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Louis H. Carpenter

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Louis Henry Carpenter
Black and white picture of Louis Carpenter, a white male in his US Army uniform and a large mustache. His Army uniform has a high collar with an emblem of crossed swords and the letters U.S. next to it. He is wearing a round hat with an emblem of an eagle cluching something.  1896 version of the Medal of Honor with a golden five pointed star being clutched in the claws of an eagle. The eagle is suspended from a red and white striped ribbon
Brigadier General Louis H. Carpenter, 5th Cavalry
Place of burial
Trinity Episcopal Church New Cemetery, Swedesboro, New Jersey
Allegiance United States of America
Union
Service/branchUnited States Army
& Union Army
Years of service1861 – 1899
RankBrigadier General
Commands1st Division, 3rd Corps at Chickamauga in May 1898
3rd Division, 4th Corps at Tampa, Florida later in 1898
Military Governor of the providence of Puerto Principe, Cuba until in July 1899.
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War


Indian Wars


Spanish–American War
RelationsJames Edward Carpenter, brother
Other workwriter and speaker

Louis Henry Carpenter (February 11, 1839 – January 21, 1916) was a United States Army brigadier general and Medal of Honor recipient. He began his military career in 1861 first as an enlisted soldier before being commissioned as an officer the following year. During the American Civil War he participated in sixteen campaigns with the 6th U.S. Cavalry Regiment. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Indian Wars while serving with the Buffalo Soldiers of the 10th U.S. Cavalry.

Louis Carpenter dropped out of college to enlist in the Union Army at the beginning of the American Civil War and fought in the Gettysburg Campaign at the Battle of Fairfield. By the end of the Civil War he held the rank of brevet lieutenant colonel but also received a commission to first lieutenant in the Regular United States Army.

After the Civil War and until about 1886 he served on the western frontier. He engaged many Native American tribes, dealt with many types of renegades and explored vaste areas of uncharted territory from Texas to Arizona. During the Spanish-American War he commanded an occupation force and became the first military governor of Puerto Principe, Cuba. After 38 continuous years of service to his country, he retired from the Army on October 19, 1899 as a brigadier general. After his retirement he became a speaker and a writer.

Early life and family

A reproduction of a painting of Samuel Carpenter, a white male with long white hair. He is standing side on with his right shoulder pointing towards the viewer
Samuel Carpenter

Louis H. Carpenter was a direct descendant (great-great-great-grandson) of the notable immigrant Samuel Carpenter (November 4, 1649 Horsham, Sussex, England – April 10, 1714 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) who came to America in early 1683 by way of Barbados.[1][2]

The eldest son of eight children born to Edward Carpenter 2nd and Anna Maria (Mary) Howey, Carpenter was born in Glassboro, New Jersey and in 1843 his family moved to Philadelphia where they attended Trinity Episcopal Church in West Philadelphia.[n 1]

His younger brother, James Edward Carpenter served in the Union army as a private in the Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry and later was commisioned a second lieutenant. He later became a first lieutenant, captain then a brevet major of volunteers.[1]

Military service

Civil War

In July 1861, during his junior year, Carpenter dropped out of Dickinson College and joined the "The Fighting Sixth" Cavalry Regiment.[3] He became a private in the Union Army which later became known as the Army of the Potomac. He was trained as an infantry soldier who was capable of riding a horse to the battlefield. And as horse soldiers, they had a difficult time during the first year of the war. He participated in the Peninsula Campaign and chased the audacious Jeb Stuart's Cavalry that went completely around the Union Army (June 13–15 1862) which caused great psychological concerns to the Union cavalry commanders and men.[4]

Rapid expansion of the Union Cavalry in the American Civil War in the East was chaotic. At the beginning of the War, officers were elected by the men or appointed politically. This lead to many misguided and inept commanders. The tools and techniques of pre-war cavalry often seemed inadequate resulting in a steep learning curve that was costly in men and supplies. Slowly out the chaos came the tactics and leaders who proved worthy of the challenge. Union horse soldiers became cavalry troopers under this tough regimen and proved adept dismounted and mounted on horseback with their carbines, pistols, sabers and confident under their battle-proven leaders.[5]

