Cyrus Bussey

Cyrus Bussey (October 5, 1833 – March 2, 1915) was an American soldier and politician, serving as a major general in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

Early life and career
Bussey was born in Hubbard, Ohio, in 1833. His father, Reverend A. Bussey, was a Methodist minister. He moved with his father, in 1837, to Indiana. At age 14, Bussey began working, as a clerk, in a dry-goods store, and at age 15, he started his own mercantile business. He began studying medicine, at age 18, but realized that he did not want to go into that profession. In 1855, Bussey moved to Davis County, Iowa, and began another business. It was here that his political career would begin.

Political career
He early became interested in politics, entered the Iowa Senate as a Democrat. In 1860, he was a delegate to the Baltimore convention, which nominated Stephen A. Douglas for President.

American Civil War
He served throughout the Civil War. During the Siege of Vicksburg, he was the Chief of Cavalry for Ulysses S. Grant's army. Late in the war, in 1865, Bussey commanded the Third Division of the Seventh Army Corps, with the rank of brevet major general.

For some time after the war, he carried on a commission business in St. Louis and New Orleans. Bussey was appointed Assistant Secretary of the Interior from 1889 to 1893. Afterwards, he practiced law. He was commander of the District of Columbia Commandery, Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States in 1911 and 1912.