★ Curtis, Newton Martin

Newton Martin Curtis​

Born: May 21, 1835

Birthplace: De Peyster, New York

Father: Jonathan Curtis 1788 – 1861

(Buried: Purmort Cemetery, De Peyster, New York)​

Mother: Phebe Rising 1789 – 1868

(Buried: Purmort Cemetery, De Peyster, New York)​

Wife: Emeline Clark 1836 – 1887

(Buried: Ogdensburg Cemetery, Ogdensburg, New York)​

Children:

Phebe Curtis Vilas 1866 – 1953​

(Buried: Ogdensburg Cemetery, Ogdensburg, New York)​

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Mary Wroe Curtis 1868 – 1951​

(Buried: Ogdensburg Cemetery, Ogdensburg, New York)​

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Florence Rising Curtis 1873 – 1944​

(Buried: Ogdensburg Cemetery, Ogdensburg, New York)​

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Eliza Clark Curtis 1878 – 1952​

(Buried: Ogdensburg Cemetery, Ogdensburg, New York)​

Education:

Graduated from Gouverneur Wesleyan Seminary​

Occupation before War:

Teacher in Illinois​

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Attorney in Des Peyster, New York​

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United States Postmaster in Des Peyster, New York​

Civil War Career:

He Stood at a height of 6'7" and weighed 225 Pounds​

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President Lincoln said "Mr. Curtis, how do you know when your feet are cold?"​

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His family feared his height would make him an easy target in the war​

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1861 – 1862: Captain of Company G 16th​ New York Infantry Regiment​

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1862: Wounded in the Battle of Eltham's Landing, Virginia​

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1862 – 1865: Lt. Colonel of 142nd​ New York Infantry Regiment​

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1862 – 1864: Served in Departmental Duty in the Union Army​

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1864: Served in the Battle of Cold Harbor, Virginia​

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1864: Served in the Siege of Petersburg, Virginia

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1864: Served in the First Attack of Fort Fisher, North Carolina​

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1865: Colonel of 142nd​ New York Infantry Regiment​

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1865: Participated in the Second Attack of Fort Fisher, North Carolina​

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1865: Threw shovels at Fort Fisher saying "Dig Johnnies! I'm Coming for you"​

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1865: Wounded in the head during the Second Attack of Fort Fisher​

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1865 – 1866: Brigadier General of Union Army Volunteers​

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1865: Brevetted Major General for his service in the war​

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1866: Mustered out of the Union Army in January

Occupation after War:

1866: Collector of Customs District of Oswegatchie, New York​

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1867 – 1880: Special Agent for U.S. Treasury Department​

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1880 – 1882: Special Agent for U.S. Justice Department​

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1884 – 1890: Member of New York State Assembly​

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1891 – 1897: United States Congressman from New York​

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1891: Recipient of the Medal of Honor for his service at Fort Fisher​

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1895 – 1897: Chairman of House Committee on Elections​

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1906: Author of From Bull Run to Chancellorsville ​

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1910: Assistant Inspector General National Home of Disabled Soldiers​

Died: January 8, 1910

Place of Death: New York City, New York

Cause of Death: Cerebral Apoplexy

Age at time of Death: 74 years old

Burial Place: Ogdensburg Cemetery, Ogdensburg, New York

 

[rpkennedy]

He's a hometown hero. I had 3 relatives serve with him in Company G and have many family members buried in the same cemetery as him (including one of his former subordinates). IIRC, the St. Lawrence County Historical Society has his sword.

His book, From Bull Run to Chancellorsville, is a history of the 16th New York although it covers more than a year in which Curtis was not with the regiment. But it's still a very good regimental history.

Ryan

 

[Pollaco]

I'm a little confused . The bio that I'm reading, "Who Was Who in the Civil War"by Stewart Sifakis, states that Curtis "...was twice wounded". Then in account of the second Fort Fisher event, states "He led each of the successive charges against the traverses and received four wounds in doing so". How many times was this man wounded?

 

[rpkennedy]

I'm a little confused . The bio that I'm reading, "Who Was Who in the Civil War"by Stewart Sifakis, states that Curtis "...was twice wounded". Then in account of the second Fort Fisher event, states "He led each of the successive charges against the traverses and received four wounds in doing so". How many times was this man wounded?

My understanding is that he was wounded in 2 engagements but that he suffered 4 injuries at Ft. Fisher. That said, the evidence is somewhat jumbled.

Ryan

 

[gentlemanrob]

Happy Birthday Brig. General Newton Martin Curtis!

 

[Pollaco]

In his later years he was said to be a "tireless fighter against capital punishment."

 

[gentlemanrob]

Happy weekend birthday Brig. General Newton M. Curtis! Salutes remembering General Curtis on his birthday weekend.

 

[Pollaco]

He was among some of the first Union troops to enter Fort Fisher.

 

[ErnieMac]

The attached link to the following NC Historic Sites Fort Fisher pages shows the Federal battle lines at Fort Fisher on January 15, 1865. You can see Curtis' brigade as the leading element of the assault on the landside fortifications.

Federal Infantry Attack | NC Historic Sites

Map of the Federal Infantry Attack at Fort Fisher.

historicsites.nc.gov