Charles Pomeroy Stone
Charles Pomeroy Stone | |
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Chief of Staff, Army of the Gulf Chief of Staff, Egyptian Army | |
Battles/wars | Mexican–American War American Civil War |
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Charles Pomeroy Stone (September 30, 1824 – January 24, 1887) was a career
Stone was reportedly the first volunteer to enter the Union Army, and during the war he served as a general officer, noted for his involvement at the Battle of Ball's Bluff in October 1861. Held responsible for the Union defeat, Stone was arrested and imprisoned for almost six months, mostly for political reasons. He never received a trial, and after his release he would not hold a significant command during the war again. Stone later served again with distinction as a general in the Egyptian Army, and is also noted for his role in constructing the base of the Statue of Liberty.
Early life
Stone was born in
Military career, marriage and civilian career
Ordnance officer
Stone stayed at West Point, serving as an assistant professor and teaching geography, history, and also ethics from August 28, 1845, to January 13, 1846. Afterwards he was posted to the
Mexican war
Fighting with
On September 13, 1847, Stone participated in the
Pacific coast
After the war with Mexico ended, Stone returned to the Watervliet Arsenal in 1848, again taking up his position as Assistant Ordnance Officer. He then was granted a leave of absence from the U.S. Army, and proceeded to Europe to study military practices of the armies there for two years. In 1850 he resumed duty at the Watervliet Arsenal briefly, and then was given command of the Ft. Monroe Arsenal into 1851. Later that year Stone was appointed Chief of Ordnance for the Pacific Department, a post he held until 1855, and also began construction of the Benicia Arsenal in California that year. During this time he was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant, effective February 26, 1853.[5]
Marriage
In 1853 Stone married Maria Louisa Clary, daughter of Esther Philipson and Lt.
Post-military career
On November 17, 1856, he resigned his commission in the U.S. Army, "finding the pay inadequate" for his family.
Civil War
At the outbreak of
In his efforts to carry out his orders and maintain discipline, Stone drew the attention and wrath of his home state's governor,
More heated letters passed between Andrew and Stone, and then Andrew involved Sumner, who quickly and strongly denounced Stone to the U.S. Senate. Stone's written response to this—described as "in terms so bitter that it almost seemed as if he were challenging the senator to duel"[12]—further inflamed the situation. Stone's dealings with these two men would have tragic consequences in his near future.[12]
Ball's Bluff
On October 20, 1861, Stone was ordered by Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan to conduct a reconnaissance across the Potomac River to report on Confederate activities in Leesburg, Virginia. McClellan also hoped this action, combined with a movement by Brig. Gen. George A. McCall's division of 13,000 men toward Dranesville the day before, would encourage a Confederate withdrawal from the area without an engagement occurring.[13] This message from McClellan's staff related the situation and outlined Stone's orders:
General McCall occupied Dranesville yesterday, and is still there. Will send out heavy reconnaissances today in all directions from that point. The general desires that you keep a good lookout upon Leesburg, to see if this movement has the effect to drive them away. Perhaps a slight demonstration on your part would have the effect to move them.[14]
From this order Stone reasonably believed he had support nearby from McCall if needed; what he did not know was that McClellan had ordered McCall back to his previous position at
In response to this report, Stone thought the Confederate forces were indeed leaving Leesburg and decided to investigate further. While he led part of his command directly across at Edwards Ferry at 5 p.m., Stone ordered Col.
Confederate Col. Nathan G. "Shanks" Evans was in charge of the forces opposing Stone, and when he learned of the crossings he split his 2,000-man command. Three of his regiments were ordered to deal with Stone by blocking the road from Edwards Ferry to Leesburg, while the remainder fought and defeated Baker's force at Ball's Bluff. Since Baker sent no updates, Stone had no idea a battle was occurring there and, finding his path blocked by Confederates, Stone returned to Edwards Ferry. He then moved toward Harrison's Island, learned of the defeat at Ball's Bluff, and quickly asked McClellan for help from McCall, whom he thought nearby but was actually more than twenty miles away.[17]
Stone lost about 1,000 men who were either killed, wounded, captured, or drowned during Ball's Bluff, while the Confederates lost less than 160. The Union total included Baker, the only sitting U.S. Senator killed in combat when "four bullets ripped into him, and he was dead before he hit the ground".[18] Baker's death and the action at Ball's Bluff would have serious consequences for Stone, and also affect the way the American Civil War would be prosecuted.[19] In his official report about the battle on October 24, McClellan did not hold Stone personally responsible for the defeat, saying "The disaster was caused by errors committed by the immediate Commander— not General Stone."[20]
Arrest and imprisonment
Stone bore the brunt of much public criticism; the
If he is a traitor I am a traitor, and we are all traitors.
