Ranald S. Mackenzie

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Ranald Slidell Mackenzie (July 27, 1840 – January 19, 1889) was called the most promising young officer in the entire Union army. He was famous for his service in the American Civil War and the following Indian Wars.

Mackenzie was born in Westchester County, New York, the nephew of Confederate States of America diplomat John Slidell and the brother of Lt. Commander Alexander Slidell MacKenzie, U.S. Navy. He graduated from West Point at the head of his class in 1862 and immediately joined the Union forces already fighting in the Civil War. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers and served in the battles of Second Bull Run, Antietam, Gettysburg, and through the Overland Campaign in 1864. He was appointed colonel of the 2nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery, which served as infantry during the assaults on Petersburg, where he was wounded. This incident, in which he lost two fingers, was the probable cause for his nickname, "Bad Hand". He moved with the VI Corps when it opposed Early's Washington Raid. He was given command of the 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, VI Corps and was again wounded at the Battle of Cedar Creek. Upon his recovery, he was appointed brigadier general of volunteers and assumed command of the Cavalry Division in the Army of the James, which he led at the battles of Five Forks and Appomattox Courthouse. He was appointed brevet major general of volunteers in 1865 for services in the Shenandoah Valley Campaign. Mackenzie was known for his harsh discipline and was not well liked by troops serving under him, who called him the "Perpetual Punisher". However, he was respected by his peers and superiors for his skill and abilities, prompting General Ulysses S. Grant to refer to him as the "most promising young officer" in the entire Union army.

After the Civil War, Mackenzie stayed in the regular army and served in the West during the Indian Wars. He was appointed colonel in the regular army in 1867 in the 41st U.S. Infantry (later 24th U.S. Infantry - one of the Buffalo Soldier regiments) and fought against the Apache Indians in the Southwest. On February 25, 1871, he commanded the 4th U.S. Cavalry. He fought in the Red River War, routing a combined Indian force at the Battle of Palo Duro Canyon. In 1876, he defeated the Cheyenne in the Dull Knife Fight, which helped bring about the end of the Black Hills War. In 1882, he was appointed brigadier general. Following a fall from a wagon at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, in which he injured his head, he began to show signs of mental instability and was retired from the Army on March 24, 1884.