James G. Grindlay

James Glas Grindlay (February 14, 1840 – October 19, 1907) was a Union Army officer in the American Civil War and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during the Battle of Five Forks. He served with the 146th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment and commanded that unit for the last year of the war. He twice briefly led his brigade after his superior officers became casualties, and was brevetted brigadier general shortly before the end of the conflict.

Early life Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, Grindlay immigrated to the United States as a young man. He was trained as a clerk, accountant, and insurance agent. Before enlisting in the Army he worked as a bookkeeper for a tannery in Boonville, New York. He assumed command of the regiment and led it through the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House which immediately followed. Promoted to major, At the Battle of Peebles' Farm, the commander of 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, V Corps, of which the 146th New York was a part, was severely wounded. The injured officer, Elwell Stephen Otis, was carried from the field and Grindlay took over his position. Grindlay's tenure as brigade commander lasted only two days, from October 1, to October 3, before a replacement was found. At the Battle of Five Forks on April 1, 1865, the 1st Brigade, including the 146th New York, led the 2nd Division's attack on the Confederate breastworks. Just after breaching the defenses, brigade commander Frederick Winthrop was mortally wounded. For a second time, Grindlay took over command of 1st Brigade. Under his leadership, the brigade took the Confederate defenses and captured more than one-thousand prisoners and four battle flags. Two of the flags were captured by his own regiment, the 146th New York. Again, Grindlay was brigade commander for only two days until another replacement was found.

Grindlay and the rest of the 146th New York were mustered out of service on July 16, 1865, three months after the end of the war.

Post-war life After the war, Grindlay lived in Utica, New York. He married twice, first to a Miss Anderson from Boonville and second to Mary Peckham from Utica. He was a companion of the New York Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States military society and was president of the V Corps Veteran Association. In 1874 and 1875 he served as the U.S. consul to Kingston, Jamaica, and from 1891 onwards he worked at the New York State Comptroller's office in Albany. Grindlay died in a car accident in Troy, New York, at age 67 and was buried at Forest Hill Cemetery in Utica.