George Getty

January 2, 1819 (age 81)

Georgetown, D.C., United States

With Scott’s army in the Mexican War, he fought at Contreras, Molino del Rey, Chapultepec, and the capture of the city of Mexico, and was brevetted captain for gallant conduct in action. He was engaged in the hostilities against the Seminóles in Florida in 1849-50, and again in 57. At the outbreak of the Civil War, he was serving on the frontier at Fort Randall, Dakota Territory, as a captain in the 4th Artillery, having been promoted to that rank in 1853. In the Peninsular campaign of 1862, with the temporary rank of lieutenant-colonel, he commanded four batteries, engaged in the siege of Yorktown and the battles of Gaines’s Mill and Malvern Hill. He also fought at South Mountain and Antietam. Appointed brigadier-general of volunteers, September 25, 1862, he continued with the Army of the Potomac during the campaign and battle of Fredericksburg. In March 1863, he was assigned to the command of a division at Suffolk, Virginia, holding the line which prevented approach to Norfolk and Hampton Roads from the south. In April Suffolk was vigorously attacked by the Confederates, who, after the failure of their first attempts, settled down to regular siege operations, in the course of which Getty distinguished himself by personally leading a storming column in the successful assault on Battery Huger at Hill’s Point. The siege was raised early in May. For some time after, Getty was engaged in the construction of an intrenched line covering Norfolk and Portsmouth; and then, in early July, he commanded an expedition to the South Anna River, which was planned in view of the absence of the main Confederate army on the Gettysburg campaign. He was promoted major in the regular army, August 1, 1863, his rank and assignment as brigadier-general of volunteers remaining unchanged. He was acting inspector-general of the Army of the Potomac during the early part of 1864, and was then assigned to a division of the VI Corps, which he commanded at the battle of the Wilderness, where he was severely wounded, and at the siege of Petersburg. Early’s advance on Washington caused Grant to detach the VI and XIX Corps, which reached the city at the very time that Early was preparing his attack, and put an end to all danger of his entering the capital. The VI Corps becoming a part of Sheridan’s Army of the Shenandoah, newly organized for the purpose of permanently clearing the Valley, Getty commanded his division, and occasionally the Corps, throughout the campaign, fighting at Winchester, Fisher’s Hill, and Cedar Creek. He took part in the final operations of the Army of the Potomac around Petersburg and in the pursuit of Lee’s army until the surrender. He was appointed colonel of infantry in the regular army, July 28, 1866, and mustered out of the volunteer service, September 1, 1866. He was transferred to the 3rd Artillery in 1871. The post and the artillery school at Fort Monroe were under his command for six years. He was a member of the board which in 1878-79 reinvestigated the case of Fitz-John Porter and reversed the findings of the court martial which in 1863 had dismissed the unfortunate general from the army for alleged misconduct at the second battle of Bull Run. Getty retired from active service October 2, 1883, and spent the remainder of his life on a farm near Forest Glen, Maryland.

George Washington Getty

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military

Background

George Washington Getty was born on October 2, 1819, in Georgetown, D. C. , and was the son of Robert and Margaret (Wilmot) Getty.

Education

George graduated from West Point in 1840, was commissioned second lieutenant in the 4th Artillery, and promoted first lieutenant in 1845.

Career

With Scott’s army in the Mexican War, he fought at Contreras, Molino del Rey, Chapultepec, and the capture of the city of Mexico, and was brevetted captain for gallant conduct in action.

He was engaged in the hostilities against the Seminóles in Florida in 1849-50, and again in 57.

At the outbreak of the Civil War, he was serving on the frontier at Fort Randall, Dakota Territory, as a captain in the 4th Artillery, having been promoted to that rank in 1853.

In the Peninsular campaign of 1862, with the temporary rank of lieutenant-colonel, he commanded four batteries, engaged in the siege of Yorktown and the battles of Gaines’s Mill and Malvern Hill. He also fought at South Mountain and Antietam.

Appointed brigadier-general of volunteers, September 25, 1862, he continued with the Army of the Potomac during the campaign and battle of Fredericksburg.

