Elias Briggs Baldwin
Encyclopedia
Elias Briggs Baldwin was a Union Army
lieutenant colonel
, later Provost Marshal
, and pioneer of Labette County, Kansas
. He is best remembered for his part in the Huntsville Massacre
that occurred on January 10, 1863, near Huntsville, Arkansas
.
, and raised on the family farm there. He attended high school
in Red Creek, New York
, and later taught school in both Rhode Island
and Connecticut
. On April 13, 1861, he joined the Union Army along with his four brothers, one of whom would be killed in action
at the Battle of Resaca
. He was initially elected as captain for Company C, 36th Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry. The regiment was dispatched to Missouri
, and in February 1862 he was made quartermaster
. In August of that same year he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, over the 8th Regiment Missouri Volunteer Cavalry
.
While serving under the command of Union General Francis Herron, in Huntsville, Arkansas, Baldwin had nine local men executed on January 10, 1863, for reasons that still today are unknown. This became known as the "Huntsville Massacre". Baldwin was later arrested for this event, and charged with "violation of the 6th Article of War for the murder of prisoners of war." He was transported to Springfield, Missouri
and held for trial
. However, when many of the witnesses were found to be on active duty and unable to attend the trial, and many local civilian witnesses had been displaced or were otherwise unable to make the trip to Springfield, the charges against Baldwin were dropped, and he was dismissed from the army. By 1870 he was residing in Labette County, Kansas. He died in Oswego, Kansas on March 26, 1921.
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...
lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
, later Provost Marshal
Provost Marshal
The Provost Marshal is the officer in the armed forces who is in charge of the military police .There may be a Provost Marshal serving at many levels of the hierarchy and he may also be the public safety officer of a military installation, responsible for the provision of fire, gate security, and...
, and pioneer of Labette County, Kansas
Labette County, Kansas
Labette County is a county located in southeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 21,607. Its county seat is Oswego, and its most populous city is Parsons...
. He is best remembered for his part in the Huntsville Massacre
Huntsville Massacre
The Huntsville Massacre was an event that occurred during the American Civil War one mile northeast of Huntsville, Arkansas, in which nine men believed to be Confederate sympathizers were shot by Union soldiers...
that occurred on January 10, 1863, near Huntsville, Arkansas
Huntsville, Arkansas
Huntsville is a city in mountainous Madison County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 2,046 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Madison County. During the American Civil War it was the site of what became known as the Huntsville Massacre...
.
Biography
Baldwin was born in Dutchess County, New YorkDutchess County, New York
Dutchess County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, in the state's Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley. The 2010 census lists the population as 297,488...
, and raised on the family farm there. He attended high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
in Red Creek, New York
Red Creek, New York
Red Creek is a village in Wayne County, New York, United States. The population was 521 at the 2000 census.The Village of Red Creek is in the eastern part of the Town of Wolcott. The village is west of Syracuse, New York.- History :...
, and later taught school in both Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
and Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. On April 13, 1861, he joined the Union Army along with his four brothers, one of whom would be killed in action
Killed in action
Killed in action is a casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their own forces at the hands of hostile forces. The United States Department of Defense, for example, says that those declared KIA need not have fired their weapons but have been killed due to...
at the Battle of Resaca
Battle of Resaca
The Battle of Resaca was part of the Atlanta Campaign of the American Civil War. The battle was waged in both Gordon and Whitfield counties, Georgia, from May 13 - 15, 1864. It ended inconclusively with the Confederate Army retreating. The engagement was fought between the Military Division of the...
. He was initially elected as captain for Company C, 36th Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry. The regiment was dispatched to Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, and in February 1862 he was made quartermaster
Quartermaster
Quartermaster refers to two different military occupations depending on if the assigned unit is land based or naval.In land armies, especially US units, it is a term referring to either an individual soldier or a unit who specializes in distributing supplies and provisions to troops. The senior...
. In August of that same year he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, over the 8th Regiment Missouri Volunteer Cavalry
8th Regiment Missouri Volunteer Cavalry
8th Regiment Missouri Volunteer Cavalry was a Union Army regiment during the American Civil War. The regiment is best remembered for having committed what has become known as the Huntsville Massacre....
.
While serving under the command of Union General Francis Herron, in Huntsville, Arkansas, Baldwin had nine local men executed on January 10, 1863, for reasons that still today are unknown. This became known as the "Huntsville Massacre". Baldwin was later arrested for this event, and charged with "violation of the 6th Article of War for the murder of prisoners of war." He was transported to Springfield, Missouri
Springfield, Missouri
Springfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. According to the 2010 census data, the population was 159,498, an increase of 5.2% since the 2000 census. The Springfield Metropolitan Area, population 436,712, includes the counties of...
and held for trial
Trial
A trial is, in the most general sense, a test, usually a test to see whether something does or does not meet a given standard.It may refer to:*Trial , the presentation of information in a formal setting, usually a court...
. However, when many of the witnesses were found to be on active duty and unable to attend the trial, and many local civilian witnesses had been displaced or were otherwise unable to make the trip to Springfield, the charges against Baldwin were dropped, and he was dismissed from the army. By 1870 he was residing in Labette County, Kansas. He died in Oswego, Kansas on March 26, 1921.