Hugh Judson Kilpatrick

Hugh Judson Kilpatrick
Brig. Gen. Judson Kilpatrick between circa 1863 and circa 1865
United States Minister to Chile
In office
July 25, 1881 – December 4, 1881
PresidentJames Garfield
Chester Arthur
Preceded byThomas A. Osborn
Succeeded byCornelius Ambrose Logan
In office
March 12, 1866 – August 3, 1870
PresidentAndrew Johnson
Ulysses S. Grant
Preceded byThomas H. Nelson
Succeeded byJoseph Pomeroy Root
Personal details
Born(1836-01-14)January 14, 1836
Wantage Township, near Deckertown, New Jersey, U.S. (now Sussex Borough)
DiedDecember 4, 1881(1881-12-04) (aged 45)
Santiago, Chile
Political partyRepublican
Military service
AllegianceUnited States of America
Union
Branch/serviceUnited States Army
Union Army
Years of service1861–1865
Rank Major General
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War

Hugh Judson Kilpatrick (January 14, 1836 – December 4, 1881) was an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War, achieving the rank of brevet major general. He was later the United States Minister to Chile and an unsuccessful candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives.

Nicknamed "Kilcavalry" (or "Kill-Cavalry") for using tactics in battle that were considered as recklessly disregarding the lives of soldiers under his command, Kilpatrick was both praised for the victories he achieved, and despised by Southerners whose homes and towns he devastated.