James G. McGrew

Name: James G. McGrew Company: B Veteran; enlisted as private February 10, 1862; Sergeant March 24, 1862; Second Lieutenant August 20, 1862, First Lieutenant March 19, 1863.
Birth Date: December 23, 1833 Place: Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio	Mustered In Date: February 10, 1862 Rank: Private Age: 28 Residence prior to military service: Dayton, Ohio
Death Date: January 30, 1907 Place: Ramsey County, Minnesota Burial: Unknown	Mustered Out Date: September 6, 1865 Rank: Captain Age: about 31 Residence following military service: Audubon Township, Becker County, Minnesota; Crookston, Polk County, Minnesota; Ramsey County, Minnesota Vocation following military service: Justice of the Peace, Becker County Attorney

James G. McGrew Biography and Civil War Narrative

James G. McGrew was born December 23, 1833, in Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio, the seventh of eight children born to Samuel Thompson and Mary (Stebbins) McGrew.

On February 10, 1862, James McGrew enlisted as a private in Company B of the 5th Minnesota Volunteers at the age of 28. A month and a half later he was promoted to Sergeant on March 24.

During the defense of Fort Ridgely on August 20-22, McGrew worked with a detachment from Company C manning first a 12-pound mountain howitzer at the northwest corner of the garrison. On Friday the 22nd, McGrew brought out a 24-pound gun that had not yet been used in the battle. The explosions of these large guns were effective in turning away the attackers. In his Recollections of the Sioux Massacre, Oscar G. Wall* described McGrew as "conspicuous for bravery and tact throughout the siege."

Following the death of Captain Marsh on August 18 in the Battle of Redwood, First Lieutenant Norman K. Culver was promoted to Captain, Thomas P. Gere was promoted to First Lieutenant, and McGrew was promoted to Second Lieutenant. McGrew and Company B escorted captured Indians to Fort Snelling on November 9, and joined the rest of the 5th Minnesota Regiment on December 12 near Oxford, Mississippi.

The following spring, Thomas Gere was appointed Adjutant, and McGrew moved up to First Lieutenant on March 19, 1863. While McGrew served as First Lieutenant, the 5th Minnesota participated in the Siege of Vicksburg actions in Sartaria and Mechanicsburg, Mississippi, and Richmond, Louisiana.

Captain Culver subsequently resigned, and 29-year-old James G. McGrew was made Captain on September 2, 1863. As Captain he led Company B through the Meridian Campaign (February 3-March 2, 1864), the Red River Campaign (March 10-May 22, 1864), the grueling march through Arkansas and Missouri in pursuit of Price (September 17-November 15, 1864), the Battle of Nashville (December 15-16, 1864), and the assault and capture of Fort Blakely (April 9, 1865). He would remain Captain of Company B until the 5th Minnesota Regiment was mustered out on September 6, 1865.

On May 1, 1871, McGrew moved to Section 10 of Audubon Township, Becker County, Minnesota. He performed the first marriage in the township (John Mason and Annie L. Larson) on January 30, 1872, at Oak Lake Cut while serving as Justice of the Peace. From January 6, 1874, to January 6, 1878, he served as Becker County Attorney while residing in Audubon. In addition to his Audubon Township land patent, McGrew also received a land patent in Hamdan Township of Becker County.

At the time of the 1890 Veterans Census, James McGrew was a resident of Crookston, Polk County, Minnesota. James G. McGrew died on January 30, 1907, in Ramsey County, Minnesota.
___________
* Oscar G. Wall was a nephew of James McGrew and a private during the defense of Fort Ridgely.

[5th Minnesota Home] [Company B] [Tim Bode] [Tim Bode's Music Page]

This page is maintained by Tim Bode (timbode@juno.com ). Last modified on 8/21/08.