Union General John Sedgwick was born on this day in 1813. He would be the highest ranking Union officer to be killed during the great American Civil War.

“Uncle John” Sedgwick was a reliable and dependable general, well thought of by his men. His death would even be mourned by Confederate General Robert E. Lee.

Sedgwick was killed by a sniper at the Battle of Spotsylvania on May 9th, 1864.  Confederate sharpshooters were a 1000 yards away. Sedgwick strode around in the open and his last words to his soldiers who were ducking for cover “I’m ashamed of you, dodging that way. They couldn’t hit an elephant from this distance” He was then struck below the left eye with a bullet. General John Sedgwick was 50 years old.