Given the wealth of information turned up by super-sleuth Patty Millich since my original post on Albert Coats, I’m posting an addendum. Many thanks, Patty, for all of your hard work gathering all of this additional information! We now have a better-rounded view of the man.
Albert Coats was born to a farming family in February of 1837, the fifth of nine children. He grew up in Perry Township, Allen County, Ohio, just southeast of Lima. His parents had moved to Ohio from Pennsylvania, according to census records.
During the war, Lieutenant Coats was appointed lieutenant colonel of the 6th U.S. Colored Cavalry Regiment on September 19, 1864, but didn’t muster into the regiment until January 8, 1865.
After he resigned his commission, Coats settled in Arkansas. In 1870, he and his wife, Amanda, lived in McConnell township, Chicot County, Arkansas. Amanda was a fellow Ohioan, born in November of 1829. Oddly, his occupation is still listed as soldier during this census.
By 1880, the Coats family had moved to Little Rock. Albert and Amanda had no children. He worked as a carpenter and she worked as a grocer. In 1893 and 1894, they lived in the Eickhoff block of North Litter Road in Little Rock, where he worked a s a druggist and furniture maker.
In 1900, Albert and Amanda lived in Hill township, in North Little Rock. After the 1900 census, they again vanish into the mists of time.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Monday, March 3, 2008
Fiddler's Green: Charles McMaster
Charles McMaster was born in Ireland. He enlisted in the 1st U.S. Cavalry on November 22, 1858. He served as a private, corporal, sergeant and first sergeant in Company I, 1st (later 4th) U.S. Cavalry for the next five years.
It appears that First Sergeant McMaster won his commission through bravery and gallantry in battle. He is mentioned in the Official Records multiple times prior to his commissioning. The first time was in the report of Captain Elmer Otis, acting regimental commander, on the battle of Stones River. “No one could have acted more bravely than First Sergt. Charles McMasters, of Company I” (OR, Ser I, Vol20, Pt I, pg 650). He was again commended by his regimental commander, Captain John B. McIntyre, for “gallantry and soldierlike conduct” during fighting near Salem, Tennessee on June 24th, 1863. First Sergeant McMaster was mentioned in the report of brigade commander Colonel R. H. G. Minty for his conduct three days later in fighting near Shelbyville. “First Sergeant McMaster, I Company, Fourth U.S. Cavalry, was conspicuous for his gallant conduct in the charge on the battery, and is honorably mentioned by Captain Davis (OR, Series I, Volume 52, page 423-4).
He was appointed a second lieutenant in the 2nd U.S. Cavalry on August 10, 1863, but didn’t learn of the appointment until ten days later. He departed the 4th Cavalry on August 20th, and moved east to join his new regiment.
He joined the 2nd Cavalry at Camp Buford in September 1863, and was assigned as the acting adjutant until November. He served with the regiment in the vicinity of Mitchell’s Station, Virginia until May 1864. During the summer of 1864, he fought with his regiment in the battles of Todd’s Tavern, Yellow Tavern, Meadow Bridge, Hawes’ Shop, Cold Harbor, Trevillian Station and Deep Bottom through August 1864.
Lieutenant McMaster was assigned with his regiment to Major General Philip Sheridan’s Army of the Shenandoah at the end of the summer, where he fought in the actions of Smithfield, Berryville, Newtown, and the battle of Winchester.
He was promoted to first lieutenant, 2nd U.S. Cavalry on September 19, 1864. Four days later, he and his men encountered an ambulance train under attack by an element of Mosby’s Rangers near Front Royal. Lieutenant McMaster was mortally wounded while charging at the head of his men, and died in Winchester, Virginia on October 15, 1864. Merritt's report in the OR states that he was captured, robbed, then shot in the head. Rodenbough, Heitman and Henry all state that he was mortally wounded and died later in Winchester.
Sources:
Heitman, Francis B. Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1903), page 677.
Henry, Guy V. Military Record of Army and Civilian Appointments in the United States Army, Volume II (New York: D. Van Nostrand Publishing, 1873), pg 306.
Official Records of the War of the Rebellion, multiple volumes, as noted.
Rodenbough, T.F., From Everglade to Canyon With the Second United States Cavlary (New York: D. Van Nostrand Publishing, 1875), page 479.
