Joseph Dana Webster

Joseph Dana Webster (August 25, 1811 – April 12, 1876) was an American civil engineer and soldier most noted for administrative services during the American Civil War, where he served as chief of staff to both Ulysses S. Grant and William T. Sherman.

Career Webster was born in New Hampshire in 1811. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1832 and worked as a civil engineer. He joined the U.S. army in 1838, serving as 2nd lieutenant in the U.S. Topographical Engineers. He fought in the Mexican–American War and by 1853 was captain of the U.S. Engineers. He resigned from the Army in 1854. In early November 1862, Webster was assigned as the superintendent of railroads in the Department of the Tennessee. He next served as the Chief of Transportation for the Army of the Tennessee, during the siege of Vicksburg, and later for the entire Military Division of Mississippi.

When William T. Sherman became commander of the Military Division of Mississippi he selected General Webster as his chief of staff. Webster served Sherman in this capacity through the Atlanta campaign, March to the Sea and the Carolinas campaign. On March 13, 1865, Webster was brevetted to major general of U.S. volunteers Webster resigned from the volunteers on November 6, 1865.

After the war he worked as a collector for the Bureau of Internal Revenue. Webster died at Chicago, Illinois on March 12, 1876 and was buried as Rosehill Cemetery.