Joseph Jones Reynolds

Joseph Jones Reynolds was born January 4, 1882, in Flemington, Kentucky, and moved to Lafayette, Indiana with his family when he was fifteen. He attended Wabash College at Crawfordsville, and received an appointment to West Point where he graduated in 1843. He served garrison duty and in the military occupation of Texas. He then taught eight years at West Point followed by frontier duty in the Indian Territory. He resigned as first lieutenant, 3rd Artillery, in 1857, taught engineering in St. Louis at Washington University, and was involved in the grocery business in Lafayette. At the onset of the Civil War, he was appointed colonel of the 10th Indiana (militia), then brigadier general of Indiana Volunteers and brigadier general of U. S. Volunteers on June 14, 1861, to rank from May 17, 1861. In western Virginia, he commanded a brigade at Cheat Mountain under W. S. Rosecrans. His resignation was accepted January 23, 1862, due to the death of his brother who was also his business partner. While attending to his affairs, he assisted in organizing Indiana troops. He was appointed brigadier general September 17, 1862, upon his return to service and a major general of volunteers November 29. Reynolds led a division in the Tullahoma campaign and commanded a division of the XIV Corps at Chickamauga. He became chief of staff of G. H. Thomas’ Army of the Cumberland on October 10, 1863, and retained that position until after the battle of Chattanooga. In January 1864, he was put in charge of New Orleans defenses. In July, he took command of the XIX Corps and organized the campaign against Mobile. From November 1864 until the war ended, he commanded the Department of Arkansas. In July 1866, he became colonel of the 26th Infantry when the Army was reorganized, and was brevetted brigadier and major general, U. S. Army, March 2, 1867. He was transferred to 3rd Cavalry in 1870 and relieved of his command in 1872. He was elected U. S. Senator in 1871, but his seat was successfully contested and he did not serve. He commanded various places in Nebraska and Wyoming. On March 17, 1876, Reynolds attacked and captured a Sioux village on the Powder River. He retreated for no apparent reason leaving behind his dead soldiers and a wounded private who was tortured to death. His behavior at Powder River was the subject of a general court martial, and he resigned. He retired to Washington and died there February 25, 1899. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

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