It appears that First Sergeant McMaster won his commission through bravery and gallantry in battle. He is mentioned in the Official Records multiple times prior to his commissioning. The first time was in the report of Captain Elmer Otis, acting regimental commander, on the battle of Stones River. “No one could have acted more bravely than First Sergt. Charles McMasters, of Company I” (OR, Ser I, Vol20, Pt I, pg 650). He was again commended by his regimental commander, Captain John B. McIntyre, for “gallantry and soldierlike conduct” during fighting near Salem, Tennessee on June 24th, 1863. First Sergeant McMaster was mentioned in the report of brigade commander Colonel R. H. G. Minty for his conduct three days later in fighting near Shelbyville. “First Sergeant McMaster, I Company, Fourth U.S. Cavalry, was conspicuous for his gallant conduct in the charge on the battery, and is honorably mentioned by Captain Davis (OR, Series I, Volume 52, page 423-4).
He was appointed a second lieutenant in the 2nd U.S. Cavalry on August 10, 1863, but didn’t learn of the appointment until ten days later. He departed the 4th Cavalry on August 20th, and moved east to join his new regiment.
He joined the 2nd Cavalry at Camp Buford in September 1863, and was assigned as the acting adjutant until November. He served with the regiment in the vicinity of Mitchell’s Station, Virginia until May 1864. During the summer of 1864, he fought with his regiment in the battles of Todd’s Tavern, Yellow Tavern, Meadow Bridge, Hawes’ Shop, Cold Harbor, Trevillian Station and Deep Bottom through August 1864.
Lieutenant McMaster was assigned with his regiment to Major General Philip Sheridan’s Army of the Shenandoah at the end of the summer, where he fought in the actions of Smithfield, Berryville, Newtown, and the battle of Winchester.
He was promoted to first lieutenant, 2nd U.S. Cavalry on September 19, 1864. Four days later, he and his men encountered an ambulance train under attack by an element of Mosby’s Rangers near Front Royal. Lieutenant McMaster was mortally wounded while charging at the head of his men, and died in Winchester, Virginia on October 15, 1864. Merritt's report in the OR states that he was captured, robbed, then shot in the head. Rodenbough, Heitman and Henry all state that he was mortally wounded and died later in Winchester.
Sources:
Heitman, Francis B. Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1903), page 677.
Henry, Guy V. Military Record of Army and Civilian Appointments in the United States Army, Volume II (New York: D. Van Nostrand Publishing, 1873), pg 306.
Official Records of the War of the Rebellion, multiple volumes, as noted.
Rodenbough, T.F., From Everglade to Canyon With the Second United States Cavlary (New York: D. Van Nostrand Publishing, 1875), page 479.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Fiddler's Green: Albert Coats
Albert Coats is one of those folks who remains largely a mystery other than his wartime service. Born in Ohio, he enlisted in the 1st U.S. Cavalry on December 8, 1856. He served in Company C as a private, corporal and sergeant.
Although appointed as a second lieutenant in the 6th U.S. Cavalry on October 26, 1861, Coats wasn’t notified until November 7th. He joined his new regiment at camp East of the Capitol, Washington on November 20th, and was assigned to Company E. His commander was Captain David McM. Gregg, and his first lieutenant was Benjamin T. Hutchins. Lieutenant Coats served with his company through the winter and the movement to the Peninsula. He was with his company at Ship Point, Virginia in March 1862 when promotions suddenly greatly affected the leadership of the regiment.
Lieutenant Colonel William H. Emory, the de facto regimental commander since the unit’s creation, was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers on March 27th. Assigned command of a new formation, First Brigade, Cavalry Reserve, Emory needed to form a staff. He began his appointments the following day. Among the first of them was to make Lieutenant Joseph Audenried, the regimental adjutant, his assistant adjutant general. Major Williams assumed command of the regiment, and Second Lieutenant Coats was selected to replace Audenried for more information on Joseph Audenried, check the entry at Behind Antietam on the Web here).
After two months as the adjutant, Coats had a brief reprieve in June 1862. He returned to command Company E for a month while Lieutenant Hutchins was absent sick. Captain Gregg had moved on to command of the 8th Pennsylvania cavalry in the interim. He was reassigned as the regimental adjutant on July 21, 1862, a position he held until the following summer. As the adjutant, Coats was the recruitment officer sent to Knoxville, Maryland in October and November 1862 to recruit additional troops from volunteer units. Judging from the numbers, he was apparently very successful. He was promoted to first lieutenant in the 6th Cavalry on December 23, 1862.
