William Stretch Abert

William Stretch Abert
William Stretch Abert
Born	February 1, 1836; Washington, D.C.
Died	August 25, 1867 (aged 31); Galveston, Texas
Buried	Rock Creek Cemetery; Washington, D.C.
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Army; Union Army
Years of service	1855–1867
Rank	Colonel; Bvt. Brigadier General
Unit	4th U.S. Artillery; 3rd U.S. Cavalry; 6th U.S. Cavalry; 7th U.S. Cavalry
Commands held	3rd Massachusetts Heavy Artillery
Battles/wars	American Civil War Peninsula Campaign Battle of Williamsburg; Battle of Hanover Court House; ; Maryland Campaign Battle of Antietam; ;

William Stretch Abert (1 February 1836 – 25 August 1867) was an American officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

Biography

Abert was born on February 1, 1836 in Washington, D.C.. He was the son of Colonel John J. Abert, chief of topographical engineers of the US Army. William Abert was appointed lieutenant in the 4th U.S. Artillery in 1855. At the beginning of the Civil War Abert was promoted to captain and assigned to the 3rd U.S. Cavalry before serving as an aide to General George B. McClellan. He participated in the battles of the Peninsula Campaign in spring 1862. After the Battle of Antietam he was promoted to lieutenant-colonel of volunteers and joined the staff of General Nathaniel Banks. After being promoted to colonel, he was given command of the 3rd Massachusetts Heavy Artillery Regiment. He was brevetted to Brigadier on March 13, 1865 for "bravery and meritorious service during the war. After the war, he returned to the army and was promoted to major in June 1867 in the United States 7th U.S. Cavalry. Colonel Abert died on August 25, 1867 in Galveston, Texas and is buried in Rock Creek Cemetery in Washington, DC.