Overview
Hugh Boyle Ewing (1826–1905) was a lawyer, military officer, diplomat, and author from Ohio. He briefly attended the United States Military Academy but left before graduation. Ewing pursued law, practiced in Missouri and Kansas, and joined the Union Army during the Civil War, serving with distinction in battles like South Mountain, Antietam, and Missionary Ridge. Rising to Brigadier General and brevet Major General. Following the war, he served as the American Minister to Holland (1866–1870). Afterward, he became a writer, publishing works on history and fiction.
Personal Facts
- Full Name: Hugh Boyle Ewing
- Born: October 31, 1826, Lancaster, Ohio
- Parents: Thomas and Maria (Boyle) Ewing
- Education: United States Military Academy (DNG)
- Occupation: Lawyer, Military officer, Author
- Positions: Brigadier General (USVA), Brevet Major General (USVA), American Minister to Holland
- Spouse: Henrietta Young (1858)
- Died: June 30, 1905, Fairfield County, Ohio
- Buried: St. Mary Cemetery, Lancaster
Biography
Early Life
Hugh Boyle Ewing was born in Lancaster, Ohio on October 31, 1826. He was the fourth child and third son of Thomas Ewing, Sr. and Maria (Boyle) Ewing. Ewing’s father, Thomas Ewing, Sr., was a prominent lawyer, and a United States senator, who also served as United States Secretary of the Treasury and United States Secretary of the Interior. Two of Ewing’s brothers, Thomas Ewing, Jr., and Charles Ewing, and his foster brother, William Tecumseh Sherman, eventually became general officers in the Union army during the American Civil War.
Ewing received his primary education in Lancaster and then entered the United States Military Academy in 1844. He withdrew from the academy during his final year after failing an engineering exam.
Gold Rush Prospector
After leaving West Point, Ewing traveled on an expedition to California to rescue migrants trapped by heavy snows in the Sierra. While there, he unsuccessfully prospected for gold during the 1849 Gold Rush.
Western Lawyer
In 1852, Ewing returned east, studied law, and joined the bar in Missouri. From 1854 to 1856, he practiced law in St. Louis. In 1858, Ewing briefly moved to Leavenworth, Kansas, and joined his brother, Thomas Ewing, Jr., and his foster brother, William T. Sherman (who was by then, also his brother-in-law), in establishing the law firm of Sherman & Ewing. Ewing also engaged in land speculation while living in Leavenworth.
Marriage
On August 3, 1858, Ewing married Henrietta Young, daughter of George W. Young, a prominent plantation owner in the District of Columbia. The couple took up residence in Ohio, where Ewing managed his father’s salt works. Their marriage produced seven children (Edith, Eleanor, George Washington, Hugh, Henrietta, Thomas, and Marie).
Union Officer
After the American Civil War began, Ohio Governor William Dennison appointed Ewing as Brigade Inspector of the 3rd Brigade of the Ohio Militia on May 6, 1861. Holding the rank of major, Ewing served at Camp Dennison, in Columbus, Ohio, where he recruited and trained soldiers.
Battle of Rich Mountain
In June 1861, Ewing joined Major General George B. McClellan‘s command in western Virginia, where he took part in the Union victory at the Battle of Rich Mountain (July 11, 1861).
Battle of Carnifex Ferry
On August 15, Ewing attained the rank of colonel and assumed command of the 30th Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Early in September, his regiment joined General William Rosecrans‘ forces in western Virginia, and Ewing contributed to the Union victory at the Battle of Carnifex Ferry (September 10, 1861).
Battle of South Mountain
During the winter of 1861 and much of 1862, Ewing held several administrative posts with the army. In late summer, he and his regiment transferred to the Army of the Potomac near Washington, DC. On September 14, 1862, Ewing led his regiment during the final charge that secured a Union victory at the Battle of South Mountain. That night, officials promoted him to the commander of the 1st Brigade of the Kanawha Division.
Battle of Antietam
Three days later, at the Battle of Antietam (September 17, 1862), Ewing’s brigade was positioned on the extreme left of the Union line. According to commander Major General Ambrose Burnside, Ewing’s men “saved the left from being completely driven in” during a Confederate attack. After the battle, Ewing went on sick leave until October 23, when he rejoined his brigade in West Virginia. His troops went into winter quarters, and on November 29, 1862, officials promoted Ewing to the rank of brigadier general of volunteers.
Vicksburg Campaign
At the beginning of the 1863 campaign season, Ewing led the soldiers of the 30th, 37th, and 47th Regiments of the Ohio Volunteer Infantry along with the 4th Virginia Infantry to join the Union campaign against the Confederate stronghold at Vicksburg, Mississippi. During the Vicksburg Campaign, Ewing served in the Army of the Tennessee, commanded by his brother-in-law, Major General William T. Sherman. After the surrender of Vicksburg, federal troops re-occupied Jackson, Mississippi on July 17, 1863, and Sherman briefly placed Ewing in charge of the city. On July 21, Sherman elevated Ewing to the command of the 4th Division of the 15th Army Corps, and Ewing returned to the vicinity of Vicksburg.