On May 17, 1863, First Lieutenant Coats was transferred to Company D. He served on detached service with his company and Company K at Cavalry Corps headquarters during the majority of the Gettysburg campaign. After a brief stint commanding the regiment after the disasters at Fairfield and Funkstown, First Lieutenant Coats commanded Company D for most of the remainder of the war.
Coats was appointed lieutenant colonel of the 6th U.S. Colored Cavalry on January 15, 1865. The regiment’s colonel, James F. Wade, was a fellow 6th U.S. Cavalry lieutenant. Coats finished the war this, his third unit of the war.
Lieutenant Coats was brevetted captain, major and lieutenant colonel on March 13, 1865 for gallant and meritorious service during the war. He resigned from volunteer service on January 15, 1866, and from regular service ten days later. At that point he fades off into obscurity, and I’ve been unable to find any additional information.
Sources:
Carter, W. W., From Yorktown to Santiago with the 6th U.S. Cavalry (Baltimore, the Lord Baltimore Press, 1900).
Heitman, Francis B. Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1903), page 292.
Henry, Guy V. Military Record of Army and Civilian Appointments in the United States Army, Volume II (New York: D. Van Nostrand Publishing, 1873), pg 254.
Muster Rolls, 6th U.S. Cavalry, NARA, M744
Although appointed as a second lieutenant in the 6th U.S. Cavalry on October 26, 1861, Coats wasn’t notified until November 7th. He joined his new regiment at camp East of the Capitol, Washington on November 20th, and was assigned to Company E. His commander was Captain David McM. Gregg, and his first lieutenant was Benjamin T. Hutchins. Lieutenant Coats served with his company through the winter and the movement to the Peninsula. He was with his company at Ship Point, Virginia in March 1862 when promotions suddenly greatly affected the leadership of the regiment.
Lieutenant Colonel William H. Emory, the de facto regimental commander since the unit’s creation, was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers on March 27th. Assigned command of a new formation, First Brigade, Cavalry Reserve, Emory needed to form a staff. He began his appointments the following day. Among the first of them was to make Lieutenant Joseph Audenried, the regimental adjutant, his assistant adjutant general. Major Williams assumed command of the regiment, and Second Lieutenant Coats was selected to replace Audenried for more information on Joseph Audenried, check the entry at Behind Antietam on the Web here).
After two months as the adjutant, Coats had a brief reprieve in June 1862. He returned to command Company E for a month while Lieutenant Hutchins was absent sick. Captain Gregg had moved on to command of the 8th Pennsylvania cavalry in the interim. He was reassigned as the regimental adjutant on July 21, 1862, a position he held until the following summer. As the adjutant, Coats was the recruitment officer sent to Knoxville, Maryland in October and November 1862 to recruit additional troops from volunteer units. Judging from the numbers, he was apparently very successful. He was promoted to first lieutenant in the 6th Cavalry on December 23, 1862.
On May 17, 1863, First Lieutenant Coats was transferred to Company D. He served on detached service with his company and Company K at Cavalry Corps headquarters during the majority of the Gettysburg campaign. After a brief stint commanding the regiment after the disasters at Fairfield and Funkstown, First Lieutenant Coats commanded Company D for most of the remainder of the war.
Coats was appointed lieutenant colonel of the 6th U.S. Colored Cavalry on January 15, 1865. The regiment’s colonel, James F. Wade, was a fellow 6th U.S. Cavalry lieutenant. Coats finished the war this, his third unit of the war.
Lieutenant Coats was brevetted captain, major and lieutenant colonel on March 13, 1865 for gallant and meritorious service during the war. He resigned from volunteer service on January 15, 1866, and from regular service ten days later. At that point he fades off into obscurity, and I’ve been unable to find any additional information.
Sources:
Carter, W. W., From Yorktown to Santiago with the 6th U.S. Cavalry (Baltimore, the Lord Baltimore Press, 1900).
Heitman, Francis B. Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1903), page 292.
Henry, Guy V. Military Record of Army and Civilian Appointments in the United States Army, Volume II (New York: D. Van Nostrand Publishing, 1873), pg 254.
