56th New York Infantry - 10th Legion - NEW

Item CDV-10898

Description

56th New York Infantry - 10th Legion
Charles H. VanWyck
Colonel & General
Backmark: Bogardue - New York
Identified from New York State Military Museum
CDV is from the Mike McAfee Collection


Civil War Union Brigadier General, United States Congressman and Senator. 

He was a graduate of Rutgers College, Class of 1843. He was the Sullivan County, New York, District Attorney from 1850 to 1856, and was elected as a Republican to the 36th and 37th Congresses, serving from 1859 to 1863.  

On February 22, 1861, Rep. Van Wyck survived an assassination attempt in Washington, D.C., apparently motivated by an anti-slavery speech he had given on the floor of the House. He fought off the attack; a book and paper in his breast pocket blocked the Bowie knife. 

After his term, he entered the Union Army as Colonel of the 56th Regiment, New York Volunteers, and commanded it during the Civil War. He was brevetted Brigadier General for services during the war and elected to the Fortieth Congress, serving from 1867 to 1869. 

He moved to Nebraska in 1874 and was elected as a Republican to the United States Senate, serving from 1881 to 1887.
 
Source:   Find a Grave.