Edmund P. Gaines
Edmund P. Gaines | |
---|---|
Fort Erie | |
Battles/wars | |
Awards | Congressional Gold Medal |
Spouse(s) | Frances Toulmin
(m. 1806; died 1811)Barbara Blount
(m. 1815; died 1836) |
Children | 3 |
Relations | George S. Gaines (brother) Edmund Pendleton (great-uncle) |
Edmund Pendleton Gaines (March 20, 1777 – June 6, 1849) was a career
A native of Culpeper County, Virginia, he was named for his great-uncle Edmund Pendleton. Gaines was educated in Virginia and joined the Army as an ensign in 1799. He served for a year before being discharged, but returned to service in 1801 and remained in uniform until his death. In the early years of his military career, Gaines carried out important tasks including construction of a federal post road from Nashville, Tennessee to Natchez, Mississippi.
As commander of Fort Stoddert in 1807, he detained Aaron Burr, and Gaines subsequently testified at Burr's trial for treason. During the War of 1812, Gaines advanced through the ranks to colonel as commander of the 25th Infantry Regiment and he fought with distinction at the Battle of Crysler's Farm. Gaines was promoted to brigadier general during the war, and received a brevet promotion to major general.
Gaines' post-war service included diplomacy with and military engagements against various tribes of Native Americans, though Gaines later opposed Andrew Jackson's Indian removal policy. One of Gaines' most infamous actions was the 1816 destruction of Negro Fort in Spanish-held Florida. Filled with escaped slaves, the enclave was viewed as a challenge to the authority of nearby slaveholding states. More than 270 people occupied the fort, including many African Americans who had escaped slavery. When the fort was taken they were captured, killed, or re-enslaved.
The 1828 death of Jacob Brown, the Army's senior officer, touched off a bitter feud between Gaines and Winfield Scott over which had seniority and the best claim to succeed to command. The quarrel became public and President John Quincy Adams decided to bypass both Gaines and Scott to offer the post to Alexander Macomb. When Macomb died in 1841, President John Tyler quickly headed off a rekindling of the Gaines–Scott dispute by appointing Scott as the Army's commanding general. Gaines continued to serve as a district, department and division commander, but became increasingly marginalized as Scott gained influence.
At the start of the
Early life
Edmund Pendleton Gaines was born in
The James Gaines family later moved to Kingsport, Tennessee.[4] Edmund Gaines completed his early education in Tennessee and studied law in preparation for a career as an attorney.[4] He was also elected first lieutenant of a local militia company.[4] William C. C. Claiborne recommended Gaines for a commission, and he joined the army in 1799 as an ensign.[4]
Gaines served with the 6th Infantry Regiment until the end of the Quasi-War with France that had caused a temporary expansion of the army.[5] He was discharged in 1800, but returned to service as a second lieutenant in 1801.[4] He was promoted to first lieutenant in 1802, and captain in 1807.[4]
Mississippi Territory
In the early 19th century, Gaines surveyed routes and boundaries in the Mississippi Territory including parts of the Natchez Trace.[6] In 1800, he commanded ten companies of the 2nd Infantry Regiment in the construction of the federal post road from Nashville to Natchez.[7] His experience led him to become a strong advocate of using the military to construct a national railroad system.[8]
In 1807, Gaines was the commandant of Fort Stoddert.[9] During this time, he and Nicholas Perkins III[10][11][12] arrested former Vice President Aaron Burr in Wakefield, Alabama after Burr was alleged to be involved in a conspiracy to separate the western states from the rest of the country.[9] Burr was detained by a military guard under Gaines's command and later turned over to federal authorities, who transported him to Richmond, Virginia.[9] Burr was tried later that year, and Gaines testified at his trial, describing the circumstances that led to Burr's identification and arrest.[13][14] Burr was acquitted on September 1, 1807.[14]
From 1807 to 1808, Gaines surveyed the route of the
War of 1812
The War of 1812 brought Gaines back to military duty and he was appointed a major in the 8th Infantry Regiment.[17] In July 1812, he became lieutenant colonel of the 24th Infantry Regiment.[18] In 1813, he was promoted to colonel and commanded the 25th Infantry Regiment with distinction at the Battle of Crysler's Farm.[19]
Later in 1813, Gaines became
During the Siege of Fort Erie, Gaines was in command when a British assault was repulsed on August 15, 1814. For this victory – the First Battle of Fort Erie – Gaines was awarded the Thanks of Congress, a Congressional Gold Medal, and a brevet promotion to major general.[22][23] Gaines was seriously wounded by artillery fire and Brown returned to command.[24] Gaines' wound ended his active field duty for the rest of the war, and he was given command of the Fourth Military District with headquarters in Philadelphia.[25]
Indian affairs
After the War of 1812, post-conflict downsizing of the Army led to appointment of
In 1817, Gaines was named U.S. Commissioner to the
