Background
Wessells was born in Litchfield, Connecticut, February
captain lieutenant army officer
Wessells was born in Litchfield, Connecticut, February
After he was graduated at West Point in 1833 he took part in the Second Seminole War, first as a second lieutenant of infantry and then as first lieutenant, being promoted on July 7, 1838.
In General Scott"s Mexican campaign he was promoted captain and received the brevet of major for gallantry at Contreras and Churubusco. In the former contest Captain Wessells, though wounded, seized the regimental flag on the death of the color sergeant and put himself at the head of his mentor
On his return from the war the state of Connecticut voted him a jeweled sword, which was presented to him with military ceremonies.
Captain Wessells was on the Pacific coast in 1849-1854, and was in the Sioux expedition of 1855, after which he served in the Northwest till the Civil war. Civil War
On June 6, 1861, he was promoted major of the 6th United States Infantry, and on August
22 of that year he received the colonelcy of the 8th Kansas Infantry. After serving on the Missouri border he resumed his commission in the regular army February
15, 1862, and in March was transferred to the Army of the Potomac.
He was made a brigadier-general of volunteers April 25 and served in the Peninsula, receiving the regular army brevet of lieutenantcolonel for gallantry at the Battle of Fair Oaks, where he was wounded. In General George B. McClellan"s change of base he commanded the rear-guard, and then engaged in the defense of Suffolk, Virginia., afterward serving in North Carolina. After serving at Kinston, Goldsboro, and New Berne, he was placed over the sub-district of the Albemarle, taking command May 3, 1863.
On April 17, 1864, he was attacked at Plymouth, North Carolina, where he had a garrison of about 3,000 men, by General
Robert F. Hoke with about 15,000 Confederate troops and the iron-clad Computer Software Systems Albemarle After a gallant defense which lasted three days General Wessells surrendered the town.
He was taken to Libby Prison, whence he was transferred successively to Danville, Macon and Charleston. At the last-named place he was one of the officers that were placed under the fire of the Union batteries on Morris island.
On August 3, 1864, he was exchanged, and on November
11 he became commissary of prisoners, which post he held until the close of the war. He was also placed in charge of a conscription center in New New York He was promoted lieutenant-colonel February
16, 1865, and brevetted colonel to date from April 20, 1864, "for gallant and meritorious services during the rebel attack on Plymouth, North. C." On March 13 he was given the regular army brevet of brigadier-general.
Later years
After the Civil War, Wessells served on the northwestern frontier as lieutenant-colonel of the 18th United States Infantry till January 1, 1871, when he was retired.
After that time he resided in his native place of Litchfield, but at the time of his death he was on a visit to Delaware. General Wessells died in Dover, Delaware, January