New York-born Michigan druggist John M. Oliver rose from the rank of first lieutenant to that of brigadier general during the Civil War. His assignments included:
First lieutenant, 4th Michigan (June 20, 1861);
Captain, 4th Michigan (September 25, 1861);
Colonel, 15th Michigan (March 13, 1862);
Commanding 1st Brigade, 6th Division, Army of the Tennessee (temporarily April 1862);
Commanding 2nd Brigade, 6th Division, Army of the Tennessee (April 20-July 24, 1862);
Commanding 2nd Brigade, 6th Division, District of Corinth, Army of the Tennessee (July 24-Nov 1, 1862);
Commanding 2nd Brigade, 4th Division, 15th Corps, Army of the Tennessee (Aug 5-Oct 25, 1863);
Commanding 3rd Brigade, 4th Division, 15 th Corps, Army of the Tennessee (May 6-Aug 4 1864);
Commanding 1st Brigade, 4th Division, 15th Corps, Army of the Tennessee (Aug 4-Sept 14, 1864);
Commanding 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 15th Corps, Army of the Tennessee (Nov 2, 1864-May 18, 1865);
Brigadier General, USA January 12, 1865); and commanding the division (May 18-Aug 1, 1865)
As a subaltern in his initial regiment, he took part in the campaign of 1st Bull Run but was not present at the main battle, as the regiment was detached at Fairfax Courthouse during the advance. Named to the colonelcy of a new regiment, he led it in an unassigned capacity at Shiloh with part of Buell's army although it belonged properly to Grant's. He led a brigade both in the advance on Corinth, Mississippi, and in the subsequent battle there. Again as a regimental commander, he fought at Vicksburg and in the recapture of Jackson. In brigade command he fought through the Atlanta, Savannah, and Carolinas campaigns and was rewarded with the star of a Brigadier General in early 1865. Brevetted Major General for the war, he was mustered out on August 24, 1865. He earned his living as a lawyer and later as a postal official in Little Rock, before retiring to the nation's capital.