General John
Morrison Oliver 4thand 15th Michigan A cabinet
card of Oliver front marked Cary, Penn Yan, NY.
When the Civil War began he joined the 4th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment as a
private. He rose to captain in that regiment before being appointed colonel of
the 15th Michigan on March 13, 1862. He led his regiment at Shiloh and commanded the 2nd Brigade, 6th Division
during the siege and battle of Corinth. He returned to
command the 15th Michigan during the siege of Vicksburg where he
was part of the XVI Corps. He briefly commanded the 2nd
Brigade, 4th Division, XV Corps and was transferred to
Chattanooga in the wake of Ulysses Grant's victory there in
1863. Oliver was back in command of his regiment during William T. Sherman's preparations
for the advance against
Atlanta, but once the campaign got underway Oliver was in command of the 3rd
Brigade, 4th Division, XV Corps. He briefly led the 1st Brigade, 4th Division
at the battle of
Jonesborough. During the March to the Sea, Oliver
commanded the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, XV Corps. His was one of the brigades
that assaulted
Fort McAllister in December. On January 12, 1865, he was promoted
to brigadier general of
volunteers. He was at the battle of
Bentonville, though his brigade did not see much action. He received
a brevet promotion to major
general of volunteers on March 13, 1865, and was in command of the 2nd
Division, XV Corps at the close of the war. He was mustered out of the
volunteer service on August 24, 1865.