Newton Martin Curtis
Encyclopedia
Newton Martin Curtis was a Union
brigadier general
during the American Civil War
and a member of the United States House of Representatives
from New York
.
. Upon graduating from the Gouverneur Wesleyan Seminary, Curtis became a teacher, lawyer, and postmaster of De Peyster. In the year prior to the Civil War, he was working as a farmer.
Curtis stood an impressive 6' 7" tall and weighed 225 pounds. His enormous size for the time period prompted even Abraham Lincoln to quip, "Mr. Curtis, how do you know when your feet are cold?" His stature became an issue of concern to his family when he Civil War began as they felt he would surely be an easy target for enemy bullets.
as a captain in Company G of the 16th New York Infantry. He fought in the Peninsula Campaign
and was wounded in a minor engagement at West Point, Virginia
. On October 23, 1862, he transferred to the 142nd New York Infantry, serving as a lieutenant colonel
until his promotion to colonel
on January 21 of the next year. As commander of the 142nd, he fought in the Bermuda Hundred Campaign
of May 1864. He took command of the 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, X Corps
, during the Siege of Petersburg
. Curtis received a brevet
promotion to brigadier general on October 28, 1864, for his actions at the Battle of New Market Heights.
His brigade became part of the expedition against Fort Fisher
in December 1864. Curtis' brigade was among the few troops to go ashore yet the first attack against Fort Fisher
was defeated. He took part in the second attack
in January 1865, in which his brigade played a key role in the Union victory. During the fighting a suggestion of entrenching reached Curtis. He angrily grabbed a handful of shovels and threw them over the traverse shouting "Dig Johnnies! I'm coming for you!" Curtis made good on his promise and continued the attack. He was wounded at the head of his brigade and received a full promotion to brigadier general of volunteers and was also received the Medal of Honor
. He remained in the army for less than a year after the fighting had ended, receiving a brevet to major general
of volunteers on March 13, 1865.
, in 1866 and then a Special Agent for the United States Treasury Department from 1867 until 1880. He was in the Department of Justice from 1880 until 1882. The Republican
served as a New York State Assembly
man from 1884 to 1890.
Curtis was elected as a Republican Representative from New York's 22nd district
to the 52nd
Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Leslie W. Russell
. He was re-elected to the 53rd
and 54th
Congresses and served from November 3, 1891, to March 3, 1897. During the 54th Congress (1895–1897), he served as chairman of the Committee on the Election of the President, Vice President and Representatives in Congress. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1896.
and is buried at Ogdensburg Cemetery in Ogdensburg, New York
, where a statue stands in his honor.
The General Newton Martin Curtis Camp #142 of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War
was named for Curtis.
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...
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...
during 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...
and a member of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Early life
Curtis was born in De Peyster, New YorkDe Peyster, New York
De Peyster is a town in St. Lawrence County, New York, USA. The population was 936 at the 2000 census. The name is that of one of the land owners of the region, Frederic De Peyster, grandfather of John Watts de Peyster.- History :...
. Upon graduating from the Gouverneur Wesleyan Seminary, Curtis became a teacher, lawyer, and postmaster of De Peyster. In the year prior to the Civil War, he was working as a farmer.
Curtis stood an impressive 6' 7" tall and weighed 225 pounds. His enormous size for the time period prompted even Abraham Lincoln to quip, "Mr. Curtis, how do you know when your feet are cold?" His stature became an issue of concern to his family when he Civil War began as they felt he would surely be an easy target for enemy bullets.
Civil War
On May 15, 1861, Curtis volunteered in the Union ArmyUnion 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...
as a captain in Company G of the 16th New York Infantry. He fought in the Peninsula Campaign
Peninsula Campaign
The Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil War was a major Union operation launched in southeastern Virginia from March through July 1862, the first large-scale offensive in the Eastern Theater. The operation, commanded by Maj. Gen. George B...
and was wounded in a minor engagement at West Point, Virginia
West Point, Virginia
West Point is an incorporated town in King William County, Virginia, United States. The population was 2,867 at the 2000 census.-Geography:West Point is located at...
. On October 23, 1862, he transferred to the 142nd New York Infantry, serving as a 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...
until his promotion 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...
on January 21 of the next year. As commander of the 142nd, he fought in the Bermuda Hundred Campaign
Bermuda Hundred Campaign
The Bermuda Hundred Campaign was a series of battles fought at the town of Bermuda Hundred, outside Richmond, Virginia, during May 1864 in the American Civil War. Union Maj. Gen. Benjamin Butler, commanding the Army of the James, threatened Richmond from the east but was stopped by forces under ...
of May 1864. He took command of the 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, X Corps
X Corps (ACW)
X Corps was a corps of the Union Army during the American Civil War. It served during operations in South Carolina in the Department of the South, and later in Benjamin Butler's Army of the James, during the Bermuda Hundred and Petersburg Campaigns.-History:...
