William Reading Montgomery

William Reading Montgomery was born in Monmouth County, New Jersey, on July 10, 1801. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, in 1825. Montgomery served first at Fort Howard, Wisconsin, in 1826; then at Jefferson Barracks Military Post Missouri in 1826‑27; on frontier duty at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in 1827‑28, and again at Jefferson Barracks in 1829‑30. After the Second Seminole War, he served in the garrison at Fort Brooke, Florida, in 1843-45 and in the military occupation of Texas in 1845-46. == Mexican–American War ==

Montgomery fought in the Mexican–American War from 1846 to 1848 as a captain of the 8th United States Infantry Regiment. and the Battle for Mexico City, resulting in the capture of Mexico City on September 13‑14, 1847. == Assignments: 1848–1855 ==

After the Mexican–American War, Montgomery was assigned to garrison duty at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri in 1848‑49; on frontier duty at Austin, Texas, in 1849 and at Camp Gates, later Fort Gates Texas in 1849-50. He served on recruiting service in 1850‑53. Montgomery was promoted to major on December 7, 1852. Historian Christopher Phillips has offered the fullest treatment of Montgomery's entanglement in the Pawnee Association, arguing against slavery politics as a precipitant for Montgomery's court martial. Rather, it stemmed from a personal dispute with an antislavery subordinate officer, Nathaniel Lyon. Eicher only states that Montgomery moved to New Jersey after his dismissal from the U.S. Army. == American Civil War ==

At the outset of the American Civil War, Montgomery organized and briefly was colonel of the 1st Regiment New Jersey Volunteer Infantry. The regiment was held in reserve at the First Battle of Bull Run. Montgomery's biographical sketch in ''Appletons' Cyclopaedia of American Biography (1888)'' states that Montgomery's regiment "aided in covering [the Union Army's] retreat from Bull Run." Sifakis, on the other hand, states that the regiment was detailed to guard areas around Arlington Heights, Virginia and Fairfax Court House, Virginia. In June 1861, near Trenton, New Jersey, Montgomery suffered rib injuries when his horse fell. Soon after the Battle of First Bull Run, Montgomery was appointed a brigadier general of volunteers to rank from May 17, 1861. Thereafter, he served in administrative positions or was awaiting orders. Montgomery was military governor of Alexandria, Virginia, September–December 1861, in command at Annapolis, Maryland, January 1862 to March 17, 1862, in command at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, April 4, 1862, to March 2, 1863; awaiting orders at Cairo, Illinois, March to October 1863 and on a military commission at Memphis, Tennessee from October 16, 1863, to March 15, 1864. Montgomery was on leave of absence from March 15 to April 4, 1864. He submitted his resignation from the Union Army, presumably due to ill health according to Warner, which was accepted on April 4. 1864. == Later life ==

After his service in the Union Army, Montgomery moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and briefly worked as a merchant in dealing wood moldings. He then retired to his home in Bristol, Pennsylvania. == Death ==

Montgomery died at Bristol, Pennsylvania, on May 31, 1871, at aged 69. He is buried at Church of St. James the Greater Cemetery at Bristol, Pennsylvania. ==See also==