John Wolcott Phelps
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
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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