Eli L. Huggins
Encyclopedia
Eli Lundy Huggins was a US Army officer who received the Medal of Honor
for his actions during the Indian Wars
. He was born in Schuyler County, Illinois, and died in San Diego.
After briefly attending Hamline University
, Huggins dropped out and enlisted as a private
in the 2nd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry
in July 1861. He was promoted to corporal
in 1862, and was captured at the Battle of Chickamauga
, but released the following year. In February 1865, he was commissioned first lieutenant
in the 1st Minnesota Heavy Artillery Regiment
before being mustered out the following September.
Thanks to a recommendation of congressman William Windom
, he was commissioned a second lieutenant
of artillery in February 1866, and regained the rank of first lieutenant in December. While still in the army, he attended Minnesota State University
from 1872 to 1875. He was then transferred to the cavalry, and promoted to captain of the 2nd US Cavalry in 1879. In October 1882 he was appointed Assistant Inspector General in the Department of the Columbia
. He was promoted to major
in November 1894 (a week before receiving his medal) and served as aide-de-camp of general Nelson A. Miles
until Miles' appointment as Commanding General of the Army.
Following the outbreak of the Spanish-American War
, he was appointed colonel
of the 8th Volunteer Infantry in May 1898. After the war he reverted to his previous rank and served with the 6th US Cavalry in the Boxer Rebellion
. He was again promoted to colonel in November 1901 and received command of his old regiment, the 2nd Cavalry. He was finally promoted to Brigadier General
on February 22, 1901, and retired the next day.
Following his retirement, Huggins became a real-estate investor in the Indian Territory
. He was buried in Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland, California
.
. Birth: Schuyler County, Ill. Date of issue: November 27, 1894.
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...
for his actions during the Indian Wars
Indian Wars
American Indian Wars is the name used in the United States to describe a series of conflicts between American settlers or the federal government and the native peoples of North America before and after the American Revolutionary War. The wars resulted from the arrival of European colonizers who...
. He was born in Schuyler County, Illinois, and died in San Diego.
After briefly attending Hamline University
Hamline University
-Red Wing location :Hamline was named in honor of Leonidas Lent Hamline, a bishop of the Methodist Church whose interest in the frontier led him to donate $25,000 toward the building of an institution of higher learning in what was then the territory of Minnesota. Today, a statue of Bishop Hamline...
, Huggins dropped out and enlisted as a private
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
in the 2nd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry
2nd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry
The 2nd Minnesota Regiment Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 2nd Minnesota Infantry was organized at Fort Snelling, Minnesota and mustered in by companies for three years service beginning June 26, 1861 under the...
in July 1861. He was promoted to corporal
Corporal
Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4....
in 1862, and was captured at the Battle of Chickamauga
Battle of Chickamauga
The Battle of Chickamauga, fought September 19–20, 1863, marked the end of a Union offensive in southeastern Tennessee and northwestern Georgia called the Chickamauga Campaign...
, but released the following year. In February 1865, he was commissioned first lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
in the 1st Minnesota Heavy Artillery Regiment
1st Minnesota Heavy Artillery Regiment
The 1st Minnesota Volunteer Heavy Artillery Regiment was a regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 1st Minnesota Heavy Artillery mustered in at St. Paul, and Rochester, Minnesota, between November 1864 and February 1865...
before being mustered out the following September.
Thanks to a recommendation of congressman William Windom
William Windom
This page is about the former United States politician. William Windom was an American politician from Minnesota. He served as U.S. Representative from 1859 to 1869, and as U.S. Senator from 1870 to January 1871, from March 1871 to March 1881, and from November 1881 to 1883...
, he was commissioned a second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
of artillery in February 1866, and regained the rank of first lieutenant in December. While still in the army, he attended Minnesota State University
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Minnesota State University, Mankato is a public four-year university located in Mankato, Minnesota, a community of 53,000 located southwest of Minneapolis-St. Paul. As of Fall 2011, the student body is the third-largest in the state of Minnesota with over 15,000 students...
from 1872 to 1875. He was then transferred to the cavalry, and promoted to captain of the 2nd US Cavalry in 1879. In October 1882 he was appointed Assistant Inspector General in the Department of the Columbia
Department of the Columbia
The Department of the Columbia was a major command of the United States Army during the 19th century.-Formation:On July 27, 1865 the Military Division of the Pacific was created under Major General Henry W...
. He was promoted to major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
in November 1894 (a week before receiving his medal) and served as aide-de-camp of general Nelson A. Miles
Nelson A. Miles
Nelson Appleton Miles was a United States soldier who served in the American Civil War, Indian Wars, and the Spanish-American War.-Early life:Miles was born in Westminster, Massachusetts, on his family's farm...
until Miles' appointment as Commanding General of the Army.
Following the outbreak of the Spanish-American War
Spanish-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...
, he was appointed colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
of the 8th Volunteer Infantry in May 1898. After the war he reverted to his previous rank and served with the 6th US Cavalry in the Boxer Rebellion
Boxer Rebellion
The Boxer Rebellion, also called the Boxer Uprising by some historians or the Righteous Harmony Society Movement in northern China, was a proto-nationalist movement by the "Righteous Harmony Society" , or "Righteous Fists of Harmony" or "Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists" , in China between...
. He was again promoted to colonel in November 1901 and received command of his old regiment, the 2nd Cavalry. He was finally promoted to Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
on February 22, 1901, and retired the next day.
Following his retirement, Huggins became a real-estate investor in the Indian Territory
Indian Territory
The Indian Territory, also known as the Indian Territories and the Indian Country, was land set aside within the United States for the settlement of American Indians...
. He was buried in Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
.
Medal of Honor citation
Rank and organization: Captain, 2nd U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: Near O'Fallons, Mont., April 1, 1880. Entered service at: MinnesotaMinnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
. Birth: Schuyler County, Ill. Date of issue: November 27, 1894.
Surprised the Indians in their strong position and fought them until dark with great boldness.