Rufus Saxton
Rufus Saxton | |
|---|---|
Saxton possibly during the Civil War | |
| Born | October 19, 1824 |
| Died | February 23, 1908 (aged 83) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Place of burial | |
| Allegiance | United States (Union) |
| Branch | U.S. Army (Union Army) |
| Service years | 1849–1888 |
| Rank | Brevet Major General |
| Conflicts | American Civil War |
| Awards | Medal of Honor |
Rufus Saxton (October 19, 1824 – February 23, 1908) was a Union Army brigadier general during the American Civil War who received America's highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions defending Harpers Ferry during Confederate General Jackson's Valley Campaign. He was appointed military governor of the Department of the South in May 1862 and was involved with the Port Royal Experiment.
After the war, Saxton was a strong advocate for the enfranchisement of African Americans and served as the Freedmen's Bureau's first assistant commissioner. He was removed from his position in the government agency by President Andrew Johnson. Saxton died in Washington, D.C. in 1908.