After the Seven Days Battles (June 25 to July 1, 1862) Carpenter was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Regular Army, 6th U. S. Cavalry, on July 17, 1862 for meritorious actions and leadership.[1]

Gettysburg Campaign

Main article: Gettysburg Campaign

On June 9, 1863 opposing cavalry forces at Brandy Station, near Culpeper, Virginia met. The 9,500 Confederate cavalrymen under Major General J.E.B. Stuart were surprised by Maj. Gen. Alfred Pleasonton's combined arms force of two cavalry divisions (including the 6th U.S. Cavalry Regiment) of some 8,000 cavalry troopers and 3,000 infantry. Stuart repulsed the Union attack, but his troopers needed time to reorganize. This inconclusive battle was a prelude to the Battle of Gettysburg and the largest predominantly cavalry engagement of the war to that date. That battle proved that for the first time that the Union horse soldier was equal to his Southern counterpart.[6]

On June 13–15, 1863 was the Second Battle of Winchester in Frederick and Winchester counties defended by Major General Robert H. Milroy. Carpenter's actions and that of his unit are not given clearly. Carpenter was documented as having "rallied demoralized troops for delaying actions" during the Union rout.[1][7]

On July 3, 1863, reports of a slow moving Confederate (CSA) wagon train in the vicinity of Fairfield, Pennsylvania, had attracted the attention of newly commissioned Union Brigadier General Wesley Merritt (Reserve Brigade, First Division, Cavalry Corps).[8] He ordered the 6th U.S. Cavalry under Major Samuel H. Starr to scout Fairfield and locate the wagons which resulted in the Battle of Fairfield.

Battle of Fairfield

Main article: Battle of Fairfield

Carpenter's next action was with Major Starr on July 3, 1863, who with 400 troopers dismounted his men in a field and an orchard on both sides of the road near Fairfield, Pennsylvania. Union troopers directed by their officers took up hasty defensive positions on this slight ridge. Carpenter and others threw back a mounted charge of the 7th Virginia, just as Chew's Battery (CSA) unlimbered and opened fire on the Federal cavalrymen. Supported by the 6th Virginia, the 7th Virginia charged again,[9] clearing Starr's force off the ridge and inflicting heavy losses. Jones (CSA), outnumbering the Union forces by at least 2 to 1, pursued the retreating Federals for three miles to the Fairfield Gap, but was unable to catch his quarry.

A computer generated reproduction of the insignia of the Union Army cavalry branch. The insignia is displayed in gold and consists of two sheafed swords crossing over each other at a 45 degree angle pointing upwards
Cavalry branch insignia

"The fight made at Fairfield by this small regiment (6th U.S. Cavalry) against two of the crack brigades of Stuart's cavalry, which were endeavoring to get around the flank the Union army to attack the (supply) trains, was one of the most gallant in its history and no doubt helped influence the outcome the battle of Gettysburg. The efforts of these rebel brigades were frustrated and their entire strength neutralized for the day by the fierce onslaught of the small squadrons. The regiment was cut to pieces, but it fought so well that the squadrons were regarded as the advance of a large body of troops. The senior officer of those brigades was later adversely criticized for allowing his command to be delayed by such an inferior force. Had the regiment not made the desperate stand, the two brigades of Virginians might have caused grave injury in the Federal rear, before sufficient force could have been gathered in their front."[10]

Lieutenant Carpenter, of Troop H, was one of only three officers of the 6th U.S. Cavalry to escape from the deadly melee at Fairfield on July 3, 1863.[1] Private George Crawford Platt, later Sergeant, an Irish immigrant serving in Carpenter's Troop H, was awarded the Medal of Honor on July 12, 1895, for his actions that day at Fairfield. His citation reads, "Seized the regimental flag upon the death of the standard bearer in a hand-to-hand fight and prevented it from falling into the hands of the enemy." His "commander" was an eyewitness and documented Private Platt's "beyond the call of duty" behavior that day.[11]

