Civil War Union Major General. He graduated from West Point an officer in the infantry in 1822 and served the Dragoons. Stationed at Fort Dearborn (Chicago, IL) from 1829-1831 and remained in Illinois. In 1842, he was appointed the post of Paymaster of the Army and after the election of Abraham Lincoln to President, he was in charge of the escort of Lincoln to Washington D.C. At the start of the Civil War, he was Colonel in command of the 3rd US Cavalry when promoted Brigadier General of the Department of Washington. In August, 1862, he was promoted Major General commander of the Western Department. He helped organize the first black Union Army regiments which fought in Georgia, Florida and South Carolina. He also served as the Assistant Inspector General of the Department of the Gulf and participated in the Valley Campaigns of 1864. After the war, Hunter was the president of the military commission trying the conspirators of Lincoln's assassination and served in the honor guard at the funeral of Abraham Lincoln which accompanied his body back to Springfield. He retired from the Army in July 1866.