RENO, Jesse Lee

Affiliation:  Union

Born: June 20 1823, Wheeling VA

Died: September 14 1862, South Mountain MD

Pre-War Profession: Graduated West Point 1846, Mexican war, assistant professor at West Point, ordnance board duty, arsenal commander.

War Service: January 1861 Capt., surrendered Mount Vernon arsenal, November 1861 appointed Brig. Gen. of Volunteers, commanded brigade in Burnside's Carolina expedition, Roanoke Island, New Bern, Camden, commanded 2nd Divn/Dist. of North Carolina, July 1862 promoted Maj. Gen. of Volunteers, commanded 2nd Divn/IX Corps at Second Bull Run and Chantilly, commanded IX Corps at Fox's Gap, Antietam (mw).

Post War: In the Battle of South Mountain on September 14 1862, Reno stopped directly in front of his troops as he reconnoitered the enemy's forces advancing up the road at Fox's Gap. He was shot in the chest by a rookie Union soldier from the 35th Massachusetts who mistook him for Confederate cavalry at dusk.