Carpenter was brevetted from lieutenant to lieutenant colonel for his gallant and meritorious conduct at both the Second Battle of Winchester and for his actions at Fairfield. During this time period he was mentioned several times in official reports and dispatches.[1][7]

Later Civil War

Lieutenant Colonel (brevet) Louis H. Carpenter was promoted to first lieutenant, Regular Army on September 28, 1864.[1]

Carpenter served in sixteen major and minor campaigns and their related battles during the Civil War including; the 1862 Peninsula Campaign, battle of Antietam part of the Maryland Campaign, Campaign at Fredericksburg, the 1863 Second Battle of Winchester, Battle of Fairfield which were part of the Gettysburg Campaign, Chancellorsville (in Stoneman’s raid to the rear of Lee’s army), the 1864 The Wilderness (as aide-de-camp to Major General Phillip H. Sheridan), Siege of Petersburg, The Shenandoah Valley, Richmond Raid—also known as Sheridan’s raid, Trevilian Station, the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House & the Battle of Cold Harbor part of the Overland Campaign and the final 1865 Appomattox Campaign.[12][13]

After the fighting stopped, came the Reconstruction era of the United States and Carpenter, his rank now reverted to his Regular Army rank of first lieutentant, went with the 6th Cavalry to Texas in October 1865. On November 29, 1865, the 6th Cavalry headquarters was established in Austin where it was part of the Fifth Military District which covered Texas and Louisianna under Generals Philip Sheridan and later under Winfield Scott Hancock.[14]

There was little or no fighting during the state of martial law imposed while the military closely supervised local government, enrolled freemen to vote, excluded former Confederate leaders for a period of time, supervised free elections, and tried to protect office holders and freedmen from violence. But Carpenter and his men did face a low level of civil hostility and violence during this uneasy transition period by trying to keep the peace. [15]

Indian Wars

10th Cavalry Regiment – The Buffalo Soldiers

Main article: 10th Cavalry Regiment (United States)

After the Civil War, Carpenter, then serving as a first lieutenant in the Regular U.S. Army, volunteered for cavalry duty with "Negro Troops" that were being raised.[1]

The 10th Cavalry was formed at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in 1866 as an all-African-American regiment. By the end of July 1867, eight companies of enlisted men had been recruited from the Departments of Missouri, Arkansas, and the Platte. Life at Leavenworth was not pleasant for the 10th Calvary. The fort's commander, who was openly opposed to African-Americans serving in the Regular Army, made life for the new troops difficult. Benjamin Grierson sought to have his regiment transferred, and subsequently received orders moving the regiment to Fort Riley, Kansas, later that summer.[16]

Carpenter accepted the rank of captain, Regular Army, on July 28, 1866. He took command of the African-American troopers of "D" company, 10th U.S. Cavalry. He was assigned to Company H from July 1867 and served with these original "Buffalo Soldiers" for thirteen years of near continuous conflict with the Native Americans in the southwest United States. This regiment composed of black enlisted men and white officers, which was typical for that era. He was dispatched to Philadelphia to recruit non-commissioned officers in late summer and fall of 1867. His efforts contributed to the high level of veteran soldiers who became the core non-commissioned officers of the 10th Cavalry. [16]

Carpenter's men respected him, and his company had the lowest documented desertion rate of the Regular Army during his charge. He noted as being fair, firm, and consistent. He learned, saw, then understood, the hardships and the racial bigotry his men faced. He wanted them to be the best and they rose to the challenge. After his service with the 10th, he campaigned and defended what his Buffalo Soldiers had done and could do. His ability to train and lead was notable and set a standard for cavalry units.[1]

Indian campaigns in Kansas and Colorado, September–October 1868

A color photograph of the Buffalo Soldier Monument at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. The sculpture was undertaken by Eddie Dixon and sits atop a waterfall. It consists of a cavalry trooper mounted on a galloping horse
Buffalo Soldier Monument on Fort Leavenworth, Kansas honoring the African-Americans troopers and those who led them.

