George W. Hughes

He attended the United States Military Academy at West Point from 1823 to 1827, having been appointed by Caleb Baker, but was not commissioned and instead became a civil engineer in New York City.

In 1840, he was sent to Europe by the War Department on an inspection tour of mines, public works and military fortifications.

He was brevetted major of Topographical Engineers on April 18, 1847, for gallant and meritorious conduct during the Battle of Cerro Gordo.

He had a younger brother, Aaron Konkle Hughes, who served as a lieutenant commander in the Union Navy and retired as a rear admiral.

He served as a lieutenant in the Confederate States Army and was an assistant ordinance officer on the staff of General John B. Magruder in the District of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona.