Daniel Sickles
Daniel Edgar Sickles (October 20, 1825–May 3, 1914) was an American soldier, statesman and diplomat.
Born in New York City, he learned the printer's trade, studied in the University of the City of New York (now New York University), was admitted to the bar in 1846, and was a member of the New York Assembly in 1847. In 1853 he became corporation counsel of New York City, but resigned soon afterward to become secretary of the U.S. legation in London, under James Buchanan, by appointment of President Franklin Pierce. He returned to America in 1855, was a member of the New York Senate from 1856 to 1857, and from 1857 to 1861 was a Democratic representative in the United States Congress (the 35th and 36th Congresses). In 1859 he was tried on a charge of murder, having shot Philip Barton Key, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, whom Sickles had discovered to have a liaison with his wife; but was acquitted after a dramatic trial involving the first use of the insanity defense in US history.
At the outbreak of the Civil War Sickles was active in raising United States volunteers in New York, and was appointed colonel of a regiment. He became a brigadier-general of volunteers in September 1861, led a brigade of the Army of the Potomac with credit up to the Battle of Antietam, and then succeeded to a divisional command. He took part with distinction in the Battle of Fredericksburg, and in 1863 as a major-general commanded the III. Corps 3rd Army Corps. His energy and ability were conspicuous in the disastrous Battle of Chancellorsville and at the Battle of Gettysburg the part played by the III. corps in the desperate fighting around the Peach Orchard was one of the most noteworthy incidents in the battle. Sickles himself lost a leg at Gettysburg, and his active military career came to an end. It is worth noting that the reason the fighting at the Peach Orchard took place was because Sickles had disobeyed orders from General Meade. The only reason he was not court-martialed after the battle was that he had been wounded, and it was assumed he would die. He was, however, employed to the end of the war, and in 1867 received the brevets of brigadier-general U.S.A. and major-general U.S.A. for his services at Fredericksburg and Gettysburg respectively.
Soon after the close of the Civil War, in 1865, he was sent on a confidential mission to Colombia (the "special mission to the South American Republics") to secure its compliance with a treaty agreement of 1846 permitting the United States to convey troops across the Isthmus of Panama. From 1866 to 1867 he commanded the department of the Carolinas. In 1866 he was appointed colonel of the 42nd infantry (Veteran Reserve Corps), and in 1869 he was retired with the rank of major-general. Sickles also began a campaign against General Meade's character after the Civil War. Sickles felt that Meade had wronged him at Gettysburg.
Sickles was minister to Spain from 1869 to 1873, and took part in the negotiations growing out of the Virginius Affair. General Sickles was president of the New York State Board of Civil Service Commissioners in 1888 to 1889, was sheriff of New York in 1890, and was again a representative in the 53rd Congress in 1893 to 1895.
He lived out the remainder of his life in New York City until his death there died in 1914. Sickles is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
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