Muster Rolls, 6th U.S. Cavalry, NARA, M744
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Fine Horseflesh
I was reading a New York Times article published on October 20, 1861 last night when I came across this reference to the 6th US Cavalry. The article, written on October 13th, explained how horses were bought and cared for by the army in the vicinity of Washington. I found it interesting enough that I may post other excerpts from it.
The gentlemen the author refers to for inspecting horses are Mr. John Raymond of Pennsylvania and Assistant Quartermaster Rucker. The 6th US Cavalry was under command of Lieutenant Colonel William H. Emory at the time of this article. First Lieutenant Hancock T. McLean was second in command of one of the 6th's companies at this time. parentheses and misspellings are the original author's.
"Under the keen supervision of these competent and experienced gentlemen no unsound or deficient horses can be mustered in; and with proper after-care, our cavalry may be depended upon , as of as good an average as any in military service in the world. The whole six thousand, at the the review of Tuesday, looked exceedingly well; but the finest mount of all was that of the regiment of Col. EMERY. I had the pleasure of paying a visit to his camp at Bladensburgh, on Sunday last, and of examining his whole string carefully. I also had the pleasure, after testing his hospitality, of seeing a six-year-old chestnut gelding by Glencoe, out of a Woodpecker mare, who bore upon his crest the triumph of having beaten a field of six, in his two year form at Lexington. He was owned and ridden by Capt. MCLEAN, (nephew of Judge MCLEAN, of Kentucky,) and looked the picture of courage, pride and breeding. he is, by long odds, the finest horse I have seen in Washington, and at a proper opportunity I shall refer to him again."
The gentlemen the author refers to for inspecting horses are Mr. John Raymond of Pennsylvania and Assistant Quartermaster Rucker. The 6th US Cavalry was under command of Lieutenant Colonel William H. Emory at the time of this article. First Lieutenant Hancock T. McLean was second in command of one of the 6th's companies at this time. parentheses and misspellings are the original author's.
"Under the keen supervision of these competent and experienced gentlemen no unsound or deficient horses can be mustered in; and with proper after-care, our cavalry may be depended upon , as of as good an average as any in military service in the world. The whole six thousand, at the the review of Tuesday, looked exceedingly well; but the finest mount of all was that of the regiment of Col. EMERY. I had the pleasure of paying a visit to his camp at Bladensburgh, on Sunday last, and of examining his whole string carefully. I also had the pleasure, after testing his hospitality, of seeing a six-year-old chestnut gelding by Glencoe, out of a Woodpecker mare, who bore upon his crest the triumph of having beaten a field of six, in his two year form at Lexington. He was owned and ridden by Capt. MCLEAN, (nephew of Judge MCLEAN, of Kentucky,) and looked the picture of courage, pride and breeding. he is, by long odds, the finest horse I have seen in Washington, and at a proper opportunity I shall refer to him again."
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Of Flags and Dragoons
Not quite Civil War vintage, but there's been a definite lack of color and pictures lately so I decided to mix it up a little. There's still a Civil War tie-in, of course. The 2nd U.S. Cavalry, currently designated as the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, has been on continuous active service since 1836, and has a distinguished Civil War history. One of the great things about cavalry units specifically and army units in general is that traditions endure. Despite the redesignations in August 1861, for example, the regiment is still referred to internally as the Second Dragoons.
Versions of this flag have flown over regimental headquarters, wherever in the world that might be, for as far back as anyone that I've contacted can remember. While probably not historically accurate in design (see the excellent flag and guidon post over at Hoofbeats and Cold Steel that JD Petruzzi and Mike Nugent put together some months ago), it's a tradition that endures. This particular picture shows the flag being raised on September 13th of last year as the regiment settled in Baghdad for its second tour in Iraq.
There's just someting warming about seeing red and white cloth....
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
How Do You Determine "Best"?
A new friend recently observed to me that he thought the 4th US Cavalry was the best regular cavalry regiment in the Civil War, then offered proof to support his position. I must admit that I initially dismissed the idea, not because of which regiment it was or because he didn't make his case, but from the idea that any of them could be the best. Then I started thinking, and it all went downhill from there.
Is there a way to determine which one was best? There is, of course, no way to prove so definitively, but how strong of a case can be made for a given regiment? In order to do so, there have to be some measurable criteria used to evaluate each regiment. Things specific to each regiment, yet common to all. The purpose of this entry is to attempt to determine what those criteria might be, then to apply them over the next several posts.
