Position at Antietam
Commander, Twelfth Corps, Army of the Potomac (Age 58 at the battle)
Personal
1803-1862 Connecticut
Born in New Haven, CT. In 1838 he married Louisa Maria Mather in Middletown, Connecticut. Three children (a fourth died in infancy). Son Samuel was a 2nd Lieutenant at the time of Antietam.
Education
Entered West Point when he was fourteen and graduated second in a class of forty in 1822.
Mexican War
Received a brevet promotion to major for action at Fort Brown Texas, on May 9, 1846. He was wounded in the leg at the Battle of Monterrey, and received a brevet promotion to lieutenant colonel for his actions there. He was appointed a brevet colonel for the Battle of Buena Vista in 1847.
Other military career highlights
In 1853, received an appointment to the post of Inspector General, a job that required him to visit fortifications in all parts of the country, necessitating his being away from home for more than a year at a time. In 1861, at the outbreak of the Civil War, he earned a promotion to brigadier general and took charge of the defenses of Washington.
Civilian career highlights
N/A
Civil War
Mansfield commanded the Department of Washington April 27 – August 17, 1861; stationed at Hatteras Inlet, North Carolina, in October, 1861. He was a brigade commander in the Department of Virginia from March to June, 1862. His only combat activity during this period was the firing of coastal batteries from Hampton Roads against the ironclad CSS Virginia in its naval battle against the USS Monitor on March 9. Until the fall of 1862, Mansfield commanded the Suffolk Division of the Seventh Corps of the Department of Virginia in the vicinity of Suffolk. During the Maryland Campaign, Mansfield was given command of the Twelfth Corps of the Army of the Potomac, as of September 15, 1862.
Postwar
N/A
Death
Mortally wounded September 17, 1862 in the East Woods; died September 18, 1862.
Quotes
“He arrived in the camp with 40 years of army experience, but no recent combat. He was white-haired and white-bearded, but had a vigorous manner that belied his age. His officers considered him nervous and fussy, but his men, many of whom were new recruits, liked him well enough due to his shows of blustery enthusiasm and fatherly assurance.” The Latin Library
“A calm and dignified old gentleman, was the personification of vigor, dash, and enthusiasm.” Twelfth Corps soldier on the arrival of Gen. Mansfield
“Visibly swelled before our eyes; his face flamed out with fiery ardor, and his whole figure and his every movement seemed filled with a sort of terrible passion. He pervaded all places of danger, and everywhere put himself in the forefront of the battle…I never yet have seen a man so regardless of his personal safety or so eager to imperil it.” Pope describing Brevet Major Joseph Mansfield in battle who commanded Taylor’s Engineer Detachment in Mexico
“That’s right boys, cheer – we’re going to whip them today…Boys, we’re going to lick them today!” Mansfield to his men as he rode up to the East Woods, Sep 17, 1862
“Something about the old soldier, with his air of competence and his unexpected mixture of stiff military dignity and youthful fire and vigor, had aroused their enthusiasm during the two days he had been with them.” Bruce Catton describing Mansfield “I begged to be allowed to deploy in two rows, not twenty. I could not move him.” Alpheus Williams arguing with Mansfield to deploy the units in lines, not columns, at Antietam
“He had a nervous temperament and very impatient manner.” Williams describing his commander at Antietam