James C. Veatch
James Clifford Veatch was an Indiana state legislator and Union general during the Civil War.
Veatch was born in Elizabethtown, Indiana in 1819. He was admitted to the bar and was serving as a legislator when the Civil War began. Veatch volunteered for service in the Union army and was appointed colonel of the 25th Indiana Volunteer Infantry Regiment. He led the regiment at the battle of Fort Donelson then took command of the 4th Brigade in Stephen A. Hurlbut's division at the battle of Shiloh. Major John W. Foster noted that "Colonel Veatch acted with great courage. He was always with his brigade in the thickest of the fight." On April 28, 1862 Veatch was appointed brigadier general of volunteers. He was still in command of his brigade during the siege of Corinth and the battle of Hatchie's Bridge where he was wounded. For the next year General Veatch commanded the District of Memphis. Veatch led the 4th Division of the XVI Corps during the Meridian Expedition. His division joined William T. Sherman's forces for the Atlanta Campaign and fought at the battles of Resaca, Dallas and Kennesaw Mountain. He went on sick leave on July 17, 1864 just prior to the battle of Atlanta. When Veatch returned to active duty his former commander, Oliver O. Howard, instructed him to wait in Memphis for orders. He briefly commanded the District of West Tennessee before being assigned to the Department of the Gulf. There he assumed command of the 1st Division in Gordon Granger's XIII Corps and participated in the battle of Fort Blakely. He was brevetted to major general of volunteers in Mar 1865. After the war he worked as an IRS collector.