Chattanooga Campaign
In October, Ewing’s division moved east with the Army of the Tennessee to help lift Confederate General Braxton Bragg‘s siege of Chattanooga, Tennessee. During the Union breakout from Chattanooga, two of Ewing’s brigades led General Sherman’s initial assault against General Patrick Cleburne‘s Confederate defenders at Tunnel Hill in the Battle of Missionary Ridge (November 25, 1863).
Knoxville Campaign
Following the successful breakout from Chattanooga, Ewing’s division moved north with Sherman to relieve Major General Ambrose Burnside’s forces under siege by Major General James Longstreet at Knoxville, Tennessee. When Longstreet ended his Knoxville Campaign on December 4, 1863, after the decisive Union victory at the Battle of Fort Sanders (November 29, 1863), Ewing’s division moved to Scottsboro, Alabama, and went into winter quarters.
District of Louisville Commander
In February 1864, Ewing became commander of the District of Louisville. He served in that capacity for one year. In February 1865, Ewing returned to field duty.
End of the Civil War
Ewing rejoined William T. Sherman in North Carolina, but the war ended before he saw any further action. At the close of hostilities, officials brevetted Ewing to the rank of major general, “for meritorious services during the war,” to date from March 13, 1865. He mustered out of volunteer service on January 15, 1866.
Post-War Life
After the Civil War, President Andrew Johnson appointed Ewing as the American Minister to Holland. He served in that capacity from 1866 to 1870, when he returned to Ohio. Ewing settled on a farm near Lancaster, Ohio, where he pursued a career as a writer. While living there, he penned The Black List; A Tale of Early California; A Castle in the Air; and The Gold Plague.
Death
Ewing died on his farm on June 30, 1905. He was buried at St. Mary Cemetery in Lancaster.
Accomplishments and Milestones
- 1826, October 31 — Hugh Boyle Ewing was born as the fourth child and third son of Thomas Ewing and Maria (Boyle) Ewing.
- 1844 — Ewing entered the United States Military Academy but withdrew during his final year after failing an engineering exam.
- 1849 — He unsuccessfully prospected for gold during the California Gold Rush.
- 1852 — Ewing studied law and was admitted to the bar.
- 1854–1856 — He practiced law in St. Louis, Missouri.
- 1858 — Ewing briefly moved to Leavenworth, Kansas, and joined his brother Thomas Ewing Jr. and foster brother William T. Sherman in establishing the law firm of Sherman & Ewing.
- 1858, August 3 — He married Henrietta Young, daughter of George W. Young, in Washington, D.C. Their marriage produced seven children.
- 1861, May 6 — Ewing was appointed as Brigade Inspector of the Third Brigade of the Ohio Militia, with the rank of major, by Governor William Dennison.
- 1861, June — He joined Major General George McClellan’s command in western Virginia and took part in the Union victory at the Battle of Rich Mountain.
- 1861, August 15 — Ewing was promoted to colonel and assigned to command the 30th Ohio Infantry. He contributed to the Union victory at the Battle of Carnifex Ferry on September 10.
- 1862, September 14 — He led his regiment during the final charge that secured a Union victory at the Battle of South Mountain. Ewing was promoted to commander of the 1st Brigade of the Kanawha Division.
- 1862, September 17 — His brigade was positioned on the extreme left of the Union line at the Battle of Antietam, helping to repel a Confederate attack.
- 1862, November 29 — Ewing was promoted to Brigadier General.
- 1863 — He led the 30th, 37th, and 47th Ohio regiments, along with the 4th Virginia Infantry, in the campaign against Vicksburg, Mississippi.
- 1863, July 17 — Ewing was temporarily placed in charge of Jackson, Mississippi, following its re-occupation by federal troops.
- 1863, July 21 — He was elevated to command of the 4th Division of the 15th Army Corps and returned to the vicinity of Vicksburg.
- 1863, October — Ewing moved east with the Army of the Tennessee to assist in lifting the Confederate siege of Chattanooga, Tennessee.
- 1863, November 25 — His brigades led General Sherman’s initial assault against General Patrick Cleburne’s defenders at Tunnel Hill during the Battle of Missionary Ridge.
- 1863, November — Ewing moved north to relieve Major General Ambrose Burnside’s besieged forces at Knoxville, Tennessee.
- 1864, February — He was appointed as commander of the District of Louisville, serving for one year.
- 1865, February — Ewing rejoined Major General William T. Sherman in North Carolina.
- 1865, March 13 — He was brevetted to the rank of major general for meritorious services during the war.
- 1866, January 15 — Ewing was mustered out of military service.
- 1866–1870 — He served as American Minister to Holland, appointed by President Andrew Johnson.
- 1870 — Ewing settled on a farm near Lancaster, Ohio, and pursued a career as a writer.
- 1905, June 30 — Ewing died on his farm near Lancaster, Ohio.
