Stephen Decatur Carpenter
Encyclopedia
Stephen Decatur Carpenter (May 21, 1818 – December 31, 1862) was a United States military officer from Maine
. He served from 1840 to his death on the last day of 1862, through four major conflicts and one minor conflict.
at West Point, serving as a Cadet from July 1, 1836 through graduation on July 1, 1840.
from 1840–1841, in the War with Mexico from 1846–1847, and on frontier duty in south and west Texas
from 1848–1861, including being wounded in a skirmish with the Comanches. On August 20, 1855, he established Fort Lancaster
in western Texas to guard the San Antonio-El Paso road.
broke out, he served garrison and staff duty at Key West, Florida, and Indianapolis, Indiana, and combat duty in the Tennessee and Mississippi Campaign with the Army of the Ohio
. He was killed in action in the Battle of Stone's River (called the Battle of Murfreesboro in the South) Tennessee on December 31, 1862.
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
. He served from 1840 to his death on the last day of 1862, through four major conflicts and one minor conflict.
West Point
He was appointed to the United States Military AcademyUnited 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...
at West Point, serving as a Cadet from July 1, 1836 through graduation on July 1, 1840.
Service in the West
After graduation he served in the Second Seminole WarSecond Seminole War
The Second Seminole War, also known as the Florida War, was a conflict from 1835 to 1842 in Florida between various groups of Native Americans collectively known as Seminoles and the United States, part of a series of conflicts called the Seminole Wars...
from 1840–1841, in the War with Mexico from 1846–1847, and on frontier duty in south and west Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
from 1848–1861, including being wounded in a skirmish with the Comanches. On August 20, 1855, he established Fort Lancaster
Fort Lancaster
Fort Lancaster, one in a series of forts erected along the western Texas frontier, is located in the Pecos River Valley in Crockett County, Texas, United States. The fort was established by Captain Stephen Decatur Carpenter on August 20, 1855, to guard the military supplies, commercial shipments,...
in western Texas to guard the San Antonio-El Paso road.
Civil War
When the American Civil WarAmerican 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...
broke out, he served garrison and staff duty at Key West, Florida, and Indianapolis, Indiana, and combat duty in the Tennessee and Mississippi Campaign with the Army of the Ohio
Army of the Ohio
The Army of the Ohio was the name of two Union armies in the American Civil War. The first army became the Army of the Cumberland and the second army was created in 1863.-History:...
. He was killed in action in the Battle of Stone's River (called the Battle of Murfreesboro in the South) Tennessee on December 31, 1862.