Israel Vogdes
Encyclopedia
Israel Vogdes was a career soldier and military educator from Pennsylvania
who served as a general in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
.
, the youngest of five children of Aaron and Ann (Hayman) Vogdes. He was educated in the local schools. He graduated from the United States Military Academy
in West Point, New York
, in 1837 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 1st U.S. Artillery. He was promoted the following year to first lieutenant, and in 1847 to captain. He served as Assistant Professor of Mathematics, USMA, from September 4, 1837, to August 30, 1843, and as Principal Assistant Professor from August 30, 1843, until September 15, 1849.
He married Mary Thomas and had three children. When his first wife died, he remarried and had four more offspring. Two of his sons later were officers in the U.S. Army; one served in the Union Army during the Civil War as a lieutenant
in the 100th New York Infantry.
Shortly after the start of the Civil War, Captain Vogdes stationed at Fort Monroe
. Promoted to major
, he was part of an expedition that was sent to Florida to quell the rebellion in that state, but was taken as a prisoner of war
at Fort Pickens
in October 1861. After being exchanged in August 1862, he was appointed as a brigadier general
in the Union Army's X Corps
in November 1862. He commanded the Federal forces on Folly Island
beginning in August 1863 and participated in the Battle of Olustee
. Vogdes then commanded forces in the X Corps in the Military District of Florida in early 1864. He finished the war as commander of the defenses of Norfolk
and Portsmouth, Virginia
.
At the close of the war, he was brevetted
as a brigadier general in the Regular Army.
After the war, Vogdes returned to the Regular Army's 1st U.S. Artillery. He retired from the service in 1881 with the rank of colonel
. He retired to New York City
and died there in 1889 at the age of 73.
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
who served as a general in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Biography
Vogdes was born in Chester County, PennsylvaniaChester County, Pennsylvania
-State parks:*French Creek State Park*Marsh Creek State Park*White Clay Creek Preserve-Demographics:As of the 2010 census, the county was 85.5% White, 6.1% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 3.9% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 1.8% were two or more races, and 2.4% were...
, the youngest of five children of Aaron and Ann (Hayman) Vogdes. He was educated in the local schools. He graduated from the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
in West Point, New York
West Point, New York
West Point is a federal military reservation established by President of the United States Thomas Jefferson in 1802. It is a census-designated place located in Town of Highlands in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 7,138 at the 2000 census...
, in 1837 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 1st U.S. Artillery. He was promoted the following year to first lieutenant, and in 1847 to captain. He served as Assistant Professor of Mathematics, USMA, from September 4, 1837, to August 30, 1843, and as Principal Assistant Professor from August 30, 1843, until September 15, 1849.
He married Mary Thomas and had three children. When his first wife died, he remarried and had four more offspring. Two of his sons later were officers in the U.S. Army; one served in the Union Army during the Civil War as a lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in the 100th New York Infantry.
Shortly after the start of the Civil War, Captain Vogdes stationed at Fort Monroe
Fort Monroe
Fort Monroe was a military installation in Hampton, Virginia—at Old Point Comfort, the southern tip of the Virginia Peninsula...
. Promoted to major
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
, he was part of an expedition that was sent to Florida to quell the rebellion in that state, but was taken as a prisoner of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
at Fort Pickens
Fort Pickens
Fort Pickens is a pentagonal historic United States military fort on Santa Rosa Island in the Pensacola, Florida, area. It is named after American Revolutionary War hero Andrew Pickens. The fort was completed in 1834 and remained in use until 1947...
in October 1861. After being exchanged in August 1862, he was appointed as a brigadier general
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
in the Union Army's X Corps
X Corps (ACW)
X Corps was a corps of the Union Army during the American Civil War. It served during operations in South Carolina in the Department of the South, and later in Benjamin Butler's Army of the James, during the Bermuda Hundred and Petersburg Campaigns.-History:...
in November 1862. He commanded the Federal forces on Folly Island
Folly Island
Folly Island is a barrier island in the Atlantic Ocean near Charleston, South Carolina. It is one of the Sea Islands and is within the boundaries of Charleston County, South Carolina. During the American Civil War, the island served as a major staging area for troops of the Union Army that were...
beginning in August 1863 and participated in the Battle of Olustee
Battle of Olustee
The Battle of Olustee or Battle of Ocean Pond was fought in Baker County, Florida on 20 February 1864, during the American Civil War. It was the largest battle fought in Florida during the war.-Background:In February 1864, Major General Quincy A...
. Vogdes then commanded forces in the X Corps in the Military District of Florida in early 1864. He finished the war as commander of the defenses of Norfolk
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
and Portsmouth, Virginia
Portsmouth, Virginia
Portsmouth is located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of the U.S. Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the city had a total population of 95,535.The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, often called the Norfolk Navy Yard, is a historic and active U.S...
.
At the close of the war, he was brevetted
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
as a brigadier general in the Regular Army.
After the war, Vogdes returned to the Regular Army's 1st U.S. Artillery. He retired from the service in 1881 with the rank of colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
. He retired to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and died there in 1889 at the age of 73.
See also
- List of American Civil War generals