Amos J. Cummings
Encyclopedia
Amos Jay Cummings was a United States Representative
from New York
and a recipient of the United States
military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor
.
, Cummings attended the common school
s before being apprenticed
to the printing
trade at age twelve.
He was with William Walker in his last invasion of Nicaragua
in October 1858.
During the Civil War
, Cummings enlisted from Irvington, New Jersey
, into the Union Army
and served as a Sergeant Major in the 26th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Second Brigade, VI Corps
, Army of the Potomac
. He earned the Medal of Honor on May 4, 1863 at Salem Heights, Virginia
. His official citation reads: "Rendered great assistance in the heat of the action in rescuing a part of the field batteries
from an extremely dangerous and exposed position." His medal was not awarded until several decades later, on March 28, 1894.
After his military service, Cummings filled editor
ial positions for the New York Tribune
under Horace Greeley
. He later worked for The New York Sun and the New York Express.
Cummings was elected as a Democrat
to the 50th Congress
(March 4, 1887-March 3, 1889). He declined renomination in 1888, but was subsequently elected to the 51st Congress
to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Samuel S. Cox
. He was reelected to the 52nd
and 53rd Congresses
and served from November 5, 1889, to November 21, 1894, when he resigned. He served as chairman of the Committee on Naval Affairs during the 53rd Congress.
Cummings was elected to the 54th Congress
to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Representative-elect Andrew J. Campbell
. He was reelected to the 55th
, 56th
, and 57th Congresses
and served from November 5, 1895, until his death in Baltimore, Maryland, on May 2, 1902. He was interred in Clinton Cemetery in Irvington, New Jersey
.
Citation:
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and a recipient of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
.
Biography
Born in Conklin, New YorkConklin, New York
Conklin is a town in Broome County, New York, United States. The population was 5,940 at the 2000 census.The Town of Conklin is on the south border of the county, southeast of Binghamton, New York.- History :The area was first settled around 1788....
, Cummings attended the common school
Common school
A common school was a public school in the United States or Canada in the nineteenth century. The term 'common school' was coined by Horace Mann, and refers to the fact that they were meant to serve individuals of all social classes and religions....
s before being apprenticed
Apprenticeship
Apprenticeship is a system of training a new generation of practitioners of a skill. Apprentices or protégés build their careers from apprenticeships...
to the printing
Printing
Printing is a process for reproducing text and image, typically with ink on paper using a printing press. It is often carried out as a large-scale industrial process, and is an essential part of publishing and transaction printing....
trade at age twelve.
He was with William Walker in his last invasion of Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
in October 1858.
During the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Cummings enlisted from Irvington, New Jersey
Irvington, New Jersey
Irvington is a township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township had a total population of 53,926, a decline of 11.2% from the 60,695 residents enumerated in the 2000 Census.-Geography:...
, into the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
and served as a Sergeant Major in the 26th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Second Brigade, VI Corps
VI Corps (ACW)
The VI Corps was a corps of the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Formation:The corps was organized as the Sixth Provisional Corps on May 18, 1862, by uniting Maj. Gen. William B. Franklin's Division, which had just arrived on the Virginia Peninsula, with Maj. Gen. William F. Smith's...
, Army of the Potomac
Army of the Potomac
The Army of the Potomac was the major Union Army in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War.-History:The Army of the Potomac was created in 1861, but was then only the size of a corps . Its nucleus was called the Army of Northeastern Virginia, under Brig. Gen...
. He earned the Medal of Honor on May 4, 1863 at Salem Heights, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. His official citation reads: "Rendered great assistance in the heat of the action in rescuing a part of the field batteries
Field artillery
Field artillery is a category of mobile artillery used to support armies in the field. These weapons are specialized for mobility, tactical proficiency, long range, short range and extremely long range target engagement....
from an extremely dangerous and exposed position." His medal was not awarded until several decades later, on March 28, 1894.
After his military service, Cummings filled editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
ial positions for the New York Tribune
New York Tribune
The New York Tribune was an American newspaper, first established by Horace Greeley in 1841, which was long considered one of the leading newspapers in the United States...
under Horace Greeley
Horace Greeley
Horace Greeley was an American newspaper editor, a founder of the Liberal Republican Party, a reformer, a politician, and an outspoken opponent of slavery...
. He later worked for The New York Sun and the New York Express.
Cummings was elected as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the 50th Congress
50th United States Congress
The Fiftieth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1887 to March 4, 1889, during the third and fourth...
(March 4, 1887-March 3, 1889). He declined renomination in 1888, but was subsequently elected to the 51st Congress
51st United States Congress
The Fifty-first United States Congress, referred to by some critics as the Billion Dollar Congress, was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C...
to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Samuel S. Cox
Samuel S. Cox
Samuel Sullivan "Sunset" Cox was an American Congressman and diplomat. He represented both Ohio and New York in the United States House of Representatives, and also served as United States Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire.Cox was the grandson of New Jersey Congressman James Cox...
. He was reelected to the 52nd
52nd United States Congress
The Fifty-second United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C...
and 53rd Congresses
53rd United States Congress
The Fifty-third United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1893 to March 4, 1895, during the fifth and sixth...
and served from November 5, 1889, to November 21, 1894, when he resigned. He served as chairman of the Committee on Naval Affairs during the 53rd Congress.
Cummings was elected to the 54th Congress
54th United States Congress
- House of Representatives :-Leadership:- Senate :* President: Adlai E. Stevenson * President pro tempore: William P. Frye - Majority leadership :* Republican Conference Chairman: John Sherman- Minority leadership :...
to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Representative-elect Andrew J. Campbell
Andrew J. Campbell
-Life:Born in Newark, New Jersey, Campbell worked in government as a deputy tax commissioner, clerk of a judicial court and in public works. He was also a merchant in New York City. In 1856, he was elected to the New York City Council and in 1875 was elected to the New York Assembly serving one...
. He was reelected to the 55th
55th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:* Republican: 206 * Democratic: 124* Populist: 22* Silver Republican: 3* Silver: 1* Independent Republican: 1TOTAL members: 357-Leadership:-Senate:* President: Garret Hobart * President pro tempore: William P...
, 56th
56th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:- Leadership :- Senate :* President: Garret Hobart , until November 21, 1899 , vacant thereafter.* President pro tempore: William P. Frye * Democratic Caucus Chairman: James K. Jones...
, and 57th Congresses
57th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:*Democratic: 151*Republican: 200 *Populist: 5*Silver : 1TOTAL members: 357-Leadership:-Senate:* President: Theodore Roosevelt , until September 14, 1901, vacant thereafter....
and served from November 5, 1895, until his death in Baltimore, Maryland, on May 2, 1902. He was interred in Clinton Cemetery in Irvington, New Jersey
Irvington, New Jersey
Irvington is a township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township had a total population of 53,926, a decline of 11.2% from the 60,695 residents enumerated in the 2000 Census.-Geography:...
.
Medal of Honor citation
Rank and organization: Sergeant Major, 26th New Jersey Infantry. Place and date: At Salem Heights, Va., 4 May 1863. Entered service at: Irvington, N.J. Born: 15 May 1841, Conklin, N.Y. Date of issue. 28 March 1894.Citation:
Rendered great assistance in the heat of the action in rescuing a part of the field batteries from an extremely dangerous and exposed position.
See also
- List of American Civil War Medal of Honor recipients: A–F