On September 17, Lieutenant Colonel G. A. Forsyth, aide-de-camp to General Sheridan, along with a party of white scouts, was attacked and "corralled" by a force of about 700 Indians on an island in the Republican River. Two of the scouts broke through and rode frantically to get help. They both were able to reach Fort Wallace where rescue plans were quickly made.[17]

Three rescue parties went out on different routes. Carpenter in charge of Troop H and Troop I with Captain Baldwin took one route. Major Brisbin in command of two troops of the 2nd Cavalry took another route. Captain Bankhead, who went with about 100 men of the 5th Infantry took the third route.[17]

Carpenter’s troop was the first of these three commands to arrive upon the scene. They found Forsyth’s command out of rations and forced to survive on horse and mule flesh. Not one animal survived. All of Forsyth's officers had been killed or wounded. Forsyth, who had himself had been twice wounded and who was not expected to survive, was lying in a square hole scooped out in the sand. The air was impregnated with a great stench and with innumerous black flies feasting on the defensive line of dead horses which half encircled the hole where Forsyth lay and around the holes holding the living and dead.[17]

Carpenter secured the area and immediately pitched a number of tents up wind nearby. The wounded men were carefully carried to them, and the other survivors moved to more "salubrious air." The dead men and horses were hastily buried to reduce the stench and possibility of disease. Twenty-six hours later Captain Bankhead arrived bringing with him the two troops of the 2nd Cavalry.[17]

On October 14, two weeks after Carpenter had returned to Fort Wallace with the wounded of Forsyth’s command, he was ordered out once again. Again Troop H and I Troop of the 10th Cavalry sallied forth to escort Major Carr (5th Cavalry) to his command with supplies to Beaver Creek. Near there he was attacked by a force of about 500 Indians with no sign of the 5th Cavalry present.[17]

Seeking a more defensive closer to Beaver Creek, he advanced for a short period, then circled the supply wagons while his troopers fought a mobile delaying action. On his command, Carpenter's men rushed inside at the gallop. They dismounted and took up a defensive line at the gap and poured volley fire by his command into the charging Indians.[17]

Several massive volleys of aimed Spencer repeating rifles hit the front waves of the mounted Indians and decimated them as if hit by cannon filled with musket balls. A number of warriors, dismounted and using their ponies as bullet breaks bravely returned fire. Nearly all of these brave warrors died along with their ponies. Only three dead warriors made it to within fifty yards of the wagons. The Indians were so traumatized and demoralized by Carpenter's defense that they did not renew their attack.[17]

Carpenter's troopers then accomplished their task by sending out scouts to find the location of the 5th Calvary. This was done without further molestation and they arrived back to Fort Wallace on October 21.[17]

Carpenter's command had traveled some 230 miles in a week, routed some 500 mounted Indians, delivered the supplies and the new commander of the 5th Cavalry and demonstrated for all to see how professional and effective the "Buffalo Soldiers" were. For their gallantry in this fight on Beaver Creek, the officers and men were thanked by General Sheridan in a general field order, and Captain Carpenter was brevetted Colonel."[18]

Captain Carpenter became one of seven 10th Cavalry soldiers to be awarded the Medal of Honor during its service on the frontier.[17]

Continued service — Forts & Command

In May 1871, Carpenter was involved in the capture and escort of Satank, Santana, and Big Tree at Fort Sill, Indian Territory (I.T.), before later being involved in fighting at Anadarko Reservation, Wichita, I.T., in August 1874. From August 30, 1878 to May 29, 1879, Carpenter, while holding the rank of captain in the Regular Army, but brevetted as a colonel in the 10th Cavalry, served as Commanding Officer of Fort Davis. Later, he served another period of command at the fort, between June 13 to July 27, 1879.[19]

He was heavily involved in the Victorio Campaign in 1879–80 and from January 12, 1880 to May 12, 1880 he directed scouting missions into the Chinati Mountains. This, like many of his well thought out expeditions, provided the first maps drawn of the areas of operation.[n 2]

A color photograph of the Fort Davis drill ground in panoramic view
Fort Davis drill ground

