★ ★ Humphreys, Andrew A.

Andrew Atkinson Humphreys
​

Born: November 2, 1810

Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Father: Samuel Humphreys 1778 – 1846

(Buried: Congressional Cemetery, Washington, D.C.)​

Mother: Letitia Atkinson 1786 – 1859

(Buried: Congressional Cemetery, Washington, D.C.)​

Wife: Rebecca Hollingsworth 1822 – 1897

(Buried: Congressional Cemetery, Washington, D.C.)​

Children:

Charles F. Humphreys 1844 – 1905​

(Buried: Congressional Cemetery, Washington, D.C.)​

​

Rebecca Hollingsworth Humphrey 1849 – 1879​

(Buried: Congressional Cemetery, Washington, D.C.)​

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Letitia Humphreys Atkinson 1856 – 1934​

(Buried: Congressional Cemetery, Washington, D.C.)​

Education:

1831: Graduated from West Point Military Academy – (13th​ in class)​

Occupation before War:

1831: Brevet 2nd​ Lt. United States Army, 2nd​ Artillery​

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1831 – 1836: 2nd​ Lt. United States Army, 2nd​ Artillery​

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1831: Garrison Duty at Fort Moultrie, South Carolina​

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1832: Special duty drawing maps at West Point Military Academy​

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1832 – 1833: Served in the Cherokee Nation​

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1833: Garrison Duty at Augusta Arsenal in Augusta, Georgia​

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1833 – 1834: Garrison Duty at Fort Marion, Florida​

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1834 – 1835: Served on Topographical Duty for U.S. Army​

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1836: 1st​ Lt. United States Army, 2nd​ Artillery​

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1836: Made surveys in West Florida and Cape Cod, Massachusetts​

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1836: Served in the Seminole War in Florida​

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1836: Resigned from United States Army on September 30th​​

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1836 – 1838: Civil Engineer assisting Major Bache and U.S. Govt.​

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1838 – 1848: 1st​ Lt. United States Army, Topographical Engineers

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1839: in charge of improvements on Chicago, Illinois harbor​

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1839: Assistant Topographical Engineer at Oswego Harbor, New York​

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1840 – 1841: Assistant in U.S. Army, Topographical Engineer Bureau​

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1842: Served on construction of a bridge in Washington, D.C.​

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1842 – 1844: Assistant in U.S. Army Topographical Engineer Bureau​

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1844 – 1849: Assistant in charge of U.S. Army, Coast Survey Office​

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1848 – 1861: Captain United States Army, Topographical Engineers​

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1850 – 1851: Served on Topographical survey of Mississippi River​

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1851 – 1853: On sick leave from getting sick while on Mississippi River​

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1854 – 1861: Served on Explorations and Surveys for Railroads​

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1860: Member of the Board to revise program of instruction​

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1860: Member of Commission to examine organization and discipline​

Civil War Career:

1861 – 1863: Major, United States Army, Topographical Engineers​

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1861 – 1862: Served on Staff of Major General George B. McClellan​

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1862: Colonel and Aide-de-camp in the Union Army​

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1862: Chief Topographical Engineer, Army of the Potomac

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1862: Served in the Siege of Yorktown, Virginia​

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1862: Served in the Battle of Williamsburg, Virginia​

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1862 – 1863: Brigadier General of Union Army, Volunteers​

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1862: Served in the Battle of Malvern Hill, Virginia​

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1862: Division Commander in Washington, D.C.​

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1862: Served in the Battle of Antietam, Maryland​

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1862: Served in the Battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia​

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1862: Brevetted Colonel for Gallantry at Battle of Fredericksburg​

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1863 – 1866: Lt. Colonel, United States Army Engineers​

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1863: Served in the Battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia​

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1863: Served in the Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania​

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1863 – 1866: Major General, Union Army, Volunteers​

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1863 – 1864: Chief of Staff to Major General George Meade​

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1864 – 1865: Union Army Commander, Second Army Corps​

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1865: Corps Commander, Battle of Hatcher's Run​

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1865: Brevetted Brig. General, U.S. Army, Gallantry at Gettysburg​

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1865: Brevetted Major General, U.S. Army, Gallantry at Saylor's Creek​

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1865: Present at the Surrender at Appomattox, Virginia​

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1865: Union Army Commander, District of Pennsylvania​

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1865 – 1866: In charge of examination of Mississippi Levees​

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1866: Mustered out of the Union Army on August 31st​​

Occupation after War:

1866 – 1879: Brigadier General in United States Army​

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1866 – 1879: Chief of Engineers for United States Army​

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1870 – 1874: Member of United States Lighthouse Board​

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1872 – 1877: Member of Commission examine Canal Routes​

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1872 – 1873: Member of Board on Washington Harbor Improvements​

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1875 – 1879: Member of Board on Staten Island​

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1877 – 1879: Member of Washington Monument Commission​

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1877 – 1879: Member of Advisory on Massachusetts Harbor​

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1877: Member of Examining Board of Moline Water Power Company​

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1879: Retired from United States Army on June 30th​ his own request​

Died: December 27, 1883

Place of Death: Washington, D.C.

