Do you know which graduates of the West Point class of 1839 fought in the Civil War?

2016-04-02T13:20:12-04:00

Most members of the class of 1839 fought in either the Mexican War or Indian Wars or both. Several died before the Civil War and several were killed in the Civil war. Most of these officers were wounded in combat.
Fort Ord is named in honor of MG Edward Otho Cresap Ord.
Most of those who fought in the Civil war fought for the Union but some fought for the confederacy.
Pictures:
1. Henry Hallack;
2. Edward Ord;
3. Aleexander Lawton;
4. James Rickets

FYI CWO4 Terrence Clark SPC Private RallyPoint Member MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D. MSG Roy Cheever Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. 'Bill' Price SMSgt Lawrence McCarter PO3 Edward Riddle MAJ Roland McDonald CPL Ronald Keyes Jr CSM Charles Hayden CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member CMDCM John F. "Doc" Bradshaw COL Private RallyPoint Member SPC Michael Terrell SPC Maurice Evans MCPO Hilary Kunz COL Lisandro Murphy Ken Kraetzer

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Apr 2 at 2016 1:22 PM

2016-04-02T13:22:13-04:00

LTC Stephen F. thanks for posting, this is a fascinating fact.

Response by SSgt Robert Marx made Apr 2 at 2016 1:23 PM

2016-04-02T13:23:22-04:00

Yes, sir, these graduates certainly changed their world!

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Apr 2 at 2016 1:30 PM

2016-04-02T13:30:27-04:00

MG Edward Richard Sprigg Canby fought in the Mexican, Indian and Civil Wars and later he worked to negotiate with the Indian tribes. He was murdered in 1873 while in negotiations with the Medoc Indians. His death became a nationwide sensation at that time.
Since RallyPoint truncates survey selection text I am posting information about the other members of the class of 1839 that were not included and then the full text of each survey choice below:
A MG Henry Wagner Hallack was General in Chief of all US Armies from 1863 until 1864. He voluntarily relinquished his role on the condition that U.S. Grant take over as General in Chief. Hallack was graduate number 988.
B BG (CSA) Alexander Robert Lawton was Quartermaster General and he was wounded at Antietam. Lawton was graduate number 998.
C Brevet MG James Brewerton Rickets. Served as a BG and was wounded and captured at 1st Bull Run in 1861. He must have been paroled because he was wounded as a Brevet MG at Cedar Creek in 1984. He was wounded a total of six times. Rickets was graduate number 1001.
D MG Edward Otho Cresap Ord fought in the Indian Wars and Mexican War and was wounded in 1862 and 1864 in the US Civil War and served as Corps and Army Commander. Fort Ord is named after him. Ord was graduate number 1002.
Brevet MG Henry Jackson Hunt fought in the Mexican War and was wounded twice. He served as Chief of Artillery in the Army of the Potomac from 1862 to 1865. Hunt was graduate number 1004.
Brevet MG Samuel Kennedy Dawson fought in the Mexican War and the Florida Indian War and served at the defense of Fort Pickens, SC in 1861. He was wounded at Chickamauga. Dawson was graduate number 1007.
Augustus Abel Gibson served as COL in the Pennsylvania Volunteers and later was COL of a POW depot from 1864 to 1865. Gibson was graduate number 1008.
COL (CSA) Charles Wickliffe, Jr. was mortally wounded at Shiloh. Wickliffe was graduate number 1011.
MG Edward Richard Sprigg Canby fought in the Indian Wars and Mexican War. He was murdered by Medoc Indians in 1873 while negotiating with them. Canby was graduate number 1015.
Former cadets who didn’t graduate:
CPT Henry Johnathan Biddle died while POW of wounds received at New Market, VA.
BG Gustavus Adolphus DeRussy fought in the Mexican War and served in the US Civil War as a BG of volunteers.
BG John Cleveland Robinson fought in the Indian Wars and Mexican War. Served as a COL with 1 Michigan Infantry in 1861 promoted to BG of US Volunteers, led troops at Gettysburg where is statue of him and was wounded in Laurel Mill, VA in May 1864.

Response by SFC William Farrell made Apr 2 at 2016 1:41 PM

2016-04-02T13:41:21-04:00

Not sure LTC Stephen F. but as always, good info. One of things I loved about West Point is how much of our American history has gone through there. I'd say its one of the most beautiful military installations in the United States!

Response by SP5 Mark Kuzinski made Apr 2 at 2016 4:00 PM

2016-04-02T16:00:31-04:00

Great post!