Brevet Brig. General Frederick Townsend (USA)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Townsend

Frederick Townsend (September 21, 1825 – September 12, 1897) was a Union officer in the American Civil War. He founded and was Colonel of the 3rd New York Regiment, and later served with the US Army's 18th Infantry, where he was brevetted a brigadier general. Townsend served three terms as Adjutant General of the State of New York, from 1857–1861, and again in 1880.

Early life

Frederick Townsend was born in Albany, New York on 21 September 1825 to Isaiah and Hannah Townsend. He was the grandson of Solomon Townsend, a ship's captain during the American Revolution, and great grandson of Samuel Townsend a member of the New York provincial congress and of the committee appointed to prepare a form of government for the state of New York. His ancestors Henry Townsend and Henry's brother John immigrated to Massachusetts from Norfolk England in 1640 and settled at Jamaica on Long Island NY, and were founding members of Oyster Bay Long Island.

Townsend had 7 brothers and 2 sisters. There was a strong military bent in the family, as one brother, Franklin Townsend was Adjutant General of New York from 1869–1873, and another, Robert served in the U.S. Navy, both on the side of the Union. His sister Mary, on the other hand, married General William H.T. Walker of the Confederate Army.

Frederick attended a The Albany Academy and Bartlett Collegiate School at Poughkeepsie, New York and was graduated from Union College, which he entered at age 15, in 1844. He studied law under John Van S.L. Pruyn and was admitted to the bar in 1849 and practiced in Albany.

That year gold was discovered in California. Townsend was equipped by his grandmother with equipment and an aide to seek his fortune on the Pacific coast. After being given up for dead following a long period of no news, Frederick returned to Albany with tales of being captured by Indians and surviving a tornado. He also carried a single nugget of the precious metal which he gave his grandmother who preserved it as a family treasure.

Military career

Returning home he was made captain of company B of the Washington Continentals of Albany. He organized the 76th regiment of militia of which he was colonel, and later on the Albany Zouave cadets.

He was appointed by Governor John Alsop King in 1857 Adjutant general of the state of New York, leading Townsend to end his law practice. Finding the militia to be less than it should be, he significantly reordered it. He prepared an annual report to the legislature from this department for the first time. Additionally he improved the conditions of the citizen soldiers and increased their numbers to 12,000 effective men. Townsend's efforts were recognized as effective and he was reappointed by the next governor of the state, Governor Edwin D. Morgan in 1859.

In 1861 he organized the 3rd New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment of which he was commissioned colonel and which he led in the Battle of Big Bethel on June 10, 1861. Townsend's unit suffered 21 wounded from friendly fire when the 7th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment mistook them for Confederates and opened fire. He was appointed by President Abraham Lincoln major in the 18th U.S. Infantry on August 19, 1861 and served under Generals Don Carlos Buell and William Rosecrans. Townsend took part in the Battle of Lick Creek, Mississippi, where he led the battalion in reconnaissance. On April 30 he took part in the Siege of Corinth and in the Battle of Perryville, Kentucky on October 8, 1862, which has been called one of the bloodiest of the Civil War given the number of soldiers engaged.

At the Battle of Stones River on December 31, 1862 with all the senior officers of the regular brigade having been shot except the brigade commander, Townsend was placed in command of the left wing of the brigade. The loss of his brigade in the fight was 94 killed 497 wounded and 50 missing.

He was then brevetted lieutenant colonel, colonel, and brigadier general in the regular Army. In 1863 he was posted to duty as acting assistant provost marshal general at Albany. In 1867 after a leave of absence in Europe he was made acting assistant inspector general of the department of California from which he inspected all the government posts in Arizona. He resigned his commission in 1868 and returned to Albany.

He was appointed brigadier general of 9th Brigade of the state militia in 1878 and adjutant general of the state in 1880 under Gov. Alonzo B. Cornell. As part of a commission to revise the military code in the state, Townsend undertook to restructure the state forces, resulting in a disbanding of a number of regiments, including his former command, the 9th Brigade, accompanied by a downsizing of the officer corps. Along with the painful downsizing and restructuring of the militia, he successfully urged the adoption of a state service uniform and a state military camp, which later came to be named Camp Townsend, (now Camp Smith) in Peekskill.

Other activities

Townsend was a member of a number of military organizations including:

The Society of the Army of the Cumberland

The Grand Army of the Republic

The Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States

He was nominated bv the republican state convention in 1880 for the office of elector and cast his vote for James A. Garfield on 9 November 1880.

Directorships

Gen Townsend has been a director of:

Trustee of Vassar College

New York National Bank

Albany & Bethlehem Turnpike Company

Albany Orphan Asylum

Dudley Observatory

The Albany Academy

Family

Townsend he married Sarah Rathbone of Albany. Together they had children:

Annie Townsend (1866–1881) died at age 15

Frederick Townsend (1871–1949) President of Albany Savings Bank

Sarah Rathbone Townsend (1869-?) Married Gerret Yates

Death

Townsend died at Lake Luzerne NY on 12 September 1897, and is buried at the Albany Rural Cemetery.

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TOWNSEND Frederick soldier was born in Albany NY Sept 21 1825 sou of Isaiah Town send a wealthy merchant of that city He comes from a line of ancestors noted for independence of character high moral principles and true devotion to the cause of liberty His great great grandfather on his father's side James Townseud was deputy surveyor general of the province His great grandfather Samuel Townseud was actively engaged in the English and West India trade which he successