b. Lima, New York, April 2, 1833
d. Stamford, Connecticut, June 3, 1907

Gen. Thomas Ruger was a career military officer who rose from colonel of the 3rd Wisconsin Infantry to major general in the U.S. Army during the Civil War.

Early Years

Ruger was born in upstate New York and moved to Janesville, Wisconsin, in 1844 with his family. He was educated at West Point, graduated in 1854, and served briefly in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In 1855 he returned to Janesville and opened a law office.

Civil War Service

After the attack on Fort Sumter in April 1861, Ruger immediately enlisted and was quickly appointed colonel of the 3rd Infantry. In August, the infantry traveled to Washington, D.C. The following spring it fought at Winchester and in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia. During the summer of 1862 Ruger led his troops through the battles of Cedar Mountain, Second Bull Run, and Antietam, where he was wounded.

Ruger was promoted to brigadier general in November 1862. The next year, he led his command through the battles at Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. In August 1863 he took his brigade to New York City to suppress anti-draft riots. In 1864 Ruger's brigade helped capture Atlanta, and he commanded an entire division during the battles of Franklin and Nashville in November and December 1864. Ruger was brevetted a major general for his service at Franklin.

He was mustered out of volunteer service, September 1, 1866, having been reappointed a colonel in the regular army the previous July. Ruger remained in the regular army until his retirement, April 2, 1897.

Links to Learn More

• Biographical Sketch

  by E.B. Quiner on pages 981-983 of his book, "Military History of Wisconsin" (Chicago, 1866)

• View Original Documents Related to Col. Ruger

[Source: Quiner, E.B. The Military History of Wisconsin (Chicago, 1866); Dictionary of Wisconsin Biography (Madison, 1965).]