Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography/Wheaton, Frank

WHEATON, Frank, soldier, b. in Providence, R. I., 8 May, 1833. He was educated in common schools, became a civil engineer,and engaged in California and in the Mexican boundary surveys from 1850 till he was commissioned 1st lieutenant in the 1st U. S. cavalry, 3 March, 1855. He served at Jefferson barracks, Mo., and in Kansas until 1856, and in the field against Cheyenne Indians till 1857, being in action near Fort Kearny, Neb. He was on the Utah expedition till August, 1858, on duty with his regiment in the Indian territory, and then on recruiting service till July, 1861, having been promoted captain in March. He received permission to accept the commission of lieutenant-colonel of the 2d Rhode Island volunteers in July, 1861, became colonel in the same month, and took part in the battle of Bull Run, also serving in the principal engagements of the Army of the Potomac, including the peninsula and Maryland campaigns. He was appointed brigadier-general of volunteers in November, 1869, commanding a brigade during the operations of the same army in 1863-'4, and then a division of the 6th corps, distinguishing himself in the operations in the Shenandoah valley in 1864, and those that culminated in the surrender at Appomattox in 1865. He was brevetted major-general of volunteers for gallant and meritorious services at the Opequan, Fisher's Hill, and Middletown, Va., and received brevets in the regular army to the grade of major-general for the battles of the Wilderness, Cedar Creek, and Petersburg, respectively. He became lieutenant-colonel of the 39th infantry, 28 July, 1866, was transferred to the 21st infantry in March, 1869, and promoted colonel of the 2d infantry, 15 Dec., 1874. Since the war Gen. Wheaton has held commands in Dakota, Montana, and Nebraska. In July, 1866, he was presented with a sword by his native state for gallant services in the above-mentioned battles.