When Brown died in 1828, Gaines and Scott continued to quarrel over seniority.[32] An annoyed President John Quincy Adams responded by appointing Macomb as Brown's successor.[32] In 1830, Gaines opposed President Andrew Jackson's policy of Indian removal, but Jackson directed that it continue to be implemented.[33] In 1831, tensions with the Sauk people increased because of their efforts to cross the Mississippi River from Iowa to Illinois and establish homes in their former lands on the Illinois side.[34] In response, Gaines led troops to counter the forces of Sauk leader Black Hawk.[35] After defeating Black Hawk, Gaines conducted negotiations that resulted in a capitulation agreement by which Black Hawk agreed to return to Iowa.[35]
Gaines commanded the Western Military Department during the 1832
Southwestern frontier
In 1836, Gaines was placed in command of the Southwest Military District.[39] He was given instructions to fortify the border of the Louisiana Territory and Texas to prevent the Mexican army from threatening U.S. territory.[39] He was also given orders to prevent U.S. soldiers or volunteers from crossing into Texas and fighting in the rebellion.[39] When Alexander Macomb died in June 1841, he was still serving as the Army's commanding general.[40] John Bell, the Secretary of War recalled the previous Scott-Gaines dispute over seniority; he quickly recommended Scott for the position in order to prevent the dispute from restarting.[40] President John Tyler concurred, and Scott was appointed in July.[40]
Gaines was in command of the Army's Western Division at the outbreak of the Mexican–American War.[41] Eager to overshadow Scott, Gaines unsuccessfully attempted to claim jurisdiction over supplies and administration of Army activities related to the war, and was reprimanded by the U.S. government for overstepping his authority when he called up Louisiana volunteers to join the force commanded by Zachary Taylor.[7][41] Gaines was court-martialed for his continued efforts to call up volunteers, but was able to successfully defend himself.[7]
Later life
Though Gaines was the Army's senior brigadier general, several individuals were promoted to major general over him during the Mexican War, including
Legacy
A number of places in the United States were named in his honor, including
Personal life
A member of the Freemasons, Gaines was raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina's Phoenix Lodge No. 8.[49]
Gaines was married three times and widowed twice.
Gaines was the father of three children, a daughter and two sons. Son Henry Toulmin Gaines was born in 1811 and died in 1876.[51][b] Son Edmund Pendleton Gaines Jr. was born in 1820 and died in 1904.[52] Daughter Elizabeth Virginia Gaines was born in 1840 died in 1941.[53]
Dates of rank
Gaines' effective dates of rank included:[54]
- Ensign – January 10, 1799
- Second Lieutenant – March 3, 1799
- Discharged – June 15, 1800
- Second Lieutenant – February 16, 1801
- First Lieutenant – April 27, 1802
- Captain – February 28, 1807
- Major – March 24, 1812
- Lieutenant Colonel– July 6, 1812
- Colonel – March 12, 1813
- Brigadier General – March 9, 1814
- Major General (Brevet) – August 15, 1814
Photos
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Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin engraving of Gaines as a first lieutenant in 1808
-
John Wesley Jarvis portrait, circa 1820
-
Engraving of Gaines circa 1835
-
Bronze obverse of Congressional Gold Medal awarded to Gaines
See also
Notes
- ^ The dispute arose over whether regular or brevet promotions took priority. Gaines argued for regular commissions, because Scott and Gaines were both officially promoted to colonel on March 12, 1813, and brigadier general on March 9, 1814 and Gaines's name appeared before Scott's on those orders, which would make him senior to Scott. Scott argued for brevets, because he received his brevet promotion to major general on July 25, 1814, three weeks earlier than Gaines's August 15 brevet, which would make Scott senior to Gaines.[30]
- ^ The death notice for Henry T. Gaines uses the middle initial "G," but the description of the subject makes clear that it references Henry T. Gaines.
References
- ^ "Edmund Pendleton Gaines". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
- ^ Longacre, James B.; Herring, James (1839). The National Portrait Gallery of Distinguished Americans. Vol. IV. New York, NY: American Academy of the Fine Arts. p. 1 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b Longacre and Herring, p. 1.
- ^ a b c d e f Longacre and Herring, p. 3.
- ISBN 978-0-8701-3441-8 – via Google Books.
- ISBN 978-1-8510-9853-8 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b c d e f Tucker, p. 257.
- ISBN 0-8047-4239-1.
- ^ a b c Longacre and Herring, p. 4.
- ^ "Aaron Burr's Arrest". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
- ^ "The Conspiracy And Trial Of Aaron Burr". AMERICAN HERITAGE. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
- ISBN 9780199848775.
- ^ "The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Trial of Aaron Burr, by Joseph P. Brady". www.gutenberg.org. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
- ^ a b Longacre and Herring, p. 5.
- ^ Leftwich, George J. (1903). "Cotton Gin Port and Gaines' Trace". Publications of the Mississippi Historical Society. Vol. VIII. Oxford, MS: Mississippi Historical Society. p. 267 – via Google Books.
- ISBN 978-1-5760-7001-7.
- ISBN 978-0-8032-9419-6 – via Google Books.