From 1875 to 1885, 10th Cavalry in west Texas "scouted 34,420 miles of uncharted terrain, opened more than 300 miles of new roads, and laid over 200 miles of telegraph lines. The scouting activities took the troops through some of the harshest and most desolate terrain in the nation. These excursions allowed the preparation of excellent maps detailing scarce water holes, mountain passes, and grazing areas that would later allow for settlement of the area. These feats were accomplished while having to be constantly on the alert for hit-and-run raids from the Apaches. The stay in west Texas produced tough soldiers, who became accustomed to surviving in an area that offered few comforts and no luxuries."[20]

Carpenter was transferred to the 5th Cavalry with promotion to major, Regular Army, in March 1883 and the commanded the Army posts of Fort Robinson in Nebraska, Fort Myer in Virginia and Fort Sam Houston in Texas.[1]

On July 4, 1888, on the battlefield of Gettysburg, Carpenter was "court-martialed" for being absent without leave the previous day. He proved that his absence was due to the Secretary of War who was unmindful of his duties as a former member of the Sixth U.S. Cavalry in the Civil War and had neglected to allow him time to reach Fairfield for their 5th annual veteran's reunion.[n 3] Major Carpenter was on duty with a contingent of soldiers at the bequest of William Crowninshield Endicott, the Secetary of War, for the 25th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg and its Blue & Gray reunions.

Later career — Spanish-American War

Carpenter served as the first Director of the "Cavalry and Light Artillery School" at Fort Riley, Kansas as a lieutenant colonel, Regular Army, 7th Cavalry (1892–1897). This school "formed the basis for practical instruction that enabled the officers and men who participated to study the duties of the soldier in garrison, in camp, and on the march."[n 4] He also served as President of the Board to Revise Cavalry Tactics for the United States Army.[12]

A black and white photo of Louis Carpenter, a white male. He has a mustache and Goutea, his hair is colmbed back and he is wearing a jacket and white shirt
L. Henry Carpenter circa 1882.

In 1891 the United States Army conducted "an experiment that attempted to integrate Indian soldiers into Regular Army units. The primary object was to give employment to a considerable number of warriors from the most dangerous tribes." A significant number were sent to the "Cavalry School" at Fort Riley starting in late 1892. They received training not only in cavalry tactics, but in hygiene and classes in English. Unfortunately, probably by the lack of patience on part of the United States Army, and partly because of language difficulties and racial discrimination, the experiment failed and was discontinued in 1897. Troop L of the 7th Cavalry, noted for their "deportment and discipline", were the last of these Native-American Troops to be disbanded soon after the "final review" of the Cavalry School's Director."[n 5]

Carpenter was promoted to colonel, Regular Army, while stationed with the 5th Cavalry in 1897 and in May 1898, he was commissioned a brigadier general of volunteers for the duration of the Spanish-American War.[1]

General Carpenter commanded the 1st Division, 3rd Corps at Chickamauga and afterwards commanded the 3rd Division, 4th Corps at Tampa, Florida. Later he was ordered to Cuba to occupy the Providence of Puerto Principe with a force consisting of the 8th Cavalry, 15th Infantry and the 3rd Georgia Volunteers. His were the first troops to take station in Cuba after the Battle of Santiago. Carpenter was appointed Military Governor of the providence and remained in that capacity until in July 1899.[21] He was relieved due to illness (possibly malaria) and returned home via New York.[13]

Colonel Carpenter was promoted on October 19, 1899 to brigadier general, Regular Army, then retired the next day at his own request.[1] He had served honorably for over 38 years.

