In doing so, Wood opened a gap in the Union lines, which contributed to the vanquishing of the Federal forces in the battle and their subsequent retreat.

[1] In 1846, Wood joined General Zachary Taylor's staff for a few months as the Mexican–American War erupted, and saw his first action at the Battle of Palo Alto on 8 May 1846.

He soon transferred at his request to U.S. 2nd Dragoons and received a brevet First Lieutenant for "gallant and meritorious conduct" at the Battle of Buena Vista in February 1847.

After the war, he served in a succession of cavalry postings on the open frontier in the American Old West, including service in the Sioux Expedition of 1855 and the Kansas Disturbances of 1856-7.

Instead of verifying his commander's actual intent, Wood elected to regard the order as imperative and moved his division out of its position.

"[6]Less than 30 minutes after Wood moved his division, Confederate Lt. Gen. James Longstreet's men poured through the resulting gap and cut Rosecrans's army in two.

Cozzens finds fault with Wood "for letting petty bitterness get the better of him" and Rosecrans for "not checking the order to make sure it reflected his intent.

"[7] Wood redeemed himself during the successful assault on Missionary Ridge in November and at the Battle of Lovejoy's Station on August 20, 1864, where despite a badly shattered leg, he stayed on the field encouraging his men.

He commanded the IV Corps of the Army of the Cumberland at the Battle of Nashville, and pursued John Bell Hood's Confederates after the Union victory.

President Abraham Lincoln appointed Wood to the grade of major general of volunteers on February 22, 1865, to rank from January 27, 1865.

Frustrated with administrative duty with the Freedmen's Bureau and the politics of Reconstruction, he retired from the service in June 1868, having achieved the same rank in the regular army.