Cooper, of Cooperstown, N.Y. They had two sons; one, Henry Walton, Jr., rose to the rank of colonel of cavalry, U.S.A. General Wessells died at Dover, Del., Jan. 12, 1889.

WEST, Benjamin, artist, was born in Spring- field, Chester county, Pa., Oct. 10, 1738; son of John and Sarah (Pearson) West, members of the Society of Friends. He acquired a good educa- tion, and displaying a talent for drawing he re- ceived aid in pursuing his art studies from Samuel Shoemaker and from a Mr. Penington, a well known merchant of Philadelphia. He de- voted himself to portrait painting, and it was not till about 1749 that he undertook historical composition. His first notable canvas, The Death of Socrates, was painted at the suggestion of Will- iam Henry (q.v.),who recognized the youth's genius, and read to him Plutarch's account of the philosopher, about whom West knew nothing. This composition attracted the attention of the Rev. William Smith, provost of the College of Pliiladelphia, at who.se invitation West went to Philadelphia, where he studied classical literature