Samuel Simpson was born on December 7, 1830, in St. Louis, Missouri; with the outbreak of the Civil War, he enlisted as a first lieutenant and served as adjutant of the 3rd U. S. Reserve Corps, Missouri Infantry. Promoted to lieutenant colonel of the 12th Missouri State Militia Cavalry in April 1862, Simpson resigned that September to become lieutenant colonel of the 31st Missouri Infantry.

The 31st was consolidated with the 32nd Missouri Infantry and assumed the designation of 31st and 32nd Missouri Consolidated Battalion, under Simpson’s command. In January 1865 he was appointed adjutant general of Missouri and resigned as battalion commander. On March 13, 1865, Simpson was given a brevet promotion to the rank of brigadier general of volunteers for his meritorious service.

After the war, he pursued a career as a merchant and postal employee. Simpson died on August 3, 1905, at Leavenworth, Kansas.

Carte-de-Visite by John A. Scholten, St. Louis, Mo.

Image Courtesy Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield; WICR 11669