Isaac F. Shepard

Isaac Fitzgerald Shepard (July 7, 1816 – August 25, 1899) was a colonel in the Union Army during the American Civil War. His appointment as a brigadier general of volunteers was not confirmed by the United States Senate and expired on July 4, 1864.

Biography Shepard was born in Natick, Massachusetts, on July 7, 1816. He graduated from Harvard University in 1842. He was wounded at the Battle of Wilson's Creek on August 10, 1861. He was appointed lieutenant colonel of the 19th Missouri Infantry Regiment on August 30, 1861, and colonel of the 3rd Missouri Infantry Regiment on January 18, 1862, when the regiments were consolidated. He was appointed colonel of the 51st United States Colored Infantry Regiment on May 9, 1863. As a colonel he led the African Brigade, XVII Corps, Army of the Tennessee, during the Siege of Vicksburg.

On November 17, 1863, Shepard was appointed brigadier general of volunteers, to rank from October 27, 1863. He was stationed at Vicksburg, Mississippi, with a brigade of three regiments of United States Colored Troops. The United States Senate did not confirm his appointment as brigadier general and it expired on July 4, 1864. Shepard then returned to Missouri.

Shepard died on August 25, 1889, in Bellingham, Massachusetts. He was buried in Ashland Cemetery, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.