File:Sergeant George Hickman (1844-1911), U.S. Union Army.jpg

Summary

Sergeant George Hickman (1844-1911), U.S. Union Army, Independent Loudon Rangers in a painting owned by his grandson Gene Bowers.

The Independent Loudoun Virginia Rangers were the only organized body of troops from Virginia to fight for the Union Army. The command was recruited in Loudoun County and mustered into the U.S. service at Lovettsville, June 20, 1862.

The Loudon Rangers were organized as an independent command in obedience to a special order of the Hon. Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War, and was subject to his orders only. They were subsequently merged into the 8th Corps, commanded at that time by Maj. Gen. John Ellis Wood. George Hickman served as First Sergeant of Company "B" of the Rangers. He was captured by a patrol of Col. Mosby's Confederate soldiers and later returned to the Union ranks in a prisoner exchange. A history of the unit may be found in a book, "Loudoun Rangers" written by Briscoe Goodhart, a member of the Rangers, and published in 1896.

Sgt. Hickman is buried at St Paul's Parish Cemetery, Pt of Rocks, MD.

(Clipping from the Brunswick Citizen; Information)