Winfield Scott's reaction to Stone's arrest[24]
Under a cloud for suspected disloyalty and treason, Stone was arrested just after midnight on February 8, 1862, on orders of Maj. Gen. McClellan, who was acting under orders from
Under guard, Stone was ordered to be sent to the military prison at Fort Lafayette by train. When he reached the rail depot at Philadelphia, confusion as to payment for his ticket caused Stone to buy his own ticket. Upon reaching the facility he was put immediately into solitary confinement, but he managed to hire an attorney and waited for official charges to be filed. According to the Articles of War this had to be done within eight days of an arrest, but was never done in Stone's case. He sent several inquiries to McClellan, to the army's adjutant general's office, and to Stanton himself, who stated " ...the charges were being reviewed prior to being publicized...", but received no satisfactory explanation.[26]
To hold one commander in prison untried is less harmful in times of great national distress than to withdraw several good officers from active battlefields to give him a trial.
Contrary to U.S. Army regulations as well, no charges were ever filed against Stone nor did he stand trial. While he was in solitary confinement at Fort Lafayette, he could not exercise, and consequently Stone's health began to degrade. His physicians protested heavily to Stanton, who ordered him transferred to the military prison at Fort Hamilton. There Stone was allowed to exercise and his condition improved. He stayed at Fort Lafayette for fifty days, and would spend another 139 in Fort Hamilton.[28] Stone was finally released without explanation or apology on August 16, 1862. The reason for his release was new legislation written by California Senator James A. McDougall. In a small addition to another bill, McDougall reiterated the Articles of War requirement that official charges be filed within eight days of arrest, but went on to include that any imprisoned officer must be given their trial within thirty days. McDougall also made it clear this legislation applied to those currently under arrest, which covered Stone's case. It passed the U.S. Congress and was signed into law by President Lincoln on July 17, 1862. Stanton then waited the thirty days before releasing Stone.[29]
It may, or may not be that President Lincoln ordered the arrest of Stone. In a communication of September 30, 1862, General in Chief H. W. Halleck wrote about Stone's arrest: "I understood that it was made by the orders of the President."[30]
Release and reassignment
After his release, Stone returned home to Washington and awaited orders, and also continued to try to clear his name. Despite the arrest and confinement, Stone's services were still in demand. In September 1862, as the
General Stone has sustained a most flagrant wrong—a wrong which will probably stand as the very worst blot on the National side in the history of the war.[32]
Without assignment until May, Stone was ordered to the
Later life
After the American Civil War ended in 1865, Stone worked as an engineer and later superintendent for
Stone served the Khedive well, implementing a general staff, expanding Egypt's boundaries, and establishing schools for the education of Egypt's soldiers and their children. He remained in the service of Khedive Ismail (and Ismail's successor, son
Stone later returned to the United States, where he worked as an engineer for the
Stone's first wife Maria died in Washington, D.C., shortly after Stone's release from Fort Hamilton.[32] While serving in New Orleans during 1863, Stone fell in love with Jeanne Stone[37] and they had two daughters and a son, John Stone Stone, who later became a pioneer in the field of wireless telegraphy. Stone was also an original founding member of the Aztec Club of 1847, a social organization for officers who served in the Mexican–American War.[3]
Legacy
Military historian Ezra J. Warner held Stone's treatment following Ball's Bluff in disdain, saying in 1964:
The arrest and imprisonment of Stone is without parallel in the annals of American military and/or civil jurisprudence.... he was victim of a demonstration on the part of the
Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War to avenge the death of one of their colleagues and to make it known that this was war to the knife, and a war to end slavery as well as to preserve the Union.[38]
See also
- List of American Civil War generals (Union)
- List of Massachusetts generals in the American Civil War
References
- Specific
- ^ a b c Heidler, p. 1867.
- ^ a b c d e f Eicher, Civil War High Commands, p. 513.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Aztec Club site biography of Stone". www.aztecclub.com. Retrieved March 24, 2009.
- ^ Warner, p. 480.
