ColorizedPast
Corporal
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2016
- Location
- Hangzhou, China (Wisconsin, USA)
Brigadier General John Gross Barnard (USA)
John Gross Barnard was born in Sheffield, Massachusetts on 19 May 1815. His brother, Frederick Augustus Porter Barnard was a longtime educator and president of Columbia University and namesake of Barnard College in New York City. Most members of his family suffered from a hereditary form of deafness which intensified in later years.
In 1833, John graduated from the United States Military Academy second in a class of forty-three cadets. He was posted as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. From 1833 to 1834, he served as an assistant to Colonel Joseph G. Totten in constructing Fort Adams in Newport, Rhode Island, forming a close friendship.
He helped construct defenses at Fort Columbus/Fort Jay, Fort Hamilton, Fort Wadsworth, New Orleans, Pensacola, Mobile, Fort Livingston, Fort Jackson, Fort St. Philip, and San Francisco. During the Mexican-American War, he headed the construction of American defense at the captured port of Tampico. He also surveyed battlefields and served as Chief Engineer for the Exploration and Survey of the projected Tehuantepec Railroad in Mexico.
From 31 May 1855 to 8 September 1856, Barnard served as Superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy.
At the outbreak of the Civil War, Major Barnard was assigned to the Department of Washington. On 28 April 1861, Colonel Joseph K. Mansfield, the department commander, attached Barnard to his headquarters as chief engineer. He oversaw the erection of fortifications on the Arlington hills. He served as Brig. Gen. Irvin McDowell's chief engineer at the First Battle of Bull Run in July. Between June and September, he served on the U.S. Navy's Blockade Strategy Board. On 15 August, Barnard became chief engineer of the Military District of Washington and was promoted to brigadier general on 23 September.
He participated in the Peninsula Campaign, directing the siege works at Yorktown, Virginia, offensive and defensive works on the Chickahominy River, and selecting positions for the Battle of Gaines Mills, White Oak Swamp, and the Battle of Malvern Hill.
Upon the death of the Chief of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Brigadier General Joseph Totten, on 22 April 1864, Lincoln nominated Barnard to be the next Chief of Engineers but Barnard asked that the nomination be withdrawn. He served on Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's staff as Chief Engineer of the armies in the field. He then served in the honor guard for President Lincoln's funeral in April 1865.
Barnard was promoted to colonel in the Regular Army on 28 December 1865 and continued his career in the Army Corps of Engineers until January 1881. Barnard was made president of the permanent Board of Engineers for Fortifications and River and Harbor Improvements and was a prominent member of the United States Lighthouse Board. He authored several scientific and engineering treatises and Civil War history papers.
John G. Barnard died in Detroit, Michigan on 14 May 1882.
John Gross Barnard was born in Sheffield, Massachusetts on 19 May 1815. His brother, Frederick Augustus Porter Barnard was a longtime educator and president of Columbia University and namesake of Barnard College in New York City. Most members of his family suffered from a hereditary form of deafness which intensified in later years.
In 1833, John graduated from the United States Military Academy second in a class of forty-three cadets. He was posted as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. From 1833 to 1834, he served as an assistant to Colonel Joseph G. Totten in constructing Fort Adams in Newport, Rhode Island, forming a close friendship.
He helped construct defenses at Fort Columbus/Fort Jay, Fort Hamilton, Fort Wadsworth, New Orleans, Pensacola, Mobile, Fort Livingston, Fort Jackson, Fort St. Philip, and San Francisco. During the Mexican-American War, he headed the construction of American defense at the captured port of Tampico. He also surveyed battlefields and served as Chief Engineer for the Exploration and Survey of the projected Tehuantepec Railroad in Mexico.
From 31 May 1855 to 8 September 1856, Barnard served as Superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy.
At the outbreak of the Civil War, Major Barnard was assigned to the Department of Washington. On 28 April 1861, Colonel Joseph K. Mansfield, the department commander, attached Barnard to his headquarters as chief engineer. He oversaw the erection of fortifications on the Arlington hills. He served as Brig. Gen. Irvin McDowell's chief engineer at the First Battle of Bull Run in July. Between June and September, he served on the U.S. Navy's Blockade Strategy Board. On 15 August, Barnard became chief engineer of the Military District of Washington and was promoted to brigadier general on 23 September.
He participated in the Peninsula Campaign, directing the siege works at Yorktown, Virginia, offensive and defensive works on the Chickahominy River, and selecting positions for the Battle of Gaines Mills, White Oak Swamp, and the Battle of Malvern Hill.
Upon the death of the Chief of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Brigadier General Joseph Totten, on 22 April 1864, Lincoln nominated Barnard to be the next Chief of Engineers but Barnard asked that the nomination be withdrawn. He served on Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's staff as Chief Engineer of the armies in the field. He then served in the honor guard for President Lincoln's funeral in April 1865.
Barnard was promoted to colonel in the Regular Army on 28 December 1865 and continued his career in the Army Corps of Engineers until January 1881. Barnard was made president of the permanent Board of Engineers for Fortifications and River and Harbor Improvements and was a prominent member of the United States Lighthouse Board. He authored several scientific and engineering treatises and Civil War history papers.
John G. Barnard died in Detroit, Michigan on 14 May 1882.
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