Initially, I think the following criteria could be used. Which ones should be used is open for discussion, and if anyone can think of any others, I'm certainly interested in hearing your opinion.
1. Number of engagements. They should come from one source for all of the regiments, so Dyer's Compendium appears to be a good source. We may need an additional qualification of 'engagements' here, though. The 4th, for example, would get credit for all of the Peninsula campaign, when all the companies did was serve as McClellan's HQ escort. The same would be true for the 6th during Trevillian Station and other 1864 battles.
2. Casualties. This is a little tricky, as an argument could be made that lots of casualties don't indicate good leadership. I think for our purposes here, however, we can use them as an indicator of the quantity and difficulty of a regiment's campaigning during the war. Fox is probably as good a common source as any.
3. Number of general officers selected from the regiment. This one also could be problematical, as once the officers were promoted, the were no longer serving with the regiment. An argument could be made that it indicated the quality of a regiment's leadership.
4. Number of volunteer regiment commanders selected from the regiment. Same argument as above.
What other criteria can we use? This is simply an initial lsit, but I'd like to try to soldify it by Friday. I'm not sure if the 4th Cavalry is at an advantage or disadvantage by serving out west away from most of the other regiments. By any criteria, I don't think the 3rd Cavalry can win, but we'll see. It may turn out that we're comparing apples and oranges, but it'll be an interesting mental exercise.
Is there a way to determine which one was best? There is, of course, no way to prove so definitively, but how strong of a case can be made for a given regiment? In order to do so, there have to be some measurable criteria used to evaluate each regiment. Things specific to each regiment, yet common to all. The purpose of this entry is to attempt to determine what those criteria might be, then to apply them over the next several posts.
Initially, I think the following criteria could be used. Which ones should be used is open for discussion, and if anyone can think of any others, I'm certainly interested in hearing your opinion.
1. Number of engagements. They should come from one source for all of the regiments, so Dyer's Compendium appears to be a good source. We may need an additional qualification of 'engagements' here, though. The 4th, for example, would get credit for all of the Peninsula campaign, when all the companies did was serve as McClellan's HQ escort. The same would be true for the 6th during Trevillian Station and other 1864 battles.
2. Casualties. This is a little tricky, as an argument could be made that lots of casualties don't indicate good leadership. I think for our purposes here, however, we can use them as an indicator of the quantity and difficulty of a regiment's campaigning during the war. Fox is probably as good a common source as any.
3. Number of general officers selected from the regiment. This one also could be problematical, as once the officers were promoted, the were no longer serving with the regiment. An argument could be made that it indicated the quality of a regiment's leadership.
4. Number of volunteer regiment commanders selected from the regiment. Same argument as above.
What other criteria can we use? This is simply an initial lsit, but I'd like to try to soldify it by Friday. I'm not sure if the 4th Cavalry is at an advantage or disadvantage by serving out west away from most of the other regiments. By any criteria, I don't think the 3rd Cavalry can win, but we'll see. It may turn out that we're comparing apples and oranges, but it'll be an interesting mental exercise.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Fiddler's Green - Joseph H. Taylor
Joseph Hancock Taylor was born on January 26, 1836, in Kentucky. His father was Joseph P. Taylor, Commisary General of Subsistence for the U.S. Army during the Civil War. His uncle was President Zachary Taylor, his father’s brother. With such illustrious forebearers it was doubtless no surprise when he was appointed to West Point from Maryland in 1852. He graduated 31st in the class on 1856.
Upon graduation, Taylor was assigned as a brevet second lieutenant to the 1st U.S. Cavalry on July 1, 1856, but didn’t immediately join his regiment. He served at the Cavalry School for Practice, Carlisle, Pennsylvania from 1856 to 1857. He was promoted to Second Lieutenant in the 1st Cavalry while at Carlisle on January 16, 1857. He joined his regiment later in what would be a very busy year for both he and the regiment. After quelling Kansas disturbances and escorting the commissioner for running the southern boundary of Kansas, he spent the remainder of the year conducting other scouting from Fort Leavenworth. By the end of the year, the regiment was stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas.
The remaining years before the outbreak of the Civil War were spent crisscrossing the frontier. Taylor participated in the Utah expedition in 1858, returning to first Fort Leavenworth, then Fort Riley later in the year. 1859 brought a march to the Arkansas River. Taylor’s 1860 began with a march conducting recruits to Texas, then expeditions against Kiowa and Comanche Indians. He was engaged near Bent’s Fort, Colorado on July 11, 1860 with his company. They remained in the vicinity after the skirmish, one of the four companies who constructed and dwelt in Fort Wise, Colorado under Major John Sedgwick that winter.