- ^ Eicher, p. 513; Aztec Club site biography of Stone
- ^ Ehrlich, p. 28.
- ^ "Philipson family tree" (PDF). americanjewisharchives.org. Retrieved March 25, 2009.
- ^ a b Catton, Mr. Lincoln's Army, p. 70.
- ^ Charles Pomery Stone "Washington On the Eve of War" Volume 1. "Battles and Leaders of the Civil War" pp.13-17
- ISBN 978-0-8071-5004-7.
- ^ Catton, Mr. Lincoln's Army, pp. 70–71.
- ^ a b Garrison, p. 118; Catton, pp. 79–80.
- ^ Garrison, p. 110.
- ^ a b Winkler, pp. 40–41.
- ^ Garrison, pp. 110–1; Winkler, p. 41.
- ^ a b Winkler, pp. 41–43; Garrison, pp. 111–12.
- ^ Garrison, pp. 112–16; Winkler, pp. 43–46.
- ^ Eicher, Longest Night, pp. 125–28
- ^ Eicher, Longest Night, pp. 125–28; Winkler, pp. 44–46; Garrison, pp. 114–16.
- ^ Garrison, p. 46.
- ^ Winkler, pp. 47–51
- ^ Garrison, pp. 118–20.
- ^ Winkler, pp. 47–51; Garrison, pp. 118–20.
- ^ Garrison, p. 122. Statement from Scott while in retirement at West Point, New York.
- ^ a b c Winkler, p. 53.
- ^ Garrison, pp. 120–21.
- ^ Garrison, p. 122. On the Stone matter, Lincoln is alleged to have told this to Stanton in 1862.
- ^ Winkler, p. 54.
- ^ Garrison, pp. 122–23; Eicher, Civil War High Commands, p. 513.
- ^ p. 344, The War of the Rebellion: a Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, Volume 5, 1881, September 30, 1862, H W. Halleck to Charles P. Stone.
- ^ Catton, Glory Road, pp. 147–48; Winkler, pp. 54–55; Garrison, p. 123.
- ^ a b Winkler, p. 55.
- ^ Heidler, p. 1867; Eicher, Civil War High Commands, p. 514.
- ^ a b "Stone's Egyptian service and biography". egypt.atomicmartinis.com. Archived from the original on November 30, 2007. Retrieved March 22, 2009.
- ^ a b Eicher, Civil War High Commands, p. 514.
- ^ "Obituary: Gen. Charles P. Stone" (PDF). The New York Times. January 25, 1887. p. 5. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
- OCLC 49681605. Retrieved July 21, 2009.
- ^ Warner, p. 663.
- Biography
- Blaine Lamb, The Extraordinary Life of Charles Pomeroy Stone: Soldier, Surveyor, Pasha and Engineer, Westholme Publishing, 2015. ISBN 1-5941-6232-8.
- General
- ISBN 0-385-04167-5.
- Catton, Bruce, Army of the Potomac: Mr. Lincoln's Army, Doubleday and Company, 1951, ISBN 1-4067-3885-9.
- Ehrlich, Walter, Zion in the Valley: The Jewish Community of St. Louis, University of Missouri Press, 1997, ISBN 0-8262-1098-8.
- ISBN 0-684-84944-5.
- Eicher, John H., and ISBN 0-8047-3641-3.
- Garrison, Webb Jr., Strange Battles of the Civil War, Cumberland House Publishing, 2001, ISBN 1-58182-226-X.
- Heidler, David S., Heidler, Jeanne T., and Coles, David J., Encyclopedia Of The American Civil War, W.W. Norton & Co., 2002, ISBN 0-393-04758-X.
- Warner, Ezra J., Generals in Blue: Lives of the Union Commanders, Louisiana State University Press, 1964, ISBN 0-8071-0822-7.
- Winkler, H. Donald, Civil War Goats and Scapegoats, Cumberland House Publishing, 2008, ISBN 1-58182-631-1.
Further reading
- Irwin, Richard B., "Ball's Bluff and the Arrest of General Stone", Battles and Leaders of the Civil War, Vol. 2, pp. 123–24.
External links
- U.S. Army Biographical sketch of Charles Pomeroy Stone archived from the original
- National Park Service Statue of Liberty information.
- www.americanjewisharchives.org Philipson family tree.
- Charles Pomeroy Stone at Find a Grave