Alfred Thomas Archimedes Torbert was a gallant and distinguished Union officer during the Civil War who rose to major general. A strict disciplinarian attentive to his troops' needs, he earned their respect and admiration. After graduating from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1855, he served on the frontier in New Mexico, Texas, Florida, Utah, and at Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis. Returning East in late January 1861 as Southern states began to secede, he was promoted to first lieutenant in the 5th U.S. Infantry effective February 25, 1861, and though notified that the Confederate Congress had nominated and confirmed him as a first lieutenant of artillery to rank from March 16, 1861, he declined and remained loyal to the Union. Assigned to Camp Olden near Trenton, New Jersey, he reported on April 17, 1861, as mustering officer to prepare and train New Jersey volunteers for war. Seeking combat after six months, he was appointed colonel of the 1st New Jersey volunteer regiment on September 16, 1861, and led it in the Peninsular Campaign at Yorktown, West Point, Gaines Mill, and Charles City Cross Roads. At Second Manassas in August 1862, after his brigade commander was mortally wounded, he assumed command and then led the 1st New Jersey Brigade, 6th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac at Second Manassas, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Gettysburg. Wounded at South Mountain on September 14, 1862, his gallant conduct and leadership brought promotion to brigadier general of volunteers on November 29, 1862. During the Army of the Potomac's reorganization in April 1864, he was transferred to the 1st Cavalry Division and led cavalrymen at the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Hawes' Shop, Cold Harbor, Trevilian Station, and many other engagements; from March to April 1864 he also led the 1st Division, 6th Army Corps. On August 8, 1864, General Sheridan appointed him chief of cavalry of the Middle Military Division, commanding more than 10,000 men, and he was promoted to major general of volunteers on September 9, 1864. His cavalry's envelopment of Early's left flank secured victory at the 3rd battle of Winchester on September 19, 1864. Sheridan criticized him for allowing Early to escape after Fisher's Hill on September 22, 1864, though the account holds that Sheridan's division and positioning of the cavalry made that escape probable. At Tom's Brook on October 9, 1864, his cavalry severely defeated the cavalry of Generals Rosser and Lomax. At Cedar Creek on October 19, 1864, when Early's pre-dawn attack surprised Sheridan's army, Torbert's calm and resolute action helped avert disaster as his cavalry fought repeated Confederate attacks and took the vital Valley Pike road to Winchester. After Sheridan arrived from Winchester and rallied his troops, the cavalry under Torbert moved onto Early's line of retreat and literally destroyed his army, ending it as a viable fighting force in the Shenandoah Valley. For gallant and meritorious services at Cedar Creek, he was brevetted brigadier general in the U.S. Army on March 13, 1865. After a leave of absence, he returned and commanded the Army of the Shenandoah from February to July 1865. During the war he received every brevet through major general in both the regular and volunteer services for gallant meritorious services, mustered out of the volunteer service on January 15, 1866, and resigned his regular army commission on October 31, 1866 after an illustrious military career.