Levi Clark Bootes
Encyclopedia
Levi Clark Bootes was a career officer in the United States Army
, serving in the Mexican-American War and the American Civil War
.
and educated in the schools of the area. He joined the U.S. Army as a private in Company F of the Regiment of Mounted Riflemen on June 19, 1846, and was soon promoted to Sergeant. On June 28, 1848, he was brevetted
as a second lieutenant in the 6th U.S. Infantry and served in the Mexican-American War under Generals Zachary Taylor
and Winfield Scott
. In September 1848, he was promoted to the full rank of second lieutenant. Following the war, Bootes served on various western outposts, and was promoted to first lieutenant on June 9, 1853. He was assigned to the Arizona Territory
, serving at Fort Yuma
, where in June 1860, he was again promoted, this time to captain.
With the outbreak of the Civil War, Bootes served in the Regular Army
with the combined 1st and 6th U.S. Infantry and was wounded at Antietam
and again at Gettysburg
, where he led his regiment in fighting near the Wheatfield. For his gallantry and leadership, he was promoted to Major (United States)
of the 17th U.S. Infantry in October 1863, a position he held through the remainder of the war.
During the Civil War, he received three citations and brevet promotions: Brevetted Major July 1, 1862 for gallant and meritorious service in the Battle of Malvern Hill
; Brevetted lieutenant colonel
on December 13, 1862, for the Battle of Fredericksburg
, and Colonel
July 2, 1863, for the Battle of Gettysburg.
Following the war, he transferred to the 16th U.S. Infantry in September 1866, serving in that regiment until 1869. On December 15, 1870, he was briefly assigned to the 20th U.S. Infantry. Shortly thereafter, on January 1, 1871, he received his final assignment, serving as lieutenant colonel of the 25th U.S. Infantry until his retirement from active service in October 1874.
Bootes died in Wilmington, Delaware
, at the age of 87. He is buried there in Brandywine Cemetery.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, serving in the Mexican-American War and 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
Bootes was born in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and educated in the schools of the area. He joined the U.S. Army as a private in Company F of the Regiment of Mounted Riflemen on June 19, 1846, and was soon promoted to Sergeant. On June 28, 1848, 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 second lieutenant in the 6th U.S. Infantry and served in the Mexican-American War under Generals Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor was the 12th President of the United States and an American military leader. Initially uninterested in politics, Taylor nonetheless ran as a Whig in the 1848 presidential election, defeating Lewis Cass...
and Winfield Scott
Winfield Scott
Winfield Scott was a United States Army general, and unsuccessful presidential candidate of the Whig Party in 1852....
. In September 1848, he was promoted to the full rank of second lieutenant. Following the war, Bootes served on various western outposts, and was promoted to first lieutenant on June 9, 1853. He was assigned to the Arizona Territory
Arizona Territory
The Territory of Arizona was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from February 24, 1863 until February 14, 1912, when it was admitted to the Union as the 48th state....
, serving at Fort Yuma
Fort Yuma
Fort Yuma is a fort in California that is located in Imperial County, across the Colorado River from Yuma, Arizona. It was on the Butterfield Overland Mail route from 1858 until 1861 and was abandoned May 16, 1883, and transferred to the Department of the Interior. The Fort Yuma Indian School and a...
, where in June 1860, he was again promoted, this time to captain.
With the outbreak of the Civil War, Bootes served in the Regular Army
Regular Army
The Regular Army of the United States was and is the successor to the Continental Army as the country's permanent, professional military establishment. Even in modern times the professional core of the United States Army continues to be called the Regular Army...
with the combined 1st and 6th U.S. Infantry and was wounded at Antietam
Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam , fought on September 17, 1862, near Sharpsburg, Maryland, and Antietam Creek, as part of the Maryland Campaign, was the first major battle in the American Civil War to take place on Northern soil. It was the bloodiest single-day battle in American history, with about 23,000...
and again at Gettysburg
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg , was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle with the largest number of casualties in the American Civil War, it is often described as the war's turning point. Union Maj. Gen. George Gordon Meade's Army of the Potomac...
, where he led his regiment in fighting near the Wheatfield. For his gallantry and leadership, he was promoted to Major (United States)
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...
of the 17th U.S. Infantry in October 1863, a position he held through the remainder of the war.
During the Civil War, he received three citations and brevet promotions: Brevetted Major July 1, 1862 for gallant and meritorious service in the Battle of Malvern Hill
Battle of Malvern Hill
The Battle of Malvern Hill, also known as the Battle of Poindexter's Farm, took place on July 1, 1862, in Henrico County, Virginia, on the seventh and last day of the Seven Days Battles of the American Civil War. Gen. Robert E. Lee launched a series of disjointed assaults on the nearly impregnable...
; Brevetted lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
on December 13, 1862, for the Battle of Fredericksburg
Battle of Fredericksburg
The Battle of Fredericksburg was fought December 11–15, 1862, in and around Fredericksburg, Virginia, between General Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army of Northern Virginia and the Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside...
, and 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...
July 2, 1863, for the Battle of Gettysburg.
Following the war, he transferred to the 16th U.S. Infantry in September 1866, serving in that regiment until 1869. On December 15, 1870, he was briefly assigned to the 20th U.S. Infantry. Shortly thereafter, on January 1, 1871, he received his final assignment, serving as lieutenant colonel of the 25th U.S. Infantry until his retirement from active service in October 1874.
Bootes died in Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States, and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley...
, at the age of 87. He is buried there in Brandywine Cemetery.