- ISBN 978-0-8032-9698-5 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b Longacre and Herring, p. 6.
- ^ Tomes, Robert (1861). Battles of America by Sea and Land. Vol. III. New York, NY: Virtue and Company. p. 167 – via Google Books.
- ISBN 978-0-8061-3128-3 – via Google Books.
- ^ Peters, Richard, ed. (1846). The Public Statutes at Large of the United States of America. Vol. III. Boston, MA: Charles C. Little and James Brown. p. 247 – via Google Books.
- ^ Niles, Hezekiah, ed. (February 4, 1815). "Brevet Appointments". Niles' Weekly Register. Baltimore, MD. p. 354 – via Google Books.
- ^ Cruikshank, Ernest (1905). The Siege of Fort Erie, August 1st-September 23rd, 1814. Welland, Ontario, Canada: Lundy's Lane Historical Society. p. 31 – via Google Books.
- ^ Pendleton, Garnett (June 19, 1901). "The Literary Exercises at St. David's Chapel". Proceedings at the Mid-Summer Meeting. Chester, PA: Delaware County Historical Society. p. 182 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b Eisenhower 1999, pp. 103–105.
- ^ Failor, Kenneth M.; Hayden, Eleonora (1972). Medals of the United States Mint. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office. p. 188 – via Google Books.
- ISBN 0-8173-1125-4 – via Google Books.
- ^ Eisenhower 1999, pp. 119–120.
- ^ Eisenhower 1999, pp. 200–200.
- ^ Eisenhower 1999, pp. 117–118.
- ^ a b Eisenhower 1999, pp. 121–123.
- ISBN 978-1-4000-6325-3.
- ISBN 978-0-8061-3994-4.
- ^ a b Jung, pp. 62–64.
- ^ Jung, pp. 70.
- ISBN 978-0-8108-1931-3.
- ^ Eisenhower 1999, pp. 154–155.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-3932-6042-4 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b c Falk, Stanley L. (November 1984). "Fussin' in the Old Army". Army. Arlington, VA: Association of the United States Army. p. 70 – via Google Books.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-6745-4573-1 – via Google Books.
- ^ US Army Adjutant General (1848). U. S. Army Register. Washington, DC: C. Alexander. p. 3.
- ^ a b c d Dopp, Jakob. "Biography, Edmund P. Gaines". Edmund P. and Myra C. Gaines collection (1834-1850). Ann Arbor, MI: Clements Library, University of Michigan. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
- ISBN 978-0-8173-5928-7 – via Google Books.
- ^ Vardeman, Johnny (January 14, 2018). "Johnny Vardeman: Some historical trivia for Hall County's 200th birthday". The Gainesville Times. Gainesville, GA.
- ^ Ensley, Gerald (May 24, 2014). "Gaines Street named for famous Army general". Tallahassee Democrat. Tallahassee, FL.
- ^ Gaul, Alma (July 12, 2011). "Gaines Street: Group works to brighten Q-C neighborhood". Quad-City Times. Davenport, IA.
- ^ Cox, Dale (August 5, 2014). "Fort Gaines Historic Site". Explore Southern History.com.
- ^ Nunes, Bob. "Biography, Edmund Pendleton Gaines, 20 March 1777 - 6 June 1849". Phoenix Lodge8.com. Fayetteville, NC: Phoenix Lodge No. 8. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
- ^ John Hill Wheeler, Reminiscences and Memoris of North Carolina and Eminent North Carolinians (1885), p. lx.
- Newspapers.com.
- ^ Obituary Record of Graduates of Yale University Deceased During the Academical Year Ending in June, 1906 (PDF). New Haven, CT: Yale University. June 26, 1906. p. 531.
- Newspapers.com.
- ^ Cutrer, Thomas W. (November 5, 2019). "Biography, Gaines, Edmund, Pendleton". TSHA Online.org. Austin, TX: Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
Further reading
- Elliott, Jack D. and Wells, Mary Ann. (2003). Cotton Gin Port : a frontier settlement on the Upper Tombigbee. Jackson, Mississippi: Quail Ridge Press for the Mississippi Historical Society. ISBN 0-938896-88-1
- Silver, James W. Edmund Pendleton Gaines, Frontier General. Published by the Louisiana State University Press 1949.
- Wyatt, Thomas. "Gen. E. P. Gaines." Memoirs of the Generals, Commodores, and Other Commanders Who Distinguished Themselves in the U.S. Army and Navy During the Wars of the Revolution and 1813, and Who Were Presented with Medals by Congress the second, for Their Gallant Services. Philadelphia: Carey and Hart, 1848. (pp. 101–112) googlebooks.com Retrieved October 3, 2008
External links
- Edmund P. Gaines at Find a Grave
- Edmund Pendleton Gaines at Handbook of Texas
- Gen. Edmund Pendleton Gaines at Historical Marker Database
- Works by or about Edmund P. Gaines at Internet Archive
- Edmund Pendleton Gaines Papers finding aid at University of Texas at Arlington Libraries Special Collections via Texas Archival Resources Online (TARO)