Cause of Death: General giving out of the vital powers

Age at time of Death: 73 years old

Burial Place: Congressional Cemetery, Washington, D.C.

 

[Pollaco]

Just before Antietam he was given command of a newly raised division of "9 month" troops (3rd division, 5th Corps). This unit was held in reserve during Antietam but did see action at Fredricksburg and Chancellorsville. Between the last 2 battles he temporarily led the 5th Corps from Feb. 23 to Feb. 28th. When the 9 months expired he transferred to the 3rd Corps and led a division which he led at Gettysburg. It was the actions of this division on the second day that earned him his second star.

 

[Luke Freet]

Andrew Atkinson Humphreys:​

Born: November 2, 1810View attachment 380124
Birthplace: Philadelphia Pennsylvania
Father: Samuel Humphreys 1778 – 1846
(Buried: Congressional Cemetery Washington D.C.)
Mother: Letitia Atkinson 1786 – 1859
(Buried: Congressional Cemetery Washington D.C.)
Wife: Rebecca Hollingsworth 1822 – 1897
(Buried: Congressional Cemetery Washington D.C.)
Children:
Charles F. Humphreys 1844 – 1905
(Buried: Congressional Cemetery Washington D.C.)
Rebecca Hollingsworth Humphrey 1849 – 1879
(Buried: Congressional Cemetery Washington D.C.)
Letitia Humphreys Atkinson 1856 – 1934
(Buried: Congressional Cemetery Washington D.C.)

Education:
1831: Graduated from West Point Military Academy – (13th​ in class)

Occupation before War:
1831: Brevet 2nd​ Lt. United States Army 2nd​ Artillery
1831 – 1836: 2nd​ Lt. United States Army 2nd​ Artillery
1831: Garrison Duty at Fort Moultrie South Carolina
1832: Special duty drawing maps at West Point Military Academy
1832 – 1833: Served in the Cherokee Nation
1833: Garrison Duty at Augusta Arsenal in Augusta Georgia
1833 – 1834: Garrison Duty at Fort Marion Florida
1834 – 1835: Served on Topographical Duty for U.S. Army
1836: 1st​ Lt. United States Army 2nd​ Artillery
1836: Made surveys in West Florida and Cape Cod Massachusetts
1836: Served in the Seminole War in Florida
1836: Resigned from United States Army on September 30th​
1836 – 1838: Civil Engineer assisting Major Bache and U.S. Govt.
1838 – 1848: 1st​ Lt. United States Army Topographical Engineers
1839: in charge of improvements on Chicago Illinois harbor
1839: Assistant Topographical Engineer at Oswego Harbor N.Y.
1840 – 1841: Assistant in U.S. Army Topographical Engineer Bureau
1842: Served on construction of a bridge in Washington D.C.
1842 – 1844: Assistant in U.S. Army Topographical Engineer Bureau
1844 – 1849: Assistant in charge of U.S. Army Coast Survey Office
1848 – 1861: Captain United States Army Topographical Engineers
1850 – 1851: Served on Topographical survey of Mississippi River
1851 – 1853: on sick leave from getting sick while on Mississippi River
1854 – 1861: Served on Explorations and Surveys for Railroads
1860: Member of the Board to revise program of instruction
1860: Member of Commission to examine organization and discipline
View attachment 380125
Civil War Career:
1861 – 1863: Major United States Army Topographical Engineers
1861 – 1862: Served on Staff of Major General George B. McClellan
1862: Colonel and Aide – de – camp in the Union Army
1862: Chief Topographical Engineer for the Army of the Potomac
1862: Served in the Siege of Yorktown Virginia
1862: Served in the Battle of Williamsburg Virginia
1862 – 1863: Brigadier General of Union Army Volunteers
1862: Served in the Battle of Malvern Hill Virginia
1862: Division Commander in Washington D.C.
1862: Served in the Battle of Antietam Maryland
1862: Served in the Battle of Fredericksburg Virginia
1862: Brevetted Colonel for Gallantry at Battle of Fredericksburg
1863 – 1866: Lt. Colonel United States Army Engineers
1863: Served in the Battle of Chancellorsville Virginia
1863: Served in the Battle of Gettysburg Pennsylvania
1863 – 1866: Major General Union Army Volunteers
1863 – 1864: Chief of Staff to Major General George Meade
1864 – 1865: Union Army Commander of Second Army Corps
1865: Corps Commander during Battle of Hatcher's RunView attachment 380126
1865: Brevetted Brig. General U.S. Army for Gallantry at Gettysburg
1865: Brevetted Major General U.S. Army Gallantry at Saylor's Creek
1865: Present at the Surrender at Appomattox Virginia
1865: Union Army Commander of District of Pennsylvania
1865 – 1866: In charge of examination of Mississippi Levees
1866: Mustered out of the Union Army on August 31st​

