Ferdinand Van Derveer

Ferdinand Van Derveer

Name: Ferdinand Van Derveer
Allegiance: USA
Rank: Colonel
Age: 40
State of Origin: Ohio
Command: Third Brigade, Third Division, XIV Corps, Army of the Cumberland

Biography:
Ferdinand Van Derveer was born in Middletown, Ohio on Febuary 27, 1823. He grew up and was educated in Butler County Ohio. He went to law school at Farmer’s College and started a practice in his hometown.  Van Derveer was a lawyer and a homebody at heart and at any opportunity went back to his law practice at home. 

Soon after he started his law practice, the Mexican War broke out and Van Derveer served as first sergeant, then first lieutenant, and finally captain of the 1st Ohio Volunteers. He was personally involved in the storming of Monterrey. After the Mexican War was over, Van Derveer returned home to his practice. While at home he also served as the local county sheriff. He became colonel of the 35th Ohio on September 24, 1861. During this term of service, he was involved in the siege of Corinth, the battles at both Perryville and Murfreesboro, and he was brigade commander at Chickamauga. Van Derveer was known by General Thomas as a good leader and disciplinarian.

At Chickamauga Van Derveer’s men experienced the fiercer fighting than they had witnessed in the first two years of service. On September 20th, Van Derveer and his men were invaluable to the defense of Horseshoe Ridge. The “Persimmons” possibly fired the last shots at the battle of Chickamauga. They defended against 3 waves of Confederates starting at 2 PM and holding Horseshoe Ridge till 7 PM when ordered to withdraw. It was Chickamauga that marked Van Derveer’s men as true veterans. 

His men were directly involved in the Atlanta campaign up to and including the battle of Peachtree Creek, though he was on sick leave starting June 27 of 1864. He was discharged in August 26 1864. In January of 1865 he was reappointed to the military with the rank of brigadier general of volunteers. His service as brigadier general was of a IV Corps brigade near Huntsville Alabama. When the IV Corps was reduced, he resigned. Van Derveer was well praised for his leadership.

General Van Derveer returned home to his law practice after the war and presided over the court of common pleas for many years. He died November 5, 1892 and is buried in Greenwood Cemetery. 

Author: Noah Hinton, March 3, 2015

Further Reading:
Warner, Ezra J. Generals in Blue: Lives of the Union Commanders. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1964.
Fugitt, Greg. "Reliable but never flashy, the 35th Ohio Infantry Regiment took pride in its indomitable performance at Chickamauga." America's Civil War 12, no. 6 (March 2000): 8.