Franklin S. Nickerson

Who was Franklin S. Nickerson?

Franklin Stillman Nickerson was a Union general during the American Civil War. He primarily served in the Department of the Gulf.

Nickerson was born in Swanville, Maine in 1826. He graduated from the East Corinth Academy in Maine and practiced law. He worked as a U.S. Customs agent prior to the Civil War.

In 1861 Nickerson joined the 4th Maine Volunteer Regiment as a major. He fought at the first Battle of Bull Run where he was commended by Oliver O. Howard. He became lieutenant colonel, then colonel of the 14th Maine Volunteer Regiment and was sent to Louisiana. He fought in the Battle of Baton Rouge and was subsequently promoted to brigadier general of volunteers on November 29, 1862.

General Nickerson took command of the 3rd Brigade in General Thomas W. Sherman's 2nd Division of the Army of the Gulf. He led the brigade at the siege of Port Hudson. On May 28 Generals Sherman and Dow were wounded in the Union assault across the Slaughter Field, but Nickerson being the ranking officer in the division wasn't notified until later in the day. Therefore the division briefly fought leaderless.