James St. Clair Morton | |
|---|---|
 Brig. Gen. James St. Clair Morton | |
| Born | September 24, 1829 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | June 17, 1864 (aged 34) Petersburg, Virginia, U.S. † |
| Place of burial | Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Allegiance | United States Union |
| Service | United States Army Union Army |
| Years of service | 1851–1864 |
| Rank | Brigadier General |
| Commands | Chief Engineer Army of the Ohio, Chief Engineer Army of the Cumberland, Pioneer Brigade, Chief Engineer IX Corps |
| Battles / wars | |
James St. Clair Morton (September 24, 1829 – June 17, 1864) was an American military officer who served as chief engineer of the Army of the Ohio, the Army of the Cumberland and the XI Corps in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He led construction of key embattlements protecting Nashville, Tennessee including Fort Negley and Fortress Rosencrans. He served as major in the regular army and was promoted to brigadier general of the Pioneer Brigade in the volunteer army. Morton requested a reduction in rank from brigadier general of volunteers (but kept his rank of major in the regular army) after being reprimanded by General William Rosecrans in front of colleagues due to drunkenness in the ranks and errors in troop placement. He was killed in action during the Second Battle of Petersburg and brevetted brigadier general posthumously.