★  Phelps, John Wolcott

John Wolcott Phelps

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Phelps.jpg


Born: November 13, 1813

Birthplace: Guliford, Vermont

Father: Judge John Phelps 1777 – 1849

Mother: Lucy Lovell 1782 – 1830

Wife: Anna Bardwell Mattoon 1851 – 1938
(Buried: Christ Church Cemetery, Guliford, Vermont)​

Children:

John Phelps 1884 – 1957​
(Buried: Christ Church Cemetery, Guliford, Vermont)​

Education:

1836: Graduated from West Point Military Academy – (24th​ in class)​

Occupation before War:

1836: Brevet 2nd​ Lt. United States Army, 4th​ Artillery​
1836 – 1838: 2nd​ Lt. United States Army, 4th​ Artillery​
1836: Served in the Operations in the Creek Nation​
1836 – 1838: Served in the Seminole War in Florida​
1838: Transferring Cherokee Natives to the West​
1838: Garrison Duty at Fort Columbus, New York​
1838 – 1839: Served in the Seminole War in Florida​
1838 – 1850: 1st​ Lt. United States Army, 4th​ Artillery​
1839: Garrison Duty at Fort Columbus, New York​
1839 – 1840: Served in Detroit, Michigan during Canadian Disturbance​
1840: Garrison Duty at Fort Mackinac, Michigan​
1840: Recruiter for United States Army​
1840 – 1841: Garrison Duty at Fort Mackinac Michigan​
1841: Garrison Duty at Fort Brady Michigan​
1842: Garrison Duty at Buffalo, New York​
1842 – 1843: Garrison Duty at Fort Monroe, Virginia​
1843 – 1844: Garrison Duty at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania​
1844 – 1845: Garrison Duty at Fort Monroe, Virginia​
1845 – 1846: Recruiter for United States Army​
1846: Served in the Battle of Monterrey, Mexico​
1847: Served in the Siege of Vera Cruz, Mexico​
1847: Served in the Battle of Cerro Gordo, Mexico​
1847: Declined Brevet as Captain for duty at Battle of Contreras​
1847: Served in the Battle of Molino del Rey, Mexico​
1847: Served in the Capture of Mexico City, Mexico​
1848: Garrison Duty at Fort Monroe Virginia​
1848 – 1849: Garrison Duty at Fort McRee, Florida​
1849 – 1850: Member of Board for Mountain Artillery Instruction​
1850 – 1859: Captain, United States Army, 4th​ Artillery​
1851 – 1855: Frontier Duty at Fort Brown, Texas​
Broke up the filibustering Expedition march
Phelps 1.jpg
1855 – 1856: Served in the March to San Antonio, Texas​
1857: Frontier Duty at Fort Leavenworth Kansas​
1857 – 1859: Served in the Utah Expedition​
1859: Resigned from United States Army on November 2nd​
1859 – 1861: Resident of Brattleboro, Vermont​
1859: Campaigned against slavery and the Masonic Order​

Civil War Career:

1861: Colonel of 1st​ Vermont Volunteers Infantry Regiment​
1861: Took Possession of Newport News, Virginia​
1861: Served in the Defense of Hampton Roads, Virginia​
1861 – 1862: Brigadier General of Union Army Volunteers​
1861: Served in the Expedition to the Gulf of Mexico​
1861: Took Possession of Ship Island, Mississippi​
1862: Helped take Possession of Forts Jackson, and St. Phillip, Louisiana​
1862: Helped with capturing New Orleans, Louisiana​
1862: In Garrison at Camp Parapet, Louisiana​
1862: Organizer of First Negro Troops​
1862: Resigned from Union Army on August 21st​

Occupation after War:

1863 – 1885: Vice President of Vermont State Historical Society​
1864: Translator of De La Hodde’s “Secret Societies of France”​
1865 – 1885: Vice President of Vermont State Teachers Association​
1880: Unsuccessful Anti – Mason Party Presidential Candidate​
Author of Articles on Danger of Freemasonry​
Author of Articles on African Colonization​

Died: February 2, 1885

Place of Death: Guliford, Vermont

Cause of Death: Found dead in his bed

Age at time of Death: 71 years old

Burial Place: Christ Church Cemetery, Guliford, Vermont
 
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His "emanciation proclamation" to the Louisiana Negros and his recruitment of them was not received well by the Lincoln Administration and his actions were revoked.He resigned due to the humiliation. He offered his resignation to Butler on August 21, 1862 but Butler refused to accept it so Phelps turned it into Lincoln several days later.After the Emanciation Proclamation Phelps was offered a Major General's commission by Lincoln. Phelps wanted the commission backdated the day of his resignation.This would have violated General Butler's original orders and Lincoln would not agree. There are details to this offer not listed in several biographys in addition to the actual date of the resignation, which is not listed.
 
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