At the outbreak of the Civil War, Taylor’s company was one of those immediately ordered east. They marched first to Leavenworth, then to Washington. Taylor was promoted to First Lieutenant in his regiment on April 22, 1861.
Three weeks later he was promoted again, this time to Captain in the newly-forming 3rd U.S. Cavalry on May 14, 1861. The regiment was redesignated the 6th U.S. Cavalry on August 3rd, and he took command of Company F on August 22, 1861. He remained with the company through their training and marches to first Bladensburg, Maryland and then Camp East of the Capitol, Washington.
One of the privates in his company, Sidney Morris Davis, left his impression of his first commanding officer in his memoirs. He described Captain Taylor as “a small-waisted, slightly built, cross-looking man, with a voice that astonished us --- so fierce, and sounding so like the yelp of a bull-dog when he gave us orders on drill. Although our first impression of Captain Taylor was not assuring, yet time showed he was one of the kindest officers in the service.”
Taylor remained with the regiment until late November, 1861. He left his company on November 27, 1861 to serve as an acting assistant Adjutant General for General Edwin V. Sumner’s Division. This assignment isn’t too surprising when one considers that Sumner had been his regimental commander in the 1st Cavalry. He remained on General Sumner’s staff until March 14, 1862, when he was assigned as the acting assistant Adjutant General of the Second Corps, Army of the Potomac. He served with the Second Corps in this role throughout the Peninsula battles, earning a brevet to Major of volunteers on June 1, 1862 for gallant and meritorious service in the battle of Fair Oaks.
After a month’s sick leave of absence from June 24th to July 24th, he returned to his position with the Second Corps. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, Staff, of Volunteers on August 20, 1862, and earned a brevet to Lieutenant Colonel, U.S.A., on September 17, 1862 for gallant and meritorious service in battle of Antietam. He remained with Second Corps until November 1862, when he was assigned as the assistant Adjutant General for the Right Grand Division. After the battle of Fredericksburg, he returned to the cavalry, albeit still as a staff officer.
He served as the Assistant Inspector General of Cavalry during Stoneman’s Raid, from April 29 to May 8, 1863. Following the raid, he was reassigned as an assistant Adjutant General for the Department of Washington on June 1, 1863, where he served the remainder of the war.
Joseph Taylor married Mary Montgomery Meigs, the daughter of Quartermaster General Montgomery C. Meigs, in Washington on March 30, 1864. He received a brevet to Colonel of Volunteers on March 3, 1865 for faithful and meritorious service during the war March 3, 1865. Interestingly, he was wasn’t one of the many who received brevet promotions on March 13, 1865. Taylor was promoted to Major, Staff, Assistant Adjutant General, Regular Army on March 30, 1866. He was breveted Colonel, U.S. Army August 13, 1866 for faithful and meritorious service during the war.
On May 24, 1869, Major Taylor left Washington at last, serving as the Assistant Adjutant General (AAG), Department of the South, until December 6, 1873. He then served as the AAG, Department of Texas (January 30, 1874 to February 4, 1878), the AAG, Department of the East (February 11, 1878 to March 31, 1879), the AAG, Department of the South (April 1, 1879 to September 1, 1882), and the AAG, Department of the Platte.
Taylor was still serving with this last department when died due to an unnamed disease that he contracted in the line of duty in Omaha, Nebraska on March 13, 1885. He is buried with his wife at Arlington National Cemetery.
Sources:
Cullum, Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the US Military Academy, pgs 660-661.
Davis, Sidney Morris. Common Soldier, Uncommon War, pgs 25-26
Heitman, pg 947
Powell, Records of Living Officers of the U.S. Army
Upon graduation, Taylor was assigned as a brevet second lieutenant to the 1st U.S. Cavalry on July 1, 1856, but didn’t immediately join his regiment. He served at the Cavalry School for Practice, Carlisle, Pennsylvania from 1856 to 1857. He was promoted to Second Lieutenant in the 1st Cavalry while at Carlisle on January 16, 1857. He joined his regiment later in what would be a very busy year for both he and the regiment. After quelling Kansas disturbances and escorting the commissioner for running the southern boundary of Kansas, he spent the remainder of the year conducting other scouting from Fort Leavenworth. By the end of the year, the regiment was stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas.
