1828 Nov 14 James B. McPherson born to William R. and Cynthia Russell McPherson at Clyde, Ohio, then known as Hamer's Corners.

1835 Attended school at log house located in what is today McPherson Cemetery.

1841 Began working in the store of Robert Smith in Green Springs, Ohio.

1844 Joined the Methodist Church at Clyde, Ohio.

1847 William R. McPherson, his father, died at Clyde, Ohio.

1848-49 Attended Norwalk Academy, Norwalk, Ohio.

1849 Entered United States Military Academy at West Point, New York.

1850 Promoted to Corporal.

1853 Graduated from the United States Military Academy as the Class of 1853's "Honor Man." Promoted to Brevet Second Lieutenant.

1854 Promoted to Second Lieutenant, Corps of Engineers.
1853-54 Associate Instructor of Engineering at the United States Military Academy.

1854-57 Assigned to develop New York Harbor fortifications.

1858-61 Assigned to Pacific coast fortifications at Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay.

1858 Promoted to First Lieutenant.

1859 Met Emily Hoffman of Baltimore, who was visiting her sister in San Francisco.

1861 Aug Returned east from Alcatraz via Panama to Boston. Promoted to Captain.

1861 Nov Promoted to Lt. Colonel and Aide-de-Camp to Gen. Henry Halleck at St. Louis.

1862 Jan Assigned to General Ulysses S. Grant's staff as Chief Engineer.

1862 Feb Forts Henry and Donelson Campaign.

1862 May Battle of Shiloh. Promoted to Colonel, Aide-de-Camp.

1862 May Promoted to Brigadier General of Volunteers. Command of Engineers Brigade Army of the Tennessee at Iuka.

1862 Oct Promoted to Major General of Volunteers.

1863 May Led the Right Wing, XIII Corps, and the XVII Corps during the Vicksburg Campaign. 1863 Jly Promoted to Commander of the Vicksburg Military District, Occupation Forces, and XVII Corps.

1863 Aug Promoted to Brigadier General, U.S. Army.

1864 Feb Meridian Campaign. 1864 Mar Left Vicksburg on first furlough of the war to marry Emily Hoffman. Recalled before he could marry to take command of the Army of the Tennessee at Huntsville, Alabama.

1864 May Opened the Atlanta Campaign. Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain, Chattahoochee River, Decatur, Peach Tree Creek, Battle of Atlanta.

1864 Jly 22 Killed during the opening clashes of the Battle of Atlanta. Gen. John A. Logan took immediate command of the Army of the Tennessee, rallying the men with the battle cry "McPherson and Revenge!" Hood suffered 8500 casualties to Logan's 3500 in a desperate twelve-hour struggle.

1864 Jly 29 Funeral and burial at McPherson Cemetery in Clyde, Ohio.

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