Occupation after War:
1866 – 1879: Brigadier General in United States Army
1866 – 1879: Chief of Engineers for United States Army
1870 – 1874: Member of United States Light house Board
1872 – 1877: Member of Commission examine Canal Routes
1872 – 1873: Member of Board on Washington Harbor Improvements
1875 – 1879: Member of Board on Staten Island
1877 – 1879: Member of Washington Monument Commission
1877 – 1879: Member of Advisory on Massachusetts Harbor
1877: Member of Examining Board of Moline Water Power Company
1879: Retired from United States Army on June 30th​ his own request


Died: December 27, 1883
Place of Death: Washington D.C.
Cause of Death: General giving out of the vital powers
Age at time of Death: 73 years old
Burial Place: Congressional Cemetery Washington D.C.




View attachment 380127

Humphreys is described by Gordon C. Rhea (in his Overland series) as being "brilliant". I am not entirely sure where that judgement comes from, but he did serve as Grant's cheif of staff during the Overland Campaign, and his plans were what led to the events at the Wilderness.
During the Appommattox Campaign, he commanded the 2nd Corps, which, while it wasn't as potent as it had been a year prior, still contained brilliant officers like Nelson Miles.

 

[gentlemanrob]

Happy Birthday Major General Andrew A. Humphreys! Salutes remembering General Humphreys on his birthday.

 

[Gibbon]

Humphreys was recognized as the best user of profanity in the AOP.

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

he did serve as Grant's cheif of staff during the Overland Campaign, and his plans were what led to the events at the Wilderness

Meade's, not Grant's.

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

Meade apparently thought very highly of Humphreys, perhaps in part because they were both in the prewar Corps of Topographic Engineers. Humphreys was reluctant to give up a combat command and eager to get one again once Hancock needed a permanent replacement as head of II Corps.

Humphreys personal papers are held by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. 120 boxes! He's not just someone who needs a biography, but the source material is even there. I think it says something about how forgotten he is that this hasn't happened yet.

 

[Pollaco]

In his participation at Fredricksburg it was his division that advanced the closest toward the Marye's Heights Stonewall. Humphreys personally commanded on horseback at the front of his line and had 2 horses shot out from under him.He continued on a 3rd horse, and in addition 5 of his 7 staff members were also shot in this battle.

 

[Pollaco]

One biography of him states that his men respected him but didn't necessarily like him. Their nickname for him was "Old Goggle Eyes" . They considered him to be a old man (even though he was only in his 50s) who wore glasses. Plus he was a disciplinarian.

 

[Belfoured]

Humphreys is described by Gordon C. Rhea (in his Overland series) as being "brilliant". I am not entirely sure where that judgement comes from, but he did serve as Grant's cheif of staff during the Overland Campaign, and his plans were what led to the events at the Wilderness.
During the Appommattox Campaign, he commanded the 2nd Corps, which, while it wasn't as potent as it had been a year prior, still contained brilliant officers like Nelson Miles.

Rhea may well have been taking into account Humphreys' thorough, detailed study of the Mississippi River, its flooding, and his conclusions proposing levees. It was an impressive piece of work for the time and influential.

 

[Luke Freet]

Rhea may well have been taking into account Humphreys' thorough, detailed study of the Mississippi River, its flooding, and his conclusions proposing levees. It was an impressive piece of work for the time and influential.

Would have loved for Rhea to tell me that in his book, but it seems he failed to do that.

 

[Belfoured]

Would have loved for Rhea to tell me that in his book, but it seems he failed to do that.

He had to cover what he had to cover on his subject, and publishers set strict page limits. If you ask an author about one of the academic presses and tightening up manuscripts, you'll get an earful.

 

[Irishtom29]

Rhea may well have been taking into account Humphreys' thorough, detailed study of the Mississippi River, its flooding, and his conclusions proposing levees. It was an impressive piece of work for the time and influential.

A few years ago I read a book on the great Mississippi flood of 1927 that sort of made Humphreys, through his policies and lasting influence, the villain of the event.

