Alfred Thomas Torbert graduated 21st in his class of 34 from the United States Military Academy. His branches of service were the infantry and cavalry.

Torbert had the distinction of being an officer in both the Union and Confederate armies at the same time. Graduating from West Point in 1855, he had been stationed on the frontier, scouted against the Indians, fought in the Seminole War and marched on the Utah Expedition before being promoted to first lieutenant of artillery in the Confederate Army. Rather than accept the appointment, he remained loyal to the Union, rendering distinguished service and earning every brevet to major general in both the volunteer and regular services.

When Torbert returned from his leave, he mustered in New Jersey volunteers, and on September 16, became colonel of the 1st New Jersey Cavalry. His regiment participated in all the major campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, including the Peninsular Campaign, Second Bull Run, and Antietam, where he was wounded. Promoted brigadier general on November 29, 1862, he later fought at Gettysburg.

In April, 1864, when the Army of the Potomac was reorganized, Torbert received command of a cavalry division under Major General Phil Sheridan. He participated in the battles of the Overland Campaign and in Sheridan's raids on Richmond and the Virginia Central Railroad. Appointed commander of the Middle Military District in August, Sheridan selected Torbert to command his cavalry.

In the 1864 Shenandoah Valley Campaign, Torbert performed unevenly, failing Sheridan during the battle of Fisher's Hill, but redeeming himself when his troopers routed Confederate cavalry at Tom's Brook. His horsemen also systematically destroyed the valley's farms and mills during the campaign. He retained his command until the war's end, briefly commanding the Army of the Shenandoah.

Torbert mustered out as brigadier general of volunteers on January 15, 1866. Reverting to his Regular Army rank of captain, he stayed in the army only until October 31, 1866. From 1865 until 1878, the veteran officer held minor diplomatic posts in Central America, Cuba, and France. After 1878, he was a businessman in Mexico. He drowned August 29, 1880 on a steamer that was wrecked off Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Also:

The Not as Famous: Gen. Alfred Jefferson Vaughn, jr.

This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web.
Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com