Col. Josiah Wolcott Bissell (May 12, 1818 – November 30, 1891) was a Union Army officer during the American Civil War that commanded the Engineer Regiment of the West.

[5] During the war, Bissell's regiment would get attached to Gen. Pope's army as well as work along the Mississippi river, even superintending the construction of the canal that allowed Union gunboats to enter the Battle of Island Number Ten.

[1][6][7] Despite receiving numerous accolades and participating in both the Siege of Corinth and the Vicksburg Campaign, Bissell's nomination to the rank of Brigadier General in April 1862 was tabled by the U.S. Senate.

His subordinates described his manner as tyrannical and superiors, such as then Major General Ulysses S. Grant who believed he leaked information to the Memphis Press in April 1863, disliked Bissell.

[4][8] In 1863, with the threat of an insubordination charge and dishonorable discharge looming over him, Bissell submitted his resignation, in protest of what he considered was mistreatment by his superiors, which was accepted June 2 of that year.