, during the Siege of Petersburg
Siege of Petersburg
The Richmond–Petersburg Campaign was a series of battles around Petersburg, Virginia, fought from June 9, 1864, to March 25, 1865, during the American Civil War...
. Curtis received a brevet
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
promotion to brigadier general on October 28, 1864, for his actions at the Battle of New Market Heights.
His brigade became part of the expedition against Fort Fisher
Fort Fisher
Fort Fisher was a Confederate fort during the American Civil War. It protected the vital trading routes of the port at Wilmington, North Carolina, from 1861 until its capture by the Union in 1865....
in December 1864. Curtis' brigade was among the few troops to go ashore yet the first attack against Fort Fisher
First Battle of Fort Fisher
The First Battle of Fort Fisher, was a siege fought from December 23 to December 27, 1864, was a failed attempt by Union forces to capture the fort guarding Wilmington, North Carolina, the South's last major port on the Atlantic Ocean...
was defeated. He took part in the second attack
Second Battle of Fort Fisher
The Second Battle of Fort Fisher was a joint assault by Union Army and naval forces against Fort Fisher, outside Wilmington, North Carolina, near the end of the American Civil War...
in January 1865, in which his brigade played a key role in the Union victory. During the fighting a suggestion of entrenching reached Curtis. He angrily grabbed a handful of shovels and threw them over the traverse shouting "Dig Johnnies! I'm coming for you!" Curtis made good on his promise and continued the attack. He was wounded at the head of his brigade and received a full promotion to brigadier general of volunteers and was also received the Medal of Honor
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...
. He remained in the army for less than a year after the fighting had ended, receiving a brevet 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...
of volunteers on March 13, 1865.
Political career
After the war, Curtis was a collector of customs in the district of Oswegatchie, New YorkOswegatchie, New York
Oswegatchie is a town in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 4,370 at the 2000 census. The name reportedly means "Black water" in the aboriginal language. It is on the northern border of the county and is adjacent to the city of Ogdensburg.- History :The area was first...
, in 1866 and then a Special Agent for the United States Treasury Department from 1867 until 1880. He was in the Department of Justice from 1880 until 1882. The Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
served as a New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
man from 1884 to 1890.
Curtis was elected as a Republican Representative from New York's 22nd district
New York's 22nd congressional district
The 22nd Congressional District of New York is a congressional district for the United States House of Representatives that includes all or parts of Broome, Delaware, Dutchess, Orange, Sullivan, Tioga, Tompkins, and Ulster counties. It includes the cities of Binghamton, Ithaca, Kingston,...
to the 52nd
52nd United States Congress
The Fifty-second United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C...
Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Leslie W. Russell
Leslie W. Russell
Leslie Wead Russell was an American lawyer and politician.-Life:...
. He was re-elected to the 53rd
53rd United States Congress
The Fifty-third United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1893 to March 4, 1895, during the fifth and sixth...
and 54th
54th United States Congress
- House of Representatives :-Leadership:- Senate :* President: Adlai E. Stevenson * President pro tempore: William P. Frye - Majority leadership :* Republican Conference Chairman: John Sherman- Minority leadership :...
Congresses and served from November 3, 1891, to March 3, 1897. During the 54th Congress (1895–1897), he served as chairman of the Committee on the Election of the President, Vice President and Representatives in Congress. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1896.
Later life and legacy
He wrote a book titled From Bull Run to Chancellorsville, published in 1906. In 1910, he was the assistant inspector general of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. He died in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and is buried at Ogdensburg Cemetery in Ogdensburg, New York
Ogdensburg, New York
Ogdensburg is a city in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 11,128 at the 2010 census. In the late 18th century, European-American settlers named the community after American land owner and developer Samuel Ogden....
, where a statue stands in his honor.
The General Newton Martin Curtis Camp #142 of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War
Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War
Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War is an American fraternal organization, the legal successor to the Grand Army of the Republic . Founded in late 1881, it was originally one of several competing organizations of descendants of Union veterans...
was named for Curtis.
Medal of Honor citation
At the Second Battle of Fort Fisher: the first man to pass through the stockade, he personally led each assault on the traverses and was 4 times wounded.
See also
- List of American Civil War Medal of Honor recipients: A–F
- List of American Civil War generals