Christopher C. Augur
Encyclopedia
Christopher Columbus Augur (July 10, 1821 – January 16, 1898) was an American
military officer, most noted for his role in the American Civil War
. Although less well known than other Union commanders, he was nonetheless considered an able battlefield commander.
. He moved with his family to Michigan
and entered West Point
in 1839. Following his graduation in 1843, Augur served as aide-de-camp
to Generals Hopping
and Cushing
during the Mexican-American War, and during the 1850s took an active part in the campaigns of the western frontier against the Yakima and Rogue River
tribes of Washington and, in 1856, against the Oregon Indians. In Oregon
, he was responsible for building Fort Hoskins
in Kings Valley.
during the early part of the war. He was severely wounded at Cedar Mountain
in August 1862 while leading a division under Maj. Gen. Nathaniel Banks. He was appointed major general
by President Abraham Lincoln
on November 14, 1862, to rank from August 9, 1862. President Lincoln had to submit the nomination three times before the U.S. Senate finally confirmed the appointment on March 10, 1863. Subsequently Augur commanded a division in the Army of the Gulf
during the siege of Port Hudson
. He commanded the XXII Corps
and the Department of Washington (1863–66), ending the war with an exemplary record.
(1867–71), of Texas
(1871–75), and of the Gulf
(1875–78). He also played a major role in negotiations of the Treaties of Medicine Lodge in 1867 and Fort Laramie
in 1868. A fort in the Wyoming Territory was briefly named Fort Augur
in his honor. In 1885, he retired from the military service in the grade of brigadier general, U.S. Army. He died in Georgetown, Washington, D.C.
, and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
military officer, most noted for his role in the American 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...
. Although less well known than other Union commanders, he was nonetheless considered an able battlefield commander.
Early life
Augur was born in Kendall, New YorkKendall, New York
Kendall is a town in Orleans County, New York, United States. The population was 2,838 at the 2000 census. The Town of Kendall is in the northeast corner of the county and is northwest of Rochester.- History :...
. He moved with his family to Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
and entered West Point
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
in 1839. Following his graduation in 1843, Augur served as aide-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to Generals Hopping
Enos D. Hopping
Enos D. Hopping was a Brigadier General of Volunteers in the United States Army during the Mexican-American War. A personal and political friend of Secretary of War William L. Marcy, Hopping was appointed a Brigadier General of Volunteers by President James K. Polk on March 3, 1847...
and Cushing
Caleb Cushing
Caleb Cushing was an American diplomat who served as a U.S. Congressman from Massachusetts and Attorney General under President Franklin Pierce.-Early life:...
during the Mexican-American War, and during the 1850s took an active part in the campaigns of the western frontier against the Yakima and Rogue River
Rogue River
Rogue River may refer to:* "Rogue River" , an episode of Jericho and the eponymous place* Rogue River , a river in Michigan, USA* Rogue River , a river in Oregon, USA* Rogue River, Oregon, a city in Oregon, USA...
tribes of Washington and, in 1856, against the Oregon Indians. In Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, he was responsible for building Fort Hoskins
Fort Hoskins
Fort Hoskins was one of three "forts" built by the U.S. Army to monitor the Coastal Indian Reservation in Oregon in the mid- 19th century. The Fort Hoskins Site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.- History :The post was begun in 1856 on the Luckiamute River under the...
in Kings Valley.
Civil War
Upon the outbreak of the Civil War, Augur served as commandant of cadets at West Point. Appointed brigadier general of volunteers in 1861, he commanded a brigade under Irvin McDowellIrvin McDowell
Irvin McDowell was a career American army officer. He is best known for his defeat in the First Battle of Bull Run, the first large-scale battle of the American Civil War.-Early life:...
during the early part of the war. He was severely wounded at Cedar Mountain
Battle of Cedar Mountain
The Battle of Cedar Mountain, also known as Slaughter's Mountain or Cedar Run, took place on August 9, 1862, in Culpeper County, Virginia, as part of the American Civil War. Union forces under Maj. Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks attacked Confederate forces under Maj. Gen. Thomas J...
in August 1862 while leading a division under Maj. Gen. Nathaniel Banks. He was appointed major general
Major general (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general...
by President Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
on November 14, 1862, to rank from August 9, 1862. President Lincoln had to submit the nomination three times before the U.S. Senate finally confirmed the appointment on March 10, 1863. Subsequently Augur commanded a division in the Army of the Gulf
Army of the Gulf
The Army of the Gulf was a Union army that served in the general area of the Gulf states controlled by Union forces. It mainly saw action in Louisiana and Alabama.-History:...
during the siege of Port Hudson
Siege of Port Hudson
The Siege of Port Hudson occurred from May 22 to July 9, 1863, when Union Army troops assaulted and then surrounded the Mississippi River town of Port Hudson, Louisiana, during the American Civil War....
. He commanded the XXII Corps
XXII Corps (ACW)
XXII Corps was a corps in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was created on February 2, 1863, to consist of all troops garrisoned in Washington, D.C., and included three infantry divisions and one of cavalry...
and the Department of Washington (1863–66), ending the war with an exemplary record.
Postbellum career
Following the war, Augur also would command the departments of the PlatteDepartment of the Platte
The Department of the Platte was a military administrative district established by the U.S. Army on March 5, 1866, with boundaries encompassing Iowa, Nebraska, Dakota Territory, Utah Territory and a small portion of Idaho...
(1867–71), of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
(1871–75), and of the Gulf
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
(1875–78). He also played a major role in negotiations of the Treaties of Medicine Lodge in 1867 and Fort Laramie
Treaty of Fort Laramie
Treaty of Fort Laramie may refer to:*Treaty of Fort Laramie *Treaty of Fort Laramie...
in 1868. A fort in the Wyoming Territory was briefly named Fort Augur
Fort Washakie
Fort Washakie was a U.S Army fort in what is now the U.S. state of Wyoming. The fort was established in 1869 and named Camp Augur afterGeneral Christopher C. Augur, commander of the Department of the Platte. In 1870 the camp was renamed Camp Brown in honor of Captain Frederick H. Brown who was...
in his honor. In 1885, he retired from the military service in the grade of brigadier general, U.S. Army. He died in Georgetown, Washington, D.C.
Georgetown, Washington, D.C.
Georgetown is a neighborhood located in northwest Washington, D.C., situated along the Potomac River. Founded in 1751, the port of Georgetown predated the establishment of the federal district and the City of Washington by 40 years...
, and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
.
See also
- List of American Civil War generals (Union)