
Gershom Mott (7 April 1822-29 November 1884) was a Union Army Major-General who served in the American Civil War.
Biography[]
Gershom Mott was born in Lamberton, New Jersey in 1822, the grandson of Captain John Mott. He worked as a dry goods clerk in New York City before serving in the US Army during the Mexican-American War, and he later became a banker in Bordentown. Mott became colonel of the 5th New Jersey Infantry Regiment at the start of the American Civil War, fighting in the Peninsula Campaign before coming to command the 6th New Jersey Infantry Regiment. Mott was severely wounded at the Second Battle of Bull Run and promoted to Major-General, and he returned to the Army of the Potomac just after the Battle of Fredericksburg and led a brigade at the Battle of Chancellorsville. He was again seriously wounded and missed out on the Battle of Gettysburg, but he returned for the Bristoe campaign and the Battle of Mine Run. Mott held a divisional command during the Overland Campaign, and his division was routed during the Battle of the Wilderness and the Battle of Spotsylvania, causing its dissolution. Mott returned to brigade command during the Siege of Petersburg, and he was one of the few Union officers to be commended for their role at the Battle of the Crater. He was promoted to Major-General on 1 December 865, and he became a railroad executive and banker before serving as state treasurer in 1875, warden of the State Prison, and commander of the state national guard. He died in 1884.