 

[Belfoured]

A few years ago I read a book on the great Mississippi flood of 1927 that sort of made Humphreys, through his policies and lasting influence, the villain of the event.

I'm assuming you mean Rising Tide, which is really well-done. "The villain" might be strong - there were a lot of characters involved over the decades - but it was critical. The benefits of 60 or so years of hindsight and several months of unusual deluge played a role, of course. In the context of when he did it and the state of knowledge at the time, it was pretty impressive.

 

[USS ALASKA]

Journal Article
Nothing but the Spirit of HEROISM: Andrew A. Humphreys at Chancellorsville and Gettysburg
Matthew T. Pearcy
Army History, No. 88 (Summer 2013), pp. 6-37
U.S. Army Center of Military History

https://www.jstor.org/stable/26376097

OPEN ACCESS - no log-in required. Please use above link.

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

 

[USS ALASKA]

This might be of interest to @Joshism / @1SGDan / @Missouri Swampfox and others into engineering...

Andrew Atkinson Humphreys was a career Army officer who distinguished himself on the battlefields of the Civil War and in innumerable assignments as a military engineer. He served as the chief of engineers of the Army from 1866 until 1879. Humphreys served two different terms on the Light-House Board. The first was from May 1856 until February 1862, when he was relieved to assume wartime duties. During this term he chaired the board's Committee on Engineering. Following his Civil War commands, he was reappointed to the board in February 1870 and served until January 1874. During this second term, he chaired the board's Committee on Finance.

https://uslhs.org/sites/default/files/articles_pdf/LighthouseBoard_Spring_2010.pdf

Please use above link.

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

 

[USS ALASKA]

Anniversary Bump

02 Nov 1810

Birthday

Andrew Atkinson Humphreys (d.1883), Maj. Gen. (Union volunteers), was born. American soldier and engineer, was born at Philadelphia on the 2nd of November 1810. He was the son of Samuel Humphreys (1778-1846), chief constructor U.S.N., and grandson of Joshua Humphreys (1751-1838), the designer of the Constitution and other famous frigates of the war of 1812, sometimes known as the father of the American navy. Graduating from West Point in 1831, he served with the 2nd Artillery in the Florida war in 1835. He resigned soon afterwards and devoted himself to civil engineering. In 1838 he returned to the army for survey duties, and from 1842 to 1849 was assistant in charge of the Coast Survey Office. Later he did similar work in the valley of the Mississippi, and, with Lt. H. L. Abbott, produced in 186i a valuable Report on the Physics and Hydraulics of the Mississippi River. In connection with this work he visited Europe in 1851. In the earlier part of the Civil War Humphreys was employed as a topographical engineer with the Army of the Potomac, and rendered conspicuous services in the Seven Days Battles. It is stated that he selected the famous position of Malvern Hill, before which Lees army was defeated. Soon after this he was assigned to command a division of the V. corps, and at the battle of Fredericksburg he distinguished himself greatly in the last attack of Maryes heights. General Burnside recommended him for promotion to the rank of major-general U.S.V., which was not however awarded to Humphreys until after Gettysburg. He took part in the battle of Chancellorsville, and at Gettysburg commanded a division of the III. corps under Sickles. Upon Humphreys division fell the brunt of Lees attack on the second day, by which in the end the III. corps was dislodged from its advanced position. His handling of his division in this struggle excited great attention, and was compared to Sheridans work at Stone river. A few days later he became chief of staff to General Meade, and this position he held throughout the Wilderness campaign. Towards the end of the war General Humphreys succeeded General Hancock in command of the famous II. corps. The short campaign of 1865, which terminated in Lees surrender, afforded him a greater opportunity of showing his capacity for leadership. His corps played a conspicuous part in the final operations around Petersburg, and the credit of the vigorous and relentless pursuit of Lees army may be claimed hardly less for Humphreys than for Sheridan. After the war, now brevet major-general, he returned to regular engineer duty as chief engineer of the U.S. army, and retired in 1879. He was a member of the American Philosophical Society (1857) and of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (1863), and received the degree of LL.D. from Harvard University in 1868. He died at Washington on the 27th of December 1883. Amongst his works may be mentioned From Gettysburg to the Rapidan (1882) and The Virginia Campaigns of 1864-1865 (1882).

November 2

2 November 1675 – Plymouth Colony governor Josiah Winslow leads a colonial militia against the Narragansett during King Philip’s War. 1772 – The first Committees of Correspondence were …

thisdayinusmilhist.wordpress.com

Full document here - https://www.latinamericanstudies.org/civil-war/Andrew_Atkinson_Humphreys_of_Pennsylvania.pdf

Cheers,
USS ALASKA