capital throughout the Civil War. One of
his most important decisions was to seize
and fortify the southern bank of the
Potomac, especially Arlington Heights,
without waiting for orders and over Gen-
eral Scott’s objections.
In August 1861, Mansfield was assigned
to the Department of Virginia, first com-
manding a brigade at Norfolk, then a divi-
sion at Suffolk. It was essentially occupa-
tion duty, boring and routine, except for
one dramatic moment. While on duty at
Newport News, Virginia, on March 8,
1862, Mansfield witnessed one of the great
moments in naval history when the iron-
clad CSS Virginia(better known as the
Merrimack) savaged the Union fleet, sink-
ing the USS Cumberlandand capturing the
USS Congress.Personally directing the
shore batteries and the riflemen of the 20th
Indiana Volunteers, Mansfield ran between
the exposed positions with his white head
bared, inspiring his men and helping to res-
cue Cumberland’s survivors. The encounter
was not without some risk, as Mansfielddescribed in a letter to his wife: “I came
very near being killed again. I had just dis-
mounted & stepped into my room to write
a telegram to Genl Wool when a large shell
from the Merrimacwent through smash-
ing everything before it & knocking downmy chimney & stopped just behind my
chair as I was writing. Fortunately it did
not burst & I was saved again.”
Mansfield was serving as military gover-
nor of Norfolk when Maj. Gen. George
McClellan selected him to command XIILibrary of Congress
At the Battle of Monterrey in the Mexican War, Mansfield’s skill as an engineer contributed mightily to General
Zachary Taylor’s victory.Visit Camp Wildcat
Civil War Battlefield!Located on the old
“Wilderness Road”
Laurel County, KY
A beautiful and well-preserved
Civil War Battlefield.
It still has many original trenches
that are still intact!London-Laurel County Tourist Commission
1-800-348-
http://www.laurelkytourism.comDon’t Miss the
Reenactment!
October 14-16, 2016CWQ-Sum16 Soldiers *missing London Laurel_Layout 1 4/22/16 10:56 AM Page 11