Elwell Stephen Otis

Elwell S. Otis
2nd American Military Governor of the Philippines
In office August 28, 1898 – May 5, 1900
Preceded by	Wesley Merritt
Succeeded by	Arthur MacArthur, Jr
Member of the Schurman Commission
In office March 4, 1899 – March 16, 1900
Preceded by	Newly created
Succeeded by	Bernard Moses (Taft Commission)
Personal details
Born	March 25, 1838(1838-03-25) Frederick, Maryland, United States
Died	October 21, 1909(1909-10-21) (aged 71) Rochester, New York, United States
Spouse(s)	Louise Bowman Otis
Alma mater	University of Rochester Harvard Law School
Military service
Allegiance	United States of America Union
Service/branch	United States Army Union Army
Years of service	1862 - 1902
Rank	Major General
Unit	140th New York Regiment 22nd Infantry V Corps VIII Corps
Battles/wars	American Civil War *Battle of Fredericksburg *Battle of Gettysburg *Siege of Petersburg *Battle of Peebles' Farm Indian Wars *Great Sioux War Spanish-American War Philippine-American War *Battle of Manila (1899)

Elwell Stephen Otis (March 25, 1838 – October 21, 1909) was a United States of America General who served in the Philippines late in the Spanish-American War and during the Philippine-American War.

Biography

Otis was born in Frederick, Maryland on March 25, 1838. He attended the University of Rochester, where he was a member of the (now defunct) Iota Chapter of St. Anthony Hall aka the Fraternity of Delta Psi. He graduated from Harvard Law School in 1860 and was practicing law during the first year of the Civil War.

Civil War

During the Civil War Otis was appointed captain in the 140th New York Regiment. He fought at the battles of Fredericksburg Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. On December 23, 1864 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel of his regiment. At the battle of Spotsylvania the regiment's colonel was killed and Otis assumed command. He fought in all the battles of the Overland Campaign. During the Siege of Petersburg, he assumed command of the 1st Brigade, 2nd Division in V Corps leading it into action at the battle of Peebles' Farm. During this battle he was severely wounded effectively ended his field career during the Civil War. He was promoted to brevet brigadier general of volunteers for actions at the Chappell House (battle of Peebles Farm). Otis eventually recovered and was appointed lieutenant colonel of the 22nd U.S. Infantry in 1867.

Indian Wars

Otis continued serving in the army during the Indian Wars as part of the 22nd U.S. including campaigning in Montana in the aftermath of the Battle of the Little Bighorn. On February 8, 1880 he was appointed colonel of the 20th U.S. Infantry. On November 28, 1893, he was appointed brigadier general in the regular army. He commanded the Department of the Columbia and the Department of Colorado.

Philippine-American War

On May 4, 1898, he was appointed major general of volunteers and was sent to the Philippines with reinforcements for General Wesley Merritt. Otis assumed command of the VIII Corps, replacing Merritt who had become the military governor of the Philippines. Merritt served as military governor only briefly before he returned to the United States. On August 28, 1899 Otis was appointed Military Governor for the Philippines.

He also continued in command of the VIII Corps during the Philippine-American War. He conducted the U.S. Army during the battle of Manila in 1899 and during the first phase of the insurrection before fighting turned primarily to guerrilla warfare.

Otis's response when Emilio Aguinaldo tried to stop the war by sending an emissary to General Otis to appeal for an end to the fighting in the Battle of Manila was, "fighting, having begun, must go on to the grim end.".

Otis also oversaw many of the first atrocities of the Philippine-American War by American soldiers:

"The conduct of the Washington Volunteers has been the subject of special investigations for some time. They deny wanton burning or cruelties. And still there are strong indications that they practised these infractions to some extent."

Later life

He was relieved of command in 1900 and replaced with Arthur MacArthur. He returned to the United States and commanded the Department of the Lakes. He was appointed major general in the regular army in 1906.

Otis was a skilled general and able administrator. However, he was generally disliked by his subordinates and peers and received harsh treatment in the press. He was known as "Granny" by his troops because of his age and graying hair. He died in Rochester, New York on October 21, 1909 from painful angina.

See also

• List of American Civil War generals

Further reading

• Elwell Stephen Otis (1878). "The Indian Question" (PDF). Sheldon and Company. http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/book/lookupid?key=olbp25625. Retrieved May 7, 2006.  Full book online

Military offices
Preceded by None	Commandant of the Command and General Staff College November 1881 - June 1885	Succeeded by Thomas Howard Ruger
Government offices
Preceded by Wesley Merritt	Military Governor of the Philippines August 28, 1898–May 5, 1900	Succeeded by Arthur MacArthur, Jr
Political offices
Preceded by Newly created	Member of the Schurman Commission March 4, 1899–March 16, 1900	Succeeded by Bernard Moses (Taft Commission)