FREDERICK STEELE
Steele, Frederick, major-general, was born at Delhi,
Delaware county, N. Y., Jan. 14, 1819.
He graduated at West Point in 1843, was assigned to the 2nd infantry,
served through the war with Mexico and was twice brevetted for gallantry
at Contreras and Chapultepec. In 1849 he was sent to California;
from 1853 to 1860 his duty was in the Northwest. He was commissioned
captain in Feb., 1855, major in May, 1861, colonel of the 8th Ia. Infantry
in Sept. 1861, brigadier-general of volunteers in Jan., 1862, and major-general
of volunteers in Nov., 1862. During the first year of the war he had
command of a brigade in Missouri and took part in the battles of Dug
Springs and Wilson's Creek. In 1862 he was at the head of a division in
the Army of the Southwest and as stated above was promoted major-general
of volunteers on Nov. 29. He led the 15th army corps in the Yazoo
expedition and the capture of Arkansas post in Jan., 1863; was transferred to
the 15th corps, engaged in the Vicksburg campaign, bore a part at Chickasaw
Bayou and in the taking of Fort Hindman, and in the summer was made
lieutenant-colonel and brevet colonel in the regular army. His
division was sent to Helena, Ark., in July and took possession of Little
Rock on Sept. 10. After some months in command of the Department of
Arkansas he was sent to the aid of Gen. Canby in the reduction of Mobile early
in the winter of 1864. In 1865 he was brevetted brigadier- and
major-general, U. S. A., sent to Texas and thence to the command of
the Department of the Columbia. He became colonel of the 20th
infantry in July, 1866, remained in the volunteer service until March,
1867, and died at San Mateo, Cal., Jan. 12, 1868.