In March 1863, he was assigned to the command of a division at Suffolk, Virginia, holding the line which prevented approach to Norfolk and Hampton Roads from the south.

In April Suffolk was vigorously attacked by the Confederates, who, after the failure of their first attempts, settled down to regular siege operations, in the course of which Getty distinguished himself by personally leading a storming column in the successful assault on Battery Huger at Hill’s Point. The siege was raised early in May.

For some time after, Getty was engaged in the construction of an intrenched line covering Norfolk and Portsmouth; and then, in early July, he commanded an expedition to the South Anna River, which was planned in view of the absence of the main Confederate army on the Gettysburg campaign.

He was promoted major in the regular army, August 1, 1863, his rank and assignment as brigadier-general of volunteers remaining unchanged.

He was acting inspector-general of the Army of the Potomac during the early part of 1864, and was then assigned to a division of the VI Corps, which he commanded at the battle of the Wilderness, where he was severely wounded, and at the siege of Petersburg.

Early’s advance on Washington caused Grant to detach the VI and XIX Corps, which reached the city at the very time that Early was preparing his attack, and put an end to all danger of his entering the capital.

The VI Corps becoming a part of Sheridan’s Army of the Shenandoah, newly organized for the purpose of permanently clearing the Valley, Getty commanded his division, and occasionally the Corps, throughout the campaign, fighting at Winchester, Fisher’s Hill, and Cedar Creek.

He took part in the final operations of the Army of the Potomac around Petersburg and in the pursuit of Lee’s army until the surrender. He was appointed colonel of infantry in the regular army, July 28, 1866, and mustered out of the volunteer service, September 1, 1866.

He was transferred to the 3rd Artillery in 1871. The post and the artillery school at Fort Monroe were under his command for six years.

He was a member of the board which in 1878-79 reinvestigated the case of Fitz-John Porter and reversed the findings of the court martial which in 1863 had dismissed the unfortunate general from the army for alleged misconduct at the second battle of Bull Run.

Getty retired from active service October 2, 1883, and spent the remainder of his life on a farm near Forest Glen, Maryland.

Achievements

During the December 1862, Fredericksburg Campaign and the May 1863 operations around Suffolk, Virginia, he was in command of a IX Corps division. He then served as Inspector General of the Army of the Potomac on the staff of Major General George G. Meade before being given command of an VI division, which he lead in Major General Philip Sheridan's Shenandoah Campaign during the Fall of 1864. His division then served in the final operations against the entrenched Confederates of General Robert E. Lee at Petersburg, and on April 2, 1865 his men made the initial breakthrough of the Confederate lines that led to the collapse of the rebel positions and the retreat that eventually ended with the surrender at Appomattox Court House. He was brevetted Major General in both the US Volunteers and the Regular Army, and was mustered out of volunteer service in 1866. He remained in the army until he retired with the rank of Colonel in 1883, having commanded the artillery school at Fortress Monroe, Virginia. General Getty Neighborhood Park, located near his farm in Forest Glen, is named after him.

Membership

Getty was a member of the Board of Conduct which exonerated former V Corps commander Maj. Gen. Fitz John Porter in 1879. General Getty was a member of several military societies including the Aztec Club of 1847, the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States and the Military Order of Foreign Wars.

Personality

Getty was a dignified, courteous, modest soldier.

In his old age, as always, Getty was a constant reader of military works until failing sight limited such study.

Connections

In 1848, Getty married Elizabeth Graham Stevenson, at Staunton, Virginia.

Father:: Robert Getty
Mother:: Margaret Wilmot Getty
Brother:: John Hutchinson Carr Getty
Brother:: Charles Edward Getty, Sr
Brother:: Gardner Thomas Getty
Sister:: Emily Getty Brooke
Sister:: Anne Eliza Getty Laub
Sister:: Margaret Jane Getty Johns
Wife:: Elizabeth Graham Stevenson Getty
Daughter:: Maud Getty Walsh
Daughter:: Anna Laub “Annie” Getty McClure
Son:: Robert Nelson Getty
Son:: George Graham Getty

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George Washington Getty

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