Brevet Colonel Augustus P. Martin (USA), Mayor of Boston

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augustus_P._Martin

Augustus Pearl Martin (November 23, 1835 – March 13, 1902) was an American politician and soldier from Massachusetts who served as the mayor of Boston, Massachusetts, in 1884. He also was a leading artillery officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War and was the leader of the state's Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. He also served as a general in the postbellum state militia.

Biography

Martin was born in Abbot, Piscataquis County, Maine. He served as a lieutenant of the Boston Light Artillery militia company from 1858 until 1860. Following the outbreak of the Civil War, he was a sergeant with a three-month enlistment in 1861. He was commissioned subsequently as the first lieutenant of the 3rd Massachusetts Artillery on September 5, 1861, and as the battery's captain in November of same year. He was Chief of Artillery, George W. Morell's division of the Army of the Potomac through most of 1862. He was assigned to duty by Maj. Gen. George G. Meade as the commander of the artillery brigade of the V Corps in May 1863 and participated in the Chancellorsville and Gettysburg campaigns, as well as the Mine Run Campaign. Martin filed a detailed report on the artillery brigade's role in the Battle of Gettysburg.

During the consolidation and reorganization of the Army of the Potomac in early 1864, Martin reverted to command of the Battery C, Massachusetts Light Artillery, serving in the artillery brigade of Charles S. Wainwright. Martin saw action at the Battle of the Wilderness and other engagements during that campaign, as well as during the Siege of Petersburg, Virginia. He was awarded a brevet commission as a colonel at the close of the war for gallant and meritorious services.

Martin was commander of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company in 1878. He was then the commander of the Massachusetts Commandery of MOLLUS in 1879 and 80. Martin was the chief marshal at the dedication of the monument on Boston Common September 17, 1877, as well as the chief marshal at the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the settlement of Boston on September 17, 1880. He was the senior aide-de-camp on the staff of Governor John Davis Long with the rank of brigadier general in 1882 and was a one-term mayor of Boston in 1884.

Martin died in Dorcester, Massachusetts, in 1902 and is interred at Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

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Before the Antietam Campaign:

A lieutenant in the pre-War battery, he served as the sergeant in the Boston Light Artillery for three months in 1861. He was appointed First Lieutenant in the Third battery (Battery C) on 5 September 1861 when it was formed, and to Captain on 28 November when Capt. Follett resigned. They were in action on the Peninsular Campaign of 1862.

In the Antietam Campaign:

Martin and his battery saw no action, being present but held in reserve at Antietam. They deployed and supported operations at Shepherdstown Ford on 20 September.

The remainder of the War:

He was in action with the battery again at Fredericksburg (Dec 1862) and Chancellorsville (May 1863). He was promoted to Chief of Artillery of the Fifth Corps in June - at the outset of the Gettysburg Campaign - being relieved by First Lieutenant A.F. Walcott in command of the battery. He led the Fifth Corps Artillery Brigade at Gettysburg. He was wounded in the neck by a sharpshooter while in command of the Division Artillery at Laurel Hill on the Wilderness Campaign on 4 May 1864.

After the War:

He served in the post War militia, being aide to the Governor, and as commander of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company (1878), and was active in MOLLUS. He was elected mayor of Boston in 1884 and served one term.