Daniel Bissell (general)

Daniel Bissell (1768 – December 14, 1833) was an American soldier and administrator. Born in Connecticut, he was a fifer in the Connecticut militia during the American Revolutionary War.

His career as a commissioned officer in the United States Army began when was commissioned an ensign in the First Infantry Regiment on 11 April 1792 and was promoted to lieutenant on 3 January 1794 and to captain on January 1799.

With the expansion of the Army in 1808 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel of the 1st Infantry Regiment on 18 August 1808. On May 20, 1809, he took command of Fort Belle Fontaine, the first military fort west of the Mississippi River.

On 15 August 1812 he was appointed to command the 5th Infantry Regiment with the rank of colonel.

Bissell served with distinction during the War of 1812 and was promoted to brigadier general on 9 March 1814. He commanded U.S. forces at the Battle of Cook's Mills on 19 October 1814. This minor battle was one of the few American land victories of the war.

After the war, there were large reductions in the strength of the Army. As a result, Bissell was reverted to the rank of colonel and assigned to command of the 1st Infantry Regiment. In recognition of his wartime service he was given a brevet (honorary promotion) to the rank of brigadier general. He was honorably discharged from the Army on 1 June 1821 after 29 years of continuous military service.

General Bissell died at age 65 in St. Louis, Missouri, and was buried at Bellefontaine Cemetery.

His St. Louis home is now owned by St. Louis County and is run as an historical attraction.

General Bissell should not be confused with Sergeant Daniel Bissell who received the Badge of Military Merit during the American Revolution.