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Augustus Henry Seward

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Augustus Henry Seward
Personal details
Born(1826-10-01)October 1, 1826
Auburn, New York, U.S.
DiedSeptember 11, 1876(1876-09-11) (aged 49)
Montrose, New York, U.S.
Resting placeFort Hill Cemetery, Auburn, New York
Parent(s)William H. Seward
Frances Adeline Miller
Military service
AllegianceUnited States of America
Union
Branch/serviceUnited States Army
Union Army
Years of service1847–1876
Rank Brevet Colonel
Battles/warsMexican–American War
American Civil War

Augustus Henry Seward (October 1, 1826 – September 11, 1876) was the son of William H. Seward and Frances Adeline Seward. He was a career officer in the United States Army, and attained the rank of brevet Colonel.

Early life

Augustus H. Seward was born in Auburn, New York, on October 1, 1826, and was the first child of William H. Seward and his wife Frances Miller.[1][2] In addition to being the son of William H. and Frances Seward, Augustus Seward was the grandson of Judges Elijah Miller and Samuel S. Seward, and the brother of Frederick W. Seward, Cornelia Seward, William H. Seward Jr. and Frances Adeline "Fanny" Seward.[3]

In 1847, Seward graduated from the United States Military Academy, ranked 34th of 38 students.[4] While at West Point his roommates included Henry Heth, who ranked 38th.[5]

Career

After graduation, Seward was appointed a Second Lieutenant in the 8th Infantry Regiment, and he served with his regiment in Mexico during the Mexican–American War.[6] After the war Augustus Seward continued his military career, serving with the 5th Infantry in: East Pascagoula, Mississippi; Forts Towson and Washita in Indian Territory; on the Utah Expedition; and at Forts Defiance and Union in New Mexico Territory. He was promoted to First Lieutenant in 1853 and Captain in 1859.[7]

Civil War

In 1861 Augutus Seward transferred to the Paymaster Corps and was promoted to Major. Later that year he declined an appointment in the 19th Infantry. During the American Civil War he carried out paymaster and staff duties in New Mexico Territory, Arizona Territory and Washington, D.C. He received brevet promotions to Lieutenant Colonel in May, 1865 and Colonel in November, 1865 in recognition of his Civil War service.[8]

Assassination attempt

Main article: Abraham Lincoln assassination: William H. Seward

Augustus Seward was staying at the home of his father in Washington, D.C. on April 14, 1865, when Lewis Powell attempted to assassinate William H. Seward at the same time John Wilkes Booth was carrying out the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.[9][10] His father was in bed recovering from injuries sustained in a carriage accident, and a jaw splint he was wearing as a result likely deflected Powell's knife and saved Seward's life.[11] Augustus, his brother Frederick and others in the house were attacked by Powell as Powell attempted to gain access to Seward's bedroom, as they intervened in Powell's attack on Seward, and again as Powell made his escape. Augustus suffered seven stab wounds and remained in Washington until 1868, where he testified at Powell's trial, and performed staff duties while recovering from his wounds.[12]

Later career

Augustus Seward continued to serve in the Army and perform paymaster and staff duties. His postings included: Boston, Massachusetts, from January to October 1868; New York City from 1868 to 1869; leave of absence from February to December 1869; Chief Paymaster of the Department of the Cumberland from December 1869 to May 1870; Chief Paymaster of the Department of the South and Paymaster of the department headquarters from May 1870 to October 1871; and Paymaster of the Department of Dakota from November 1871 to May 1876.[13]

Death and burial

In May 1876, Seward was diagnosed with an affliction described as paralysis of the eye. He took a leave of absence from the Army and died at the home of his brother Frederick in Montrose, New York on September 11, 1876.[14][15] He was buried at Fort Hill Cemetery in Auburn.[16]

Augustus Street in Auburn, one of four streets named for members of the Seward family, and which form a city block, is named for him.[17]

References

  1. ^ Thomas William Herringshaw, Herringshaw's National Library of American Biography, 1914, p. 161.
  2. ^ Frederic Bancroft, The Life of William H. Seward, Volume 1, 1900, p. 203.
  3. ^ University of Rochester, River Campus Libraries, William Henry Seward papers: Biography, William H. Seward, retrieved November 1, 2013.
  4. ^ J. B. Lyon Company, Printer, Documents of the Assembly of the State of New York, Volume 35: Officers Who Served in the Regular Army of the United States from April 1, 1861 to April 30, 1865, 1911, p. 4436.
  5. ^ James S. Robbins, Last in Their Class: Custer, Pickett and the Goats of West Point, 2006, p. 73.
  6. ^ Frederick Augustus Porter Barnard, Arnold Guyot, editors, Johnson's New Universal Cyclopædia, Volume 4, Part 2, 1883, p. 1659.
  7. ^ George Washington Cullum, Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the United States Military Academy, Volume II, 1868, p. 204.
  8. ^ George Washington Cullum, Edward Singleton Holden, Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the United States Military Academy, Volume II (3rd edition), 1891, p. 340.
  9. ^ Mark Jones, Peter Johnstone, History of Criminal Justice, 2011, p. 273.
  10. ^ Thomas Goodrich, The Darkest Dawn: Lincoln, Booth, and the Great American Tragedy, 2006, pp. 92–93.
  11. ^ Don Voorhees, The Indispensable Book of Useless Information, Your Name is Mudd, 2011.
  12. ^ Charles Bracelen Flood. Grant and Sherman: The Friendship That Won the Civil War, 2006, pp. 327–328.
  13. ^ Cullum, Holden, Biographical Register, 1891, p. 340.
  14. ^ Lowell (Mass.) Daily Courier, Death notice, Augustus H. Seward, September 12, 1876.
  15. ^ Utica (N.Y.) Weekly Herald, Death notice, Augustus H. Seward, December 12, 1876.
  16. ^ Augustus Henry Seward at Find a Grave
  17. ^ Maggie MacLean, Civil War Women, Women of the Civil War and Reconstruction Eras 1849-1877, Frances Seward, October 1, 2010.

Augustus Henry Seward at Find a Grave

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