Clement Flagler
Encyclopedia
Clement Alexander Finley Flagler (1867–1922) was a United States Army
Major General
who was noteworthy as regiment
al, brigade
and division
commander in World War I
.
, the son of Brigadier General
Daniel Webster Flagler, for whom Fort Flagler, Washington was named.
The younger Flagler was named for his maternal grandfather, Army Surgeon General Clement Alexander Finley
. Known as Clement Flagler, Clement A.F. Flagler, and C.A.F Flagler, he grew up in Iowa
while his father commanded the Rock Island Arsenal
.
In 1885 he received a bachelor of science degree from Griswold College
, afterwards accepting appointment to the United States Military Academy
, from which he graduated in 1889.
While at West Point Flagler was nicknamed "Sioux" as a testament to his dark eyes, hair and complexion, his having been raised in Iowa, and his self-professed Native American
heritage, and his classmates used it with him for the rest of his life.
officer, Flagler served as instructor in civil and military engineering at West Point, and as engineer officer at Chickamauga, Georgia
.
Flagler was temporarily promoted to Major
and assigned as engineer officer on the staff of the U.S. Army commander in Puerto Rico.
and a posting as chief engineering officer for the Army's Department of the East
. Flagler also played a role in choosing the route for enlarging the Delaware and Chesapeake Canal.
In 1914 Flagler graduated from the Army War College.
After his War College graduation Flagler served as engineer officer for the District of Columbia Engineer District.
staff in Vera Cruz Expedition.
, Virginia
and then chief engineer of the department based in Honolulu, Hawaii
.
In 1921 Flagler was assigned to Baltimore as chief engineer of the Eastern Division, the post in which he was serving when he died.
, Section West E Site 147.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
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...
who was noteworthy as regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
al, brigade
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
and division
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
commander in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Early life
He was born Clement Alexander Finley Flagler in Augusta, GeorgiaAugusta, Georgia
Augusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...
, the son of Brigadier General
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
Daniel Webster Flagler, for whom Fort Flagler, Washington was named.
The younger Flagler was named for his maternal grandfather, Army Surgeon General Clement Alexander Finley
Clement Finley
Clement Alexander Finley , was the 10th Surgeon General of the United States Army, May 15, 1861 – April 14, 1862.-Early life:...
. Known as Clement Flagler, Clement A.F. Flagler, and C.A.F Flagler, he grew up in Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
while his father commanded the Rock Island Arsenal
Rock Island Arsenal
The Rock Island Arsenal comprises , located on Arsenal Island, originally known as Rock Island, on the Mississippi River between the cities of Davenport, Iowa, and Rock Island, Illinois. It lies within the state of Illinois. The island was originally established as a government site in 1816, with...
.
In 1885 he received a bachelor of science degree from Griswold College
Rivermont Collegiate
Rivermont Collegiate is a nonsectarian, independent, multicultural, college preparatory school for students - preschool through twelfth grade...
, afterwards accepting appointment to the United States Military Academy
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...
, from which he graduated in 1889.
While at West Point Flagler was nicknamed "Sioux" as a testament to his dark eyes, hair and complexion, his having been raised in Iowa, and his self-professed Native American
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
heritage, and his classmates used it with him for the rest of his life.
Start of military career
Assigned as an EngineerUnited States Army Corps of Engineers
The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency...
officer, Flagler served as instructor in civil and military engineering at West Point, and as engineer officer at Chickamauga, Georgia
Chickamauga, Georgia
Chickamauga is a city in Walker County, Georgia, United States. The population was 2,245 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Chattanooga, TN–GA Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
.
Spanish-American War
During the Spanish-American WarSpanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
Flagler was temporarily promoted to Major
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
and assigned as engineer officer on the staff of the U.S. Army commander in Puerto Rico.
Post Spanish American War
Following the Spanish-American War Flagler continued to carry out Engineer assignments, including serving as officer in charge of the federal lighthouse district based in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
and a posting as chief engineering officer for the Army's Department of the East
Department of the East
The Department of the East was a military administrative district established by the U.S. Army on March 5, 1866, with boundaries encompassing all the states east of the Mississippi River...
. Flagler also played a role in choosing the route for enlarging the Delaware and Chesapeake Canal.
In 1914 Flagler graduated from the Army War College.
After his War College graduation Flagler served as engineer officer for the District of Columbia Engineer District.
Pancho Villa Expedition
During Mexican border skirmishes of 1914-1916, Flagler served on General Funston'sFrederick Funston
Frederick N. Funston also known as Fred Funston, was a General in the United States Army, best known for his role in the Spanish-American War and the Philippine-American War...
staff in Vera Cruz Expedition.
World War I
During World War I, Flagler successively commanded the 7th Engineer Regiment, 5th Infantry Division Artillery, III Corps Artillery, and the 42nd (Rainbow) Infantry Division, attaining the temporary rank of Major General.Post World War I
After World War I Flagler served as commandant of the Army's Engineer School at Camp HumphreysCamp Humphreys
Camp Humphreys or USAG-H is a medium-sized United States Army garrison located near Anjeong-ri and south of Pyeongtaek metropolitan area in South Korea. Camp Humphreys is located 55 miles south of Seoul and is one of the U.S. Army's fastest growing installations...
, 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...
and then chief engineer of the department based in Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and...
.
In 1921 Flagler was assigned to Baltimore as chief engineer of the Eastern Division, the post in which he was serving when he died.
Military awards
General Flagler was a recipient of the Legion of Honor and the Croix de Guerre for his World War I service.Death and interment
General Flagler died at Johns Hopkins University Hospital and was buried at Arlington National CemeteryArlington 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...
, Section West E Site 147.
External Resources
- Find A Grave page, Clement Flagler, accessed March 20, 2011
- Clement Alexander Finley Flagler page, Arlington National Cemetery.net web site, accessed March 20, 2011