Retirement

Brown sheet of paper with Louis Carpenters signature on it with the date of May 12, 1912
1912 signature of Gen. Louis H. Carpenter

After retiring Carpenter went home to Philadelphia, he never married and there are no known children. He updated and completed the book his father Edward Carpenter started on his family's genealogical research, publishing it in 1912, regarding his immigrant ancestor Samuel Carpenter.[1][2]

He spent time writing about his Civil War service and his time on the Western Frontier. His work on the May 1864 Richmond Raid, also known as Sheridan’s raid and the resulting Battle of Yellow Tavern where Confederate Army Major General J.E.B. Stuart was mortally wounded is still used as a reference. He gave many talks and wrote articles for the G.A.R., The Grand Army of the Republic which was a fraternal organization composed of veterans of the Union Army who had served in the American Civil War.[1][2]

Brigadier General Carpenter, U.S. Army, retired, died on January 21, 1916 in Philadelphia and was buried in the family plot at Trinity Episcopal Church New Cemetery, Swedesboro, New Jersey.[1][2][22]

Honors and awards

Military awards

During his military career Carpenter earned several military awards including the Medal of Honor and two brevet promotions.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Captain, Company H, 10th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Indian campaigns, Kansas and Colorado, September–October 1868. Entered service at: Philadelphia, Pa. Birth: Glassboro, N.J. Date of issue 8 April 1898.

Citation:

Was gallant and meritorious throughout the campaigns, especially in the combat of October 15 and in the forced March on September 23, 24, and 25 to the relief of Forsyth’s Scouts, who were known to be in danger of annihilation by largely superior forces of Indians.[23]

Military promotions

Dates of rank

Private: July 1861

Brigadier general
O-7
October 19, 1899[n 6]
Colonel Lieutenant colonel Major Captain First Lieutenant 2nd lieutenant
O-6 O-5 O-4 O-3 O-2 O-1
1897 by 1892 March 1883 July 28, 1866 September 28, 1864 July 17, 1862

