PLEASONTON, pleeon-t on. ALFRED ( 1824 :17). An American soldier, born in Washington, I. Ile graduated at \Vest Point in 1844, and was assigned to the dragoons, with whom be served on time frontier and in Mexico. In 1855 he was promoted to a captaincy, and in Feb ruary. 1862, was Imromotedl to be major in time Second Cavalry, and participated in the Penin sular campaign. his command covering the re treat of the Federal army to Yorktown (August 18-19. 1862). He was commissioned brigadier general of volunteers in July, 1862. and during the succeeding Maryland campaign he emmnanded the advanee cavalry division. In the battles of South Mountain and Antietam his troops took eonspienous part. Ile participated in the battle of Fredericksburg, and at Chancellorsville espe cially distinguished himself by ebeeking the flank attack of the Confederates on the Federal right.
On June 7, 1863, he was given command of the cavalry corps of the -Army of the Potomac, which he led in the Pennsylvania campaign that ter minated at Oettysburg (July 1.3, 1863), where, on July 2d. he was brevetted eolonel in the Regular Army for gallant and meritorious ser vices. The next year he was transferred to the West. where he defeated General Price at Thlrais des-Cygnes (October 25, 186-0, and drove the Confederates out of Missouri. Ile as brevetted major-general in the Regular Army in 1S65, and on January 15, 1866. was mustered out of the volunteer service with rank of major-general. Two years later he resigned from the army. and after holding the positions of collector of inter nal revenue and commissioner, beenme, in 1871, president of the Terre Haute and Cincinnati Rail road.