Edward Otho Cresap Ord
Edward Ord was an engineer in the United States Army, and an officer who saw action in three wars: the Seminole War, the Indian Wars, and the American Civil War. Ord commanded the Union Army of the James during the final days of the Civil War, and played a crucial role in forcing the surrender of Confederate General Robert E. Lee. After Lincoln's assassination, Ord was called upon by General Grant to investigate the role of the Confederate government in the plot. Ord's finding of no involvement by Confederate Officials greatly reduced the calls for revenge in the North against the former rebellious states.
Born: October 18, 1818
Birthplace: Cumberland, Maryland
Father: Lt. James Ord 1789 – 1873
(Buried: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia)
Mother: Rebecca Ruth “Miss Becky” Cresap 1794 – 1860
(Buried: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia)
Wife: Mary Mercer Thompson 1834 – 1894
(Buried: San Antonio National Cemetery, San Antonio, Texas)
Married: October 14, 1854 in San Francisco, California
Children:
Roberta Augusta “Bertie” Ord Trevino 1856 – 1884
(Buried: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia)
Major Edward Otho Cresap Ord Jr. 1858 – 1923
(Buried: San Francisco National Cemetery, San Francisco, California)
Lucy Maud Ord Mason 1860 – 1953
(Buried: Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery, Fort Leavenworth, KS)
Captain James Thompson Ord 1863 – 1905
(Buried: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia)
Mary “Molly” Ord Hillcoat 1865 – 1899
(Buried: San Antonio National Cemetery, San Antonio, Texas)
Lt. Jules Garesche “Garry” Ord 1866 – 1898
(Buried: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia)
Albert E. Ord 1871 – 1872
(Buried: Prospect Hill Cemetery, Omaha, Nebraska)
Education:
1839: Graduated from West Point Military Academy – (17th in class)
Occupation before War:
1839 – 1841: 2nd Lt. United States Army, 3rd Artillery
1841 – 1850: 1st Lt. United States Army, 3rd Artillery
1850 – 1861: Captain United States Army, 3rd Artillery
Civil War Career:1861 – 1862: Brigadier General of Union Army Volunteers
1861: Union Army Commander at Battle of Dranesville, Virginia
1861: Brevetted to the rank of Lt. Colonel for duty at Dranesville
1861 – 1865: Major United States Army 4th Artillery
1862 – 1866: Major General of Union Army Volunteers
1862: Brevetted to the rank of Colonel for duty at Iuka, Mississippi
1862: Union Army Commander at Battle of Hatchie’s Bridge, TN.
1863: Corps commander in the final days of Siege of Vicksburg, Miss.
1863 – 1864: Corps Commander Union Army Department of the Gulf
1864: Wounded during the attack on Fort Harrison, Virginia
1865: Commander of the Union Army of the James
1865: Brevetted to the rank of Brig. General for duty at Hatchie, Miss.
1865: Brevetted to the rank of Major General for duty at Fort Harrison
1865 – 1865: Lt. Colonel United States Army 1st Artillery
1865 – 1880: Brigadier General United States Army
1865: Investigated the Assassination of Abraham Lincoln conspiracy
1865: Determined the Confederate Government was not part of Assassination
1866: Mustered out of Volunteer Service on September 1st
Occupation after War:
1865 – 1880: Brigadier General United States Army
1866 – 1867: Commander of Department of the Arkansas
1867 – 1868: Commander of Fourth Military District
1868 – 1871: Commander of U.S. Army Department of California
1871 – 1875: Commander of U.S. Army Department of the Platte
1875 – 1880: Commander of U.S. Army Department of Texas
1880: Retired from Active duty in United States Army on December 6
1881: Appointed by Congress as Major General of United States Army
1881 – 1883: Civil Engineer for Mexican Southern Railroad Company
Died: July 22, 1883
Place of Death: Havana, Cuba
Cause of Death: Yellow Fever
Age at time of Death: 65 years old
Burial Place: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia
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