WEITZEL, vit'sel, Gornei:EY (1835-81 ). An American soldier, born in Cincinnati, Ohio. lie graduated at \Vest Point in 1855, and was as signed to the corps of engineers. In April, 1861, on the outbreak of the Civil War, he war 34 sent to aid in the defense of Fort Pickens, Florida. in February, 1862, he became chief engineer on the staff of General ]huller, with AN'houi lie was sta tioned for some time at New Orleans. In Au gust, 1862, lie was raised to the rank of brigadier general of volunteers, and from October, 1862, to April, 1863, lie commanded in the Lafourche campaign. in April and May. 1863, he com manded General lianks's adlvanc•e guard, and later commanded a division at the siege of Port Hud son, where his gallantry earned him the brevet of lieutCllant-col onel in the Regular Army. Dur ing May, 1864, he commanded a division before Richmond, was then appointed chief engineer of the Army of the James, and constructed the forti fications at Bermuda hundred, Tames Liver, and Deep Bottom. From September to December,
1864, he commanded the Eighteenth Army Corps. He was second in command of the first Fort Fisher expedition, and was then given command of all the troops north of the Appomattox River. On April 3, 1865, he occupied Richmond. On March 13, 1865, he was brevetted brigadier-general and in the Regular Army, and soon afterwards he was assigned to the command of the Rio Grande District in Texas. On March 1, 1866, lie was mustered out of the volunteer ser vice and was commissioned major of engineers. From that time until his death he was employed in the construction of fortifications and in river and harbor improvements. Ile was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel of engineers in 1882.