Samuel Ovenshine
Encyclopedia
Samuel Ovenshine was a United States Army
officer who served as a brigadier general during the Philippine-American War
.
Ovenshine was born on April 2, 1843 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
. He was studying to become a lawyer when he was interrupted by the outbreak of the Civil War. On September 25, 1861 he was appointed first lieutenant in the 5th U.S. Infantry Regiment
. He served in Kansas and New Mexico and ended the war as a captain.
Ovenshine stayed with the 5th U.S. during the Indian Wars
. He is unit formed the vanguard of Alfred H. Terry's column during the aftermath of the Battle of Little Bighorn and served in Nelson A. Miles
' force at the Battle of Bearpaw Mountain.
Ovenshine was promoted to major in the 23rd United States Infantry
on July 10, 1885 and commanded the post of Fort Davis
in 1890. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel of the 15th United States Infantry Regiment on January 31, 1891 and colonel of the 23rd United States Infantry Regiment
on April 26, 1895.
Colonel Ovenshine and the 23rd U.S. were sent to the Philippines
during the Spanish-American War
as part of Wesley Merritt
's VIII Corps
. The fighting against the Spanish had already subsided by the time Ovenshine arrived, but hostilities between the U.S. Army and Filipinos were now growing.
Ovenshine was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers by the end of September 1898 and took command of the 2nd Brigade in Arthur MacArthur
's 1st Division of the VIII Corps. Ovenshine led his brigade during the battle of Manila in 1899
and during the battle of Zapote Bridge
. He received a Silver Star
for his actions in these two battles. On October 18, 1899 he was promoted to brigadier general in the U.S. Army and two days later retired.
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...
officer who served as a brigadier general during the Philippine-American War
Philippine-American War
The Philippine–American War, also known as the Philippine War of Independence or the Philippine Insurrection , was an armed conflict between a group of Filipino revolutionaries and the United States which arose from the struggle of the First Philippine Republic to gain independence following...
.
Ovenshine was born on April 2, 1843 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, 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,...
. He was studying to become a lawyer when he was interrupted by the outbreak of the Civil War. On September 25, 1861 he was appointed first lieutenant in the 5th U.S. Infantry Regiment
5th Infantry Regiment (United States)
The 5th Infantry Regiment is the third-oldest infantry regiment of the United States Army, tracing its origins to 1808...
. He served in Kansas and New Mexico and ended the war as a captain.
Ovenshine stayed with the 5th U.S. 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 is unit formed the vanguard of Alfred H. Terry's column during the aftermath of the Battle of Little Bighorn and served in 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...
' force at the Battle of Bearpaw Mountain.
Ovenshine was promoted to major in the 23rd United States Infantry
23rd Infantry Regiment (United States)
The 23rd Infantry Regiment is an infantry regiment in the United States Army originally formed on June 26th 1812. The 23rd saw action in 14 battles during the War of 1812...
on July 10, 1885 and commanded the post of Fort Davis
Fort Davis
Fort Davis may refer to the following.*Fort Davis National Historic Site*Fort Davis, Alaska*Fort Davis, Oklahoma*Fort Davis, Panama*Fort Davis, Texas*Fort Davis , a neighborhood of Washington, D.C....
in 1890. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel of the 15th United States Infantry Regiment on January 31, 1891 and colonel of the 23rd United States Infantry Regiment
23rd Infantry Regiment (United States)
The 23rd Infantry Regiment is an infantry regiment in the United States Army originally formed on June 26th 1812. The 23rd saw action in 14 battles during the War of 1812...
on April 26, 1895.
Colonel Ovenshine and the 23rd U.S. were sent 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...
during 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...
as part of Wesley Merritt
Wesley Merritt
Wesley Merritt was a general in the United States Army during the American Civil War and the Spanish-American War. He is noted for distinguished service in the cavalry.-Early life:...
's VIII Corps
VIII Corps (PE)
The VIII Corps was formed on June 21, 1898 to provide a ground contingent to exploit Admiral Dewey's success in defeating the Spanish fleet in Manila harbor...
. The fighting against the Spanish had already subsided by the time Ovenshine arrived, but hostilities between the U.S. Army and Filipinos were now growing.
Ovenshine was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers by the end of September 1898 and took command of the 2nd Brigade in Arthur MacArthur
Arthur MacArthur
Arthur MacArthur may refer to:*Arthur MacArthur, Sr. , lieutenant governor of Wisconsin and acting governor for four days; United States federal judge*Arthur MacArthur, Jr...
's 1st Division of the VIII Corps. Ovenshine led his brigade during the battle of Manila in 1899
Battle of Manila (1899)
The Battle of Manila, the first and largest battle fought during the Philippine–American War, was fought on 4 and February 5, 1899, between 12,000 Americans and 15,000 Filipinos. Armed conflict broke out when American troops, under orders to turn away insurgents from their encampment, fired upon an...
and during the battle of Zapote Bridge
Battle of Zapote Bridge
The Battle of Zapote River, also known as the Battle of Zapote Bridge, was fought on June 13, 1899 between 3,000 Americans and 5,000 Filipinos. It was the second largest battle of the Philippine-American War. Zapote River separates what is now the city of Las Piñas in Metro Manila from Bacoor in...
. He received a Silver Star
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
for his actions in these two battles. On October 18, 1899 he was promoted to brigadier general in the U.S. Army and two days later retired.