Benjamin Huger (general)

Benjamin Huger (general)

Benjamin Huger (November 22, 1805 – December 7, 1877) was a career United States Army ordnance officer and a Confederate General in the American Civil War.

Early life

Huger was born in Charleston, South Carolina. (He pronounced his name IPAEng|uːˈʒeɪ, although today many Charlestonians say IPA|/ˈuːdʒiː/.) His grandfather, also named Benjamin Huger, was a patriot in the American Revolution, killed at Charleston during the British occupation. His maternal grandfather was Thomas Pinckney. Huger graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1825 and was commissioned a brevet second lieutenant in the 3rd U.S. Artillery. He served as a topographical engineer until 1828, then took a leave of absence to visit Europe. Upon his return, he became an ordnance officer and spent the majority of his career at that occupation. He commanded Fortress Monroe arsenal for twelve years, and was a member of the U.S. Army Ordnance Board for seven.

In the Mexican-American War, Huger was chief of ordnance on the staff of Winfield Scott, and received brevets to major, lieutenant colonel, and colonel, for gallant and meritorious conduct at Vera Cruz, Molino del Rey, and Chapultepec. In 1852, he was presented a sword by South Carolina in recognition of the honor his career had cast upon his native state. After this war he served on the board that prepared a system of artillery instruction for the army, and was in command of the armories at Harpers Ferry, Charleston, and Pikesville, Maryland.

Civil War

At the start of the Civil War, Huger was commissioned colonel of artillery in the Confederate States Army. On May 23, 1861, he was assigned to command the Department of Norfolk, with defensive responsibilities for North Carolina and southern Virginia. By October 7, 1861, he achieved the rank of major general. In May 1862, when Union troops were approaching, Huger ordered the destruction of the Norfolk works and naval yard at Portsmouth. He dismantled the "CSS Virginia" ironclad and evacuated the area. While in command of Roanoke Island, he failed to reinforce his position, and his command had to surrender to the Union expeditionary force. Although the Confederate Congress investigated Huger's part in this defeat, Confederate President Jefferson Davis assigned him to division command under Gen. Joseph E. Johnston in the Army of Northern Virginia.

Huger led his division at Seven Pines and in several of the Seven Days Battles (by then under the command of Gen. Robert E. Lee). He was criticized for his lackluster leadership in battles, such as White Oak Swamp and Malvern Hill. Lee relieved of him duty on July 12, 1862, part of his wider purge of generals who did not meet Lee's expectations for aggressive tendencies in battle.

Following combat service on the Virginia Peninsula, Huger was assigned to be Assistant Inspector General of artillery and ordnance for the Confederate Army, and, in 1863, was appointed Chief of Ordnance for the Trans-Mississippi Department. After the war, he was a farmer in North Carolina and Virginia, finally returning in poor health to his home in South Carolina.

Postbellum

Huger died in Charleston and is buried in Green Mount Cemetery, Baltimore, Maryland. His first cousin once removed, Mary Procter Huger, was married to another cousin—Confederate General Arthur Middleton Manigault.

References

* Eicher, John H., and Eicher, David J.: "Civil War High Commands", Stanford University Press, 2001, ISBN 0-8047-3641-3.

External links

* [http://www.ricehope.com/history/MajorGeneralBenjaminHuger.htm Biography]
*findagrave|10993 Retrieved on 2008-08-12

Persondata
NAME= Huger, Benjamin
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= Confederate Army general
DATE OF BIRTH=
PLACE OF BIRTH=
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Benjamin Huger (General) — Benjamin Huger Benjamin Huger (* 22. November 1805 in Charleston, South Carolina; † 7. Dezember 1877 ebendort)[1] war Offizier im US Heer und Generalmajor im konföderierten Heer …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Benjamin Huger — is the name of several prominent men from South Carolina:*Benjamin Huger (American Revolution) (1746–1779), militia officer killed near Charleston *Benjamin Huger (congressman) (1768–1823), served in state and federal legislatures *Benjamin Huger …   Wikipedia

  • Benjamin Huger — ist der Name folgender Personen: Benjamin Huger (Politiker) (1768–1823), US amerikanischer Politiker Benjamin Huger (General) (1805–1877), US amerikanischer Heeresoffizier Diese Seite ist eine Begriffsklärung zur Un …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Benjamin Huger (American Revolution) — Benjamin Huger (1746 – 11 May 1779) was one of five Huger brothers from South Carolina who served in the American Revolutionary War. Huger became a close friend of Lafayette, having met him upon his arrival in Charleson in 1777, and his son… …   Wikipedia

  • Huger — Huger, a surname, may refer to:Five brothers from South Carolina who served in the American Revolution: *Benjamin Huger (American Revolution), killed near Charleston *Daniel Huger, member of the Continental Congress and United States Congress… …   Wikipedia

  • Huger — ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Benjamin Huger (Politiker) (1768–1823), US amerikanischer Politiker Benjamin Huger (General) (1805–1877), US amerikanischer Heeresoffizier Daniel Huger (1742–1799), US amerikanischer Politiker Daniel… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • General officers in the Confederate States Army — Robert E. Lee, the most well known CSA general. Lee is shown with the insignia of a Confederate colonel, which he chose to wear throughout the war. The general officers of the Confederate States Army (CSA) the army of the Confederate States of… …   Wikipedia

  • Benjamin Brice — Infobox Military Person name=Benjamin W. Brice born= birth date|1809|11|30 died= death date and age|1892|12|4|1809|11|30 placeofbirth=Harrison County, Virginia placeofdeath=Washington, D.C. placeofburial= caption=Major General Benjamin Brice… …   Wikipedia

  • Général Lafayette — Gilbert du Motier de La Fayette Pour les articles homonymes, voir Lafayette. La Fayette Naissance …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Judah P. Benjamin — Infobox US Cabinet official name=Judah P. Benjamin order=3rd title=Confederate States Secretary of State term start=March 18, 1862 term end=May 10, 1865 president=Jefferson Davis predecessor=Robert M.T. Hunter successor= Office abolished… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”