A Major General In The Gutter

[Nathanb1]

My guess: Robert Mitchell

Why? When did he go to South America?

 

[rbasin]

Andrew Barclay Spurling?

I have no idea. can't find anyone but Custer who went from Lt to Full B.G., unless you count Lt Col. as Lt

 

[Freddy]

Andrew Barclay Spurling?

I have no idea. can't find anyone but Custer who went from Lt to Full B.G., unless you count Lt Col. as Lt

Custer was on active duty from 1868-1876. Kilpatrick is the only famous US cavalry general to have a South American political appointment and was out of favor after 1870 when he was recalled by Grant for marital indiscretion. He may have had a rough time in the mid-1870s before turning things around and being reappointed ambassador to Chile in 1881, the year he died there.

 

[NedBaldwin]

Why? When did he go to South America?

Good question. I was focused on the Kansas connection. So put Mitchell in the discard pile.

 

[Nathanb1]

Good question. I was focused on the Kansas connection. So put Mitchell in the discard pile.

Darn it. Keep trying, guys.

 

[diane]

Well, I thought about Alfred Duffie - not a bad cavalryman but he got into dutch. However, he was consul to Spain in 1869 and died in Cadiz of tuberculosis. Don't think he took time off to be a drunken bum in Kansas!

 

[NedBaldwin]

What about Torbert? He was cavalry commander. Lieutenant at the start of the war. Brevet MG at the end. He was diplomat to El Savador after the war.

 

[NedBaldwin]

What about Torbert? He was cavalry commander. Lieutenant at the start of the war. Brevet MG at the end. He was diplomat to El Savador after the war.

Problem is that he continues to have oversees posts in 1873 . So doesnt make sense that he would be penniless in Kansas City.

 

[rbasin]

Hmmm. Guys... isn't Kansas City in Missouri?

 

[AndyHall]

Hmmm. Guys... isn't Kansas City in Missouri?

And Kansas.

 

[AUG]

Possibly Thomas Moonlight? He was never a Major General but he was colonel of the 11th Kansas Infantry, which later became the 11th Kansas Cavalry and fought primarily in the Trans-Mississippi theater. Near the end of the war he was promoted to brevet Brig. Gen. and was placed in command of the District of Colorado. In April 1865, Moonlight became the commander of the north sub-district of the Great Plains headquartered at Fort Laramie, Wyoming and fought in the Indian Wars. On June 13, near present day Morrill, Nebraska some of the Indians decided to flee northward across the North Platte River. Attempting to stop them, Fouts and four soldiers were killed. Hearing of the disaster, Moonlight departed Fort Laramie with 234 cavalry to pursue the Indians. He traveled so fast that many of his men had to turn back because their horses were spent. On June 17, near present day Harrison, Nebraska, the Lakota raided his horse herd and relieved him of most of his remaining horses. Moonlight and many of his men had to walk 60 miles back to Fort Laramie. Moonlight was severely criticized by his soldiers for being drunk and not guarding the horse herd. On July 7, Moonlight was relieved of his command and mustered out of the army.

Moonlight returned to his farm and became involved in politics in the state of Kansas. He served as the Kansas Secretary of State, and also as State Senator. From January 8, 1883 to January 22, 1885 he served as the Adjutant General of Kansas. Moonlight was appointed Governor of the Wyoming Territory by President Grover Cleveland on January 5, 1887. Moonlight served as Governor until April 9, 1989. After his term as Governor, he served as United States Minister to Bolivia from 1893 to 1897. He was unsuccessful in his run for Governor of Kansas in 1886. Moonlight died on February 7, 1899, and is buried in Mount Muncie Cemetery in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Moonlight

 

[diane]

I'm pretty much speculating from zero knowledge base. Do as I say, not as I do, etc.

But it is useful to keep in mind that this story may be incorrect in many details, or fabricated altogether. As the last lines suggest, it's a great opportunity for moralizing on the evils of drink and games of chance.

Kind of like the Hitchhiker stories? Always something rotten happens when this guy gets picked up, like he's the devil on the road, and always a moral - didn't your mother tell you not to talk to strangers? Don't pick them up either! Might be Rutger Hauer.

 

[Greg Taylor]

I am sure that thousands upon thousands of Civil War veterans, from common privates to generals ended up as hopeless alcoholics after the war. The term Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome had not been "invented" at that time, but the condition no doubt existed. Whether or not it was a factor in this case I cannot not say. My g-g grandfather, a Union officer who fought and was captured at the Crater and spent the final 7 months of the war in a squalid Confederate prison ended up a hopeless alcoholic on the streets of San Francisco and died in the city jail in 1876 of a "brain hemorrhage." Considering the horrors of the Crater and all the other battles of the Overland Campaign he experienced, as well as his prolonged confinement it would be no surprise if he had suffered profound post traumatic stress after the war. Based upon his letters written during the war there is no indication that he even drank, let alone was an alcoholic at that time. We will never know the causes of his alcoholism but I have no doubt that he and others were pushed in that direction after the war by post traumatic stress.

 

[Nathanb1]

I'm thinking a cautionary tale myself. But someone, as Ole says, will know.

Ranald S. Mackenzie is a pretty good argument for PTSD.

 

[rbasin]

What do you know about Albert Lee or Emory Upton? I know that Upton commited suicide.

 

[Joshua Horn]

Interesting story, but I don't trust the details at all. Even if something did happen pretty close to this, how easy would it be for the reporter to puff up his rank and give him some letters from Grant and Lincoln, especially since he had the great excuse of being asked not to reveal his name? Sounds fishy to me.

 

[NedBaldwin]

What do you know about Albert Lee or Emory Upton? I know that Upton commited suicide.

Lee stayed in New Orleans for a while after the war as a newspaper publisher and banker.
Later he moved to NYC where he continued in business. In 1907 he died in NY.

 

[diane]

I'm thinking a cautionary tale myself. But someone, as Ole says, will know.

Ranald S. Mackenzie is a pretty good argument for PTSD.

That's for sure! But I'm thinking he was busy kicking Indian a## in the Texas Panhandle at the time he was supposed to be drunk in Kansas City!

 

[Nathanb1]

That's for sure! But I'm thinking he was busy kicking Indian a## in the Texas Panhandle at the time he was supposed to be drunk in Kansas City!

Oh yeah, it's not him. I didn't mean that. I meant his eventual suicide and problems with depression. Definitely PTSD.

 

[Nathanb1]

Not Upton, BTW....he was Commandant at West Point during the alleged drunken spree.