Forty-Six Years in the Army (Esprios Classics)

John McAllister Schofield (1831-1906) was an American soldier who held major commands during the American Civil War. He later served as US. Secretary of War under Presidents Andrew Johnson and Ulysses S. Grant, and Commanding General of the United States Army. When the Civil War broke out, Schofield helped assure Missouri did not join the Confederacy. He became a major in the 1st Missouri Infantry Regiment and served as chief of staff to Maj. Gen. Nathaniel Lyon until Lyon's death during the Battle of Wilson's Creek (Missouri) in August 1861. Schofield acted with "conspicuous gallantry" during the battle, and decades later received the Medal of Honor for that action.