Biography
Mower was born in Woodstock, Vermont. He entered the U.S. army in 1855, having previously served as a private in the Mexican War. During the Civil War, he became colonel of the 11th Missouri Volunteer Regiment and fought at the siege of Corinth. He assumed command of the 2nd Brigade/2nd Division in the Army of the Mississippi and led it into action at the battle of Corinth. He was wounded in the neck and taken prisoner by Confederate forces but he was recovered by Union soldiers the same day.
He was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers on November 29, 1862. He recovered from his wounds and returned to command a brigade during the Vicksburg Campaign and siege of Vicksburg where he caught the attention of William T. Sherman. During the Red River Campaign he commanded the 1st and 3rd Divisions of the XVI Corps and won brevets in the regular army for actions at the battles of Fort De Russy and Yellow Bayou. He commanded the 1st Division of the Right Wing-XVI Corps at the battle of Tupelo.
He was promoted to major general on August 12, 1864, and General Sherman ordered Mower to join the Union forces in Atlanta. He commanded the 1st Division of the XVII Corps during the March to the Sea and the Carolinas Campaign. His division played a significant role in the battles of Salkehatchie and Bentonville. Sherman made him commander of XX Corps in the Army of Georgia late in the war. After the fighting had ceased he sailed for Texas along with General Gordon Granger. He was placed in command of the District of Eastern Texas. He died in New Orleans, Louisiana on January 6, 1870.
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