Henry Pinckney McCain
Encyclopedia
Henry Pinckney McCain was an officer in the United States Army
who served as Adjutant General of the U.S. Army from 1914 to 1918.
, and graduated from the United States Military Academy
in 1885. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the 3rd Infantry at Fort Shaw, Montana
. From March 1889 to August 1891 he was Professor of Military Science and Tactics at Louisiana State University
. He was promoted to first lieutenant in the 21st Infantry
in February 1892, and transferred to the 14th Infantry in March, serving in the Department of the Columbia.
He was stationed in Alaska
when the Spanish-American War
broke out in April 1898. McCain sailed with his regiment to the Philippines
in May, and was present for the Battle of Manila
. He served as the acting assistant adjutant general for U.S. forces in the Philippines, but had to return to the United States in September due to illness. He held various staff positions in the Department of the Columbia and was promoted to captain in March 1899.
In November 1900 McCain was promoted to major
and transferred to the Adjutant General's Office in Washington, D.C.
. He was promoted again to lieutenant colonel
in January 1901. In August 1903 he was assigned as chief of staff for the Department of Mindinao in the Philippines. In March 1904 he returned to the United States as chief of staff for the Southwestern Division. And in April 1904 he was promoted to colonel
and returned to the Adjutant General's Office in Washington, where he served until the autumn of 1912.
Following a stint as adjutant general of the Philippines Division from 1912 to 1914, McCain was promoted to brigadier general
and elevated to Adjutant General of the U.S. Army. In October 1917, following the United States' entry into World War I
, he was promoted to major general
. In August 1918 he was given command of the 12th Division at Camp Devens, Massachusetts
. The division was demobilized in January 1919 without having gone overseas. McCain continued to command Camp Devens to July 1920.
In June 1920, McCain reverted to the rank of colonel and served as adjutant of the 6th Corps area
until his retirement in July 1921. He served as governor of the United States Soldiers' Home
in Washington, D.C. from May 1927 to April 1936. He died in Washington on July 25, 1941 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery
.
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...
who served as Adjutant General of the U.S. Army from 1914 to 1918.
Life and career
McCain was born in Carroll County, MississippiCarroll County, Mississippi
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 10,769 people, 4,071 households, and 3,069 families residing in the county. The population density was 17 people per square mile . There were 4,888 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile...
, and graduated from 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...
in 1885. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the 3rd Infantry at Fort Shaw, Montana
Fort Shaw, Montana
Fort Shaw is a census-designated place in Cascade County, Montana, United States. The population was 274 at the 2000 census. It is part of the 'Great Falls, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area'.-Geography:...
. From March 1889 to August 1891 he was Professor of Military Science and Tactics at Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
. He was promoted to first lieutenant in the 21st Infantry
21st Infantry Regiment (United States)
The 21st Infantry Regiment is a United States Army infantry regiment.-Lineage:*Constituted 3 May 1861 in the Regular Army as the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry*Organized 20 May 1862 at Fort Hamilton, New York...
in February 1892, and transferred to the 14th Infantry in March, serving in the Department of the Columbia.
He was stationed in Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
when 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...
broke out in April 1898. McCain sailed with his regiment to the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
in May, and was present for the Battle of Manila
Battle of Manila (1898)
The Battle of Manila was a short land engagement between the United States and Spain at the end of the Spanish-American War, which occurred a couple of months after the pivotal American victory during the naval Battle of Manila Bay...
. He served as the acting assistant adjutant general for U.S. forces in the Philippines, but had to return to the United States in September due to illness. He held various staff positions in the Department of the Columbia and was promoted to captain in March 1899.
In November 1900 McCain was 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 transferred to the Adjutant General's Office in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. He was promoted again to 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...
in January 1901. In August 1903 he was assigned as chief of staff for the Department of Mindinao in the Philippines. In March 1904 he returned to the United States as chief of staff for the Southwestern Division. And in April 1904 he was promoted to colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
and returned to the Adjutant General's Office in Washington, where he served until the autumn of 1912.
Following a stint as adjutant general of the Philippines Division from 1912 to 1914, McCain was promoted to 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...
and elevated to Adjutant General of the U.S. Army. In October 1917, following the United States' entry into 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...
, he was promoted to 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...
. In August 1918 he was given command of the 12th Division at Camp Devens, Massachusetts
Fort Devens, Massachusetts
Devens, Massachusetts is an unincorporated village and census-designated place in the towns of Ayer and Shirley, in Middlesex County and Harvard in Worcester County in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. It is the successor to Fort Devens, a military post that operated from 1917 to 1996. The area...
. The division was demobilized in January 1919 without having gone overseas. McCain continued to command Camp Devens to July 1920.
In June 1920, McCain reverted to the rank of colonel and served as adjutant of the 6th Corps area
Corps area
A Corps area was a geographically-based organizational structure of the United States Army used to accomplish domestic administrative, training and tactical tasks from 1920 to 1942. Each corps area included divisions of the Regular Army, Organized Reserve and National Guard of the United States...
until his retirement in July 1921. He served as governor of the United States Soldiers' Home
President Lincoln's Cottage at the Soldiers' Home
President Lincoln's Cottage is a national monument on the grounds of the Soldiers' Home, known today as the Armed Forces Retirement Home. It is located in the Petworth and Park View neighborhoods of Washington, D.C....
in Washington, D.C. from May 1927 to April 1936. He died in Washington on July 25, 1941 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 Adjutant Generals of the U.S. Army
- List of major generals in the United States Regular Army before July 1, 1920
- McCain family heritage