William H. Morris

Civil War In August, 1861, Morris re-enlisted in the Army as a captain of volunteers. He served on the staff of Brigadier General John J. Peck as Assistant Adjutant General of Peck's brigade during the Peninsula Campaign and from June 24, 1862, to September 1, 1862, as assistant adjutant general of Division 2, IV Corps, Army of the Potomac, after Peck was appointed commander of the division. Colonel Morris's regiment served in the Middle Department in the defense of Baltimore. On March 16, 1863, Morris was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers to rank from November 29, 1862, and served in the Middle Department from December 1862 until June 1863. During the Battle of Gettysburg, Morris's brigade was in reserve. When Major General William H. French took over command of the battered III Corps, Morris's brigade was transferred to 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, III Corps, Army of the Potomac on July 10, 1863. The 3rd Division participated in the pursuit of Lee's army after the Battle of Gettysburg, with Morris's brigade in action during the Battle of Manassas Gap on July 23, 1863. Morris served in the Bristoe Campaign from October to December 1863, and fought in the Battle of Mine Run in November 1863. Morris was on leave of absence until June and saw no more field service after suffering his wound. During this time General Morris wrote a book, Infantry Tactics, which was published in 1865.

President of the United States Andrew Johnson nominated Morris for appointment as a brevet major general of volunteers to rank from March 13, 1865, and the United States Senate confirmed the appointment on March 28, 1867.

Later life and death After the war Morris lived on his estate, Briarcliff, in Putnam County, New York. Morris also published a follow-on book, "Tactics for Infantry, armed with Breech-loading or Magazine Rifle" in 1879, revised in 1888. He lobbied the U.S. War Department to adopt ideas expressed in the book.

Morris died August 26, 1900, while vacationing at Long Branch, New Jersey, and is buried in Cold Spring, New York.