Brevet promotions

Carpenter received a brevet promotion to the ranks of lieutenant colonel and Colonel.[n 7]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Trinity Episcopal Church, West Philadelphia, is now where the Mario Lanza Park is located. The Church once stood west of Second Street, between Catharine and Queen streets. This Church was consecrated in 1822, closed in 1908 and razed by 1917 with the new park "Queen Park" open in late 1918. The park was renamed on September 29, 1967 in memory of Mario Lanza (1921–1959) one of Philadelphia's most beloved signers and film stars. See: "Then and Now Trinity Episcopal Church".
  2. ^ Map of scouting expeditions from camps at the Chinati Mountains: from Jan 12th to May 12 1880 under the direction of Captains L. H. Carpenter and C. D. Viele, 10th Cavalry -- "The small, 16" x 13 ¼" manuscript map acquired by Special Collections details the period when the 10th Cavalry was stationed in Texas and engaged the band of the Apache Victorio. The map was drawn in 1880 by Lieutenant William H. Beck, Grierson’s aide-de-camp, and it was done under the direction of Captains Louis H. Carpenter and Charles Viele, officers of the 10th U.S. Cavalry. The purpose of the scouting expeditions during the period of January to May, 1880, depicted on the map, was to locate the waterholes and crossings along the Rio Grande used by Victorio and his men and find a way to prevent the Apaches from exploiting these resources." The map is on line here.
  3. ^ Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Reunion of the Survivors of the Sixth U.S. Cavalry - Tuesday, July 3, 1888, Fraternally submitted, by HEINRICH G. MUELLER, Secretary. No. 95 Pasture Street, Allegheny, Pa., July 6, 1888. "We charged on Major Louis Carpenter's (formerly of our regiment) command, and for the first time, an old officer of the gallant old Sixth was completely surprised, his command demoralized and routed, and the gallant old Major left on the field, a prisoner of war." Then, "He was promptly court-martialed for being absent without leave (on) July 3(rd) and I do not know what the sentence would have been, had he not clearly proven that his absence was due to the Secretary of War, who unmindful of his duty to an old soldier, had neglected to issue the proper order in time for the Major to reach Fairfield in time for the (5th annual) reunion." See item 3 here.
  4. ^ "In 1887 Congress appropriated $200,000 for a school at Fort Riley, Kansas, to instruct enlisted men of cavalry and light artillery, but five years went by (1892) before the Cavalry and Light Artillery School was formally established. Once it opened its doors, however, complete regimental troops and batteries trained there, as did recruits before they joined a regiment. In the years that followed, the school changed names several times, in 1907 becoming the Mounted Service School; in 1919, the Cavalry School; on 1 November 1946, the Ground General School; and in 1950, the Army General School. The school was discontinued in May 1955."
    • Mary Lee Stubbs, Mary Lee & Connor, Stanley Russell - "ARMOR-CAVALRY - Part I: Regular Army and Army Reserve," Army Lineage Series. Office of the Chief of Military History, Washington, D.C., published 1969. Page 22. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 69-60002 . See online here.
  5. ^ Page 23 - "By 1890 the abatement of the Indian threat brought about the first reduction in cavalry since the Civil War. Troops L and M of all regiments were disbanded and the number of privates in each of the other companies was reduced to 44 (from a maximun of 100), in effect a reduction of about 50 percent." Page 24 - "The next year part of the cut was restored in an experiment that attempted to integrate Indian soldiers into Regular Army units. The primary object was to give employment to a considerable number of warriors from the most dangerous tribes. Troops L of the 1st through the 8th Cavalry were reactivated with Indian enlisted personnel drawn, as nearly as possible, from the area in which each regiment was serving. For example, Troop L, 1st Cavalry, in Montana was filled in a very short time by members of the Crow tribe. That fall (1891), the regimental commander (1st Cavalry) reported that the new troopers possessed all the characteristics and traits essential to good light cavalry. Nevertheless, due partly to the language barrier and partly to the general attitude that existed between the two races, the experiment failed and the last unit of this type, Troop L, 7th Cavalry, was disbanded in 1897."
    • Mary Lee Stubbs, Mary Lee & Connor, Stanley Russell - "ARMOR-CAVALRY - Part I: Regular Army and Army Reserve," Army Lineage Series. Office of the Chief of Military History, Washington, D.C., published 1969. Page 23–24. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 69-60002 . See online here.
  6. ^ General Carpenter held several ranks due to brevet or temporary promotions so these dates of rank reflect the permanent or last date that the rank was awarded.
  7. ^ During the American Civil War the Union Army used brevet promotions. Soldiers and officers could be brevetted to fill officer positions as a reward for gallantry or meritorious service. Typically the brevetted officer would be given the insignia of the brevetted rank, but not the pay or formal authority. It was not unheard of for an officer to have several different ranks simultaneously, such as being a brevet major general of volunteers, an actual brigadier general of volunteers, a brevet lieutenant colonel in the Regular Army, and an actual Regular Army rank of captain (e.g. Ranald S. Mackenzie). The practice of brevetting disappeared from the (regular) U.S. military at the end of the 19th century; honors were bestowed instead with a series of medals. However, a similar practice of frocking continues in all five branches of the U.S. armed forces.

