History of Scarborough, (Westchester County) New York United States of America

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George Webb Morell, soldier, was born in Cooperstown, N.Y., Jan. 8, 1815; son of Judge George and Maria (Webb) Morell. He was graduated at the U.S. Military academy first in the class of 1835, and was assigned to the corps of engineers. He was promoted 2d lieutenant, Oct., 31, 1826, and resigned from the army, June 30, 1837, to become assistant engineer in the construction of the Charleston and Cincinnati railroad. In 1838-39 he held a similar position on the Michigan Central railroad. He removed to New York city in 1840, and was admitted to the bar in 1842. He was appointed major of the 4th New York volunteers, July 23, 1846, raised for service in the Mexican war, but the regiment was never mustered in. He was division engineer, 1st division, N.Y.S.M., with the rank of major, 1849-52, and with the rank of colonel, 1852-61. He was commissioner of the U.S. circuit court for the southern district of New York, 1854-61. He was appointed inspector, 1st division, N.Y.S.M., April 15, 1861, and colonel on the staff of General Sanford, N.Y.S.M., organizing regiments and forwarding them to the seat of war, April to May. 1861. He was promoted brigadier-general of volunteers, Aug. 9, 1861; served in the defense of Washington, 1861-62; with the Army of the Potomac in the Peninsula campaign, and commanded a brigade in the skirmish at Howard's bridge, April 4, 1862, and the seige of Yorktown, April to May, 1862. He commanded the 1st division's Hancock's 5th corps, in the capture of Hanover Court House; at Beaver Dam Creek; at Gainses's Mill, where he opposed Longstreet's right; and at Malvern Hill, where he led the advance, Berden's sharpshooters opening the battle. He was promoted major-general of volunteers, July 4, 1862, but the nomination not being made to the senate, it expired March 4, 1863. He took part under General Porter, occupying the extreme left in the battle of Manassas, Aug. 30, 1862; in the battle of Antietam, Sept. 17, 1862, pursued Lee's retreating army, and on the 20th was driven back from the heights of the river bank near Shepherdstown; and he commanded the troops guarding the upper Potomac, October to December, 1862. He was on waiting orders at Washington, 1862-63; in command of draft rendezvous at Indianapolis, Ind., 1863-64, and was mustered out of the service, Dec. 15, 1864. He was married in 1864 to Catherine Schermerhorn, daughter of the Rev. William Creighton, D.D., and engaged in farming at Scarborough, N.Y. He was a member of the Society of the Cincinnati, of the Union club, and of the Society of the Army of the Potomac. He died at Scarborough, N.Y., Feb. 12, 1883.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Scarborough, (Westchester County) New York

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