The remaining years before the outbreak of the Civil War were spent crisscrossing the frontier. Taylor participated in the Utah expedition in 1858, returning to first Fort Leavenworth, then Fort Riley later in the year. 1859 brought a march to the Arkansas River. Taylor’s 1860 began with a march conducting recruits to Texas, then expeditions against Kiowa and Comanche Indians. He was engaged near Bent’s Fort, Colorado on July 11, 1860 with his company. They remained in the vicinity after the skirmish, one of the four companies who constructed and dwelt in Fort Wise, Colorado under Major John Sedgwick that winter.
At the outbreak of the Civil War, Taylor’s company was one of those immediately ordered east. They marched first to Leavenworth, then to Washington. Taylor was promoted to First Lieutenant in his regiment on April 22, 1861.
Three weeks later he was promoted again, this time to Captain in the newly-forming 3rd U.S. Cavalry on May 14, 1861. The regiment was redesignated the 6th U.S. Cavalry on August 3rd, and he took command of Company F on August 22, 1861. He remained with the company through their training and marches to first Bladensburg, Maryland and then Camp East of the Capitol, Washington.
One of the privates in his company, Sidney Morris Davis, left his impression of his first commanding officer in his memoirs. He described Captain Taylor as “a small-waisted, slightly built, cross-looking man, with a voice that astonished us --- so fierce, and sounding so like the yelp of a bull-dog when he gave us orders on drill. Although our first impression of Captain Taylor was not assuring, yet time showed he was one of the kindest officers in the service.”
Taylor remained with the regiment until late November, 1861. He left his company on November 27, 1861 to serve as an acting assistant Adjutant General for General Edwin V. Sumner’s Division. This assignment isn’t too surprising when one considers that Sumner had been his regimental commander in the 1st Cavalry. He remained on General Sumner’s staff until March 14, 1862, when he was assigned as the acting assistant Adjutant General of the Second Corps, Army of the Potomac. He served with the Second Corps in this role throughout the Peninsula battles, earning a brevet to Major of volunteers on June 1, 1862 for gallant and meritorious service in the battle of Fair Oaks.
After a month’s sick leave of absence from June 24th to July 24th, he returned to his position with the Second Corps. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, Staff, of Volunteers on August 20, 1862, and earned a brevet to Lieutenant Colonel, U.S.A., on September 17, 1862 for gallant and meritorious service in battle of Antietam. He remained with Second Corps until November 1862, when he was assigned as the assistant Adjutant General for the Right Grand Division. After the battle of Fredericksburg, he returned to the cavalry, albeit still as a staff officer.
He served as the Assistant Inspector General of Cavalry during Stoneman’s Raid, from April 29 to May 8, 1863. Following the raid, he was reassigned as an assistant Adjutant General for the Department of Washington on June 1, 1863, where he served the remainder of the war.
Joseph Taylor married Mary Montgomery Meigs, the daughter of Quartermaster General Montgomery C. Meigs, in Washington on March 30, 1864. He received a brevet to Colonel of Volunteers on March 3, 1865 for faithful and meritorious service during the war March 3, 1865. Interestingly, he was wasn’t one of the many who received brevet promotions on March 13, 1865. Taylor was promoted to Major, Staff, Assistant Adjutant General, Regular Army on March 30, 1866. He was breveted Colonel, U.S. Army August 13, 1866 for faithful and meritorious service during the war.
On May 24, 1869, Major Taylor left Washington at last, serving as the Assistant Adjutant General (AAG), Department of the South, until December 6, 1873. He then served as the AAG, Department of Texas (January 30, 1874 to February 4, 1878), the AAG, Department of the East (February 11, 1878 to March 31, 1879), the AAG, Department of the South (April 1, 1879 to September 1, 1882), and the AAG, Department of the Platte.
Taylor was still serving with this last department when died due to an unnamed disease that he contracted in the line of duty in Omaha, Nebraska on March 13, 1885. He is buried with his wife at Arlington National Cemetery.
Sources:
Cullum, Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the US Military Academy, pgs 660-661.
Davis, Sidney Morris. Common Soldier, Uncommon War, pgs 25-26
Heitman, pg 947
Powell, Records of Living Officers of the U.S. Army
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