References

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Edward Carpenter & his son, Gen. Louis H. Carpenter (1912). "Samuel Carpenter and his Descendants". Samuel Carpenter and his Descendants. J.B. Lippincott Company. Retrieved July 31, 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  2. ^ a b c d Carpenters' Encyclopedia of Carpenters 2009 (DVD format), Subject is RIN 4066; work contains updates to the 1912 book on "Samuel Carpenter and his Descendants."
  3. ^ 1st Sgt. Chuck Burke (1998-09-03). ""The Fighting Sixth" Cavalry Regiment". 1st Sgt. Chuck Burke. Retrieved July 13, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ Eicher, Longest Night, pp. 280–81.
  5. ^ Longacre, Edward G., Lincoln's Cavalrymen, A History of the Mounted Forces of the Army of the Potomac, Stackpole Books, 2000, ISBN 0-8117-1049-1.
  6. ^ Symonds, Craig L., American Heritage History of the Battle of Gettysburg, p. 36, Harper Collins, 2001, ISBN 0-06-019474-X.
  7. ^ a b United States. War Department, The War of the Rebellion: a Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, US Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C. (various volumes printed 1880 to 1901), Volume XXV - in Two Parts. 1889. (Vol. 25, Chap. 37)
  8. ^ "The Gettysburg National Military Park Virtual Tour". The Story of the Battle of Gettysburg. National Parks Service. 2001. Retrieved July 5, 2009. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  9. ^ Longacre, p. 236, indicates that the 6th Virginia conducted the second charge alone.
  10. ^ Carter, William H. Lieutenant Colonel (1851–1920?), "From Yorktown to Santiago with the Sixth U. S. Cavalry", State House Press, Austin Texas, 1989. 329 pages, ISBN 0938349422 & ISBN 978-0938349426.
    • Note: Lt. Col. Carter, who wrote this book in 1900, was commissioned a second lieutenant at West Point (Class of 1873) and served with the Sixth from 1874 until his retirement as a Major General in 1915. The 1989 book is a reprint. Click here and see item 3.
  11. ^ George C. Platt, 6th United States Cavalry, Troop "H" — See item 1 & eyewitness statement at: here.
  12. ^ a b Buffalo Soldiers - Louis H. Carpenter, on line here.
  13. ^ a b Wittenberg, Eric (The General) (2007-11-07). "Rantings of a Civil War Historian: The worldview of a Civil War historian, publisher, and practicing lawyer". Brig. Gen. Louis H. Carpenter, U. S. Cavalry. Eric Wittenberg. Retrieved July 13, 2009.
  14. ^ Rodenbough, Theophilus Francis, Bvt. Brigadier General, retired & Haskin, William L., Major, retired, The Army of the United States - Historical Sketches of Staff and Line with Portraits of Generals-in-Chief, published by Maynard, Merrill, & Co., 1896, New York. See section: Sixth Regiment of Cavalry by Captain William H. Carter, 6th U.S. Cavalry. This is part of the U.S. Army Center of Military History online.
  15. ^ Foner, E., Reconstruction: America's unfinished revolution, 1863-1877, NY, published by Harper & Row, 1988, see chapters 6 & 7.
  16. ^ a b On the Trail of the Buffalo Soldier II: New and Revised Biographies of African Americans (1866-1917) Rowman & Littlefield, (2004) - ISBN 0842050795
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i Buffalo Soldiers — 10th Cavalry Medal of Honor Recipients, on line here. Cite error: The named reference "Buffalosoldiers" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  18. ^ Leckie, William H.: The Buffalo Soldiers: A Narrative of the Negro Cavalry in the West, University of Oklahoma Press (December, 1999), 290 pp. ISBN 0806112441 ISBN 978-0806112442.
  19. ^ Fort Davis National Historic Site: Commanding Officers of Fort Davis, on line here.
  20. ^ Buffalo Soldiers — 10th Cavalry, on line here.
  21. ^ Yates, Austin A., Major - "Schenectady County, New York: Its History to the Close of the Nineteenth Century" - Chapter XXVI (pp. 404–409). On line here.
  22. ^ Louis H. Carpenter at Find a Grave Retrieved on 2009-07-04
  23. ^ "U.S. Army Center of Military History Medal of Honor Citations Archive". American Medal of Honor recipients for the Indian Wars. June 8, 2009. Retrieved June 8, 2009. {{cite web}}: Text "publisher Army Medal of Honor website" ignored (help)

Further reading

  • Brady, Cyrus Townsend (1971) [1904]. Indian Fights and Fighters. Bison Books. ISBN 9780803257436.
  • Heitman, Francis B. (1994) [1903]. Historical Register and Dictionary of US Army, 1789–1903, Volume 1 & 2. US Government Printing Office. ISBN 9780806314013.
  • Longacre, Edward G. (1986). The Cavalry at Gettysburg. University of Nebraska Press. ISBN 0-8032-7941-8.
  • United States Senate, Veterans' Affairs of the Committee on Labor and Public Welfare US Senate 1968 (1968). Medal of Honor 1863–1968. US Govt Printing Office. doi:ocm00008594. {{cite book}}: Check |doi= value (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  • Wittenberg, Eric J. (1998). Gettysburg's Forgotten Cavalry Actions. Thomas Publications. ISBN 1-57747-035-4.

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