American Historical Ephemera & Photography

21 1/2 x 25 1/4 in. oil painting on canvas of General Orlando B. Willcox in uniform, framed, 27 1/2 x 31 1/4 in. (some edge and corner wear to frame). Unsigned.
 
Born in Detroit, Orlando Bolivar Willcox (1823-1907) was a celebrated career United States Army officer who graduated from West Point in 1847 and dedicated nearly 40 years' service to his country before retiring as a regular brigadier general in 1887. Willcox served initially in the 4th Artillery during the later stages of the Mexican War, fighting Indians on the Great Plains and during the Third Seminole War before resigning in 1857 to pursue a law career.
 
Near the start of the Civil War in July 1861, Willcox participated at First Bull Run, where, as colonel, he commanded a brigade consisting of his own 1st Michigan Infantry and the famous 11th NY (Ellsworth’s) Fire Zouaves and “led repeated charges until wounded and taken prisoner.” Willcox later received a Medal of Honor for “distinguished gallantry” at First Bull Run (March 1895). 

Subsequently, Willcox was held at Richmond, Charleston and Columbia, SC, before being exchanged in August 1862 and promoted to brigadier general retroactive to 21 July 1861 (Bull Run). Afterward, Willcox was given command of a division in fellow 1847 classmate Ambrose Burnside’s Corps and fought steadily at Antietam and Fredericksburg. In 1863 he commanded the District of Indiana and Michigan before returning to divisional command for the grueling Knoxville Campaign.
 
Once more under Burnside, he led his division during Grant’s Overland Campaign receiving a brevet promotion to major general in August 1864 for “actions after crossing the Rapidan.” General Willcox commanded the first troops to enter Petersburg following the lengthy siege.
 
Willcox was twice brevetted in 1867 for his Civil War service (Spotsylvania and Petersburg) and reverted to colonel of the 12th Infantry in March 1869. Toward the end of his stellar career Willcox took command of the Department of the Arizona and “effectively suppressed the raids of the Apache Indians, and for his service in this conjunction received a vote of thanks form the Arizona Legislature.” Willcox was promoted to brigadier general, Regular Army in October 1886 and was placed on the statutory retirement list in April 1887. Willcox was among the last of the army’s surviving high-profile Civil War officers when he died at age 84 on 11 May 1907. The general is buried at Arlington (Section 1, Grave 18).