Civil War Union Brevet General. He joined the Union Army with a commission of 1st Lieutenant in Company C, 75th New York Volunteer Infantry on September 17, 1861 and began field service at Fort Pickens, Florida. After the capture of New Orleans, Louisiana in April 1862 his regiment first occupied Pensacola, Florida, then was ordered to New Orleans, where it was attached to Brigadier General Godfrey Weitzel’s brigade. He was given jurisdiction over La Fourche Parish and was authorized and instructed to organize a regiment of African-American soldiers, which eventually became the 76th United States Colored Infantry. Commissioned its Colonel and commander on March 25, 1863, he eventually rose to command a brigade in the Union’s Army of West Mississippi, and led it in March-April 1865 Mobile Campaign, and the siege and capture of Fort Blakely, Alabama. He was brevetted Brigadier General, US Volunteers o March 26, 1865 for “faithful and meritorious services during the campaign against the city of Mobile and its defenses”. After Mobile he was involved in advance on Montgomery, Alabama after which he returned to New Orleans and resigned from active service on August 19, 1865. After the war General Drew made his home in Chicago, Illinois where he was an insurance executive.
Civil War Union Brevet General. He joined the Union Army with a commission of 1st Lieutenant in Company C, 75th New York Volunteer Infantry on September 17, 1861 and began field service at Fort Pickens, Florida. After the capture of New Orleans, Louisiana in April 1862 his regiment first occupied Pensacola, Florida, then was ordered to New Orleans, where it was attached to Brigadier General Godfrey Weitzel’s brigade. He was given jurisdiction over La Fourche Parish and was authorized and instructed to organize a regiment of African-American soldiers, which eventually became the 76th United States Colored Infantry. Commissioned its Colonel and commander on March 25, 1863, he eventually rose to command a brigade in the Union’s Army of West Mississippi, and led it in March-April 1865 Mobile Campaign, and the siege and capture of Fort Blakely, Alabama. He was brevetted Brigadier General, US Volunteers o March 26, 1865 for “faithful and meritorious services during the campaign against the city of Mobile and its defenses”. After Mobile he was involved in advance on Montgomery, Alabama after which he returned to New Orleans and resigned from active service on August 19, 1865. After the war General Drew made his home in Chicago, Illinois where he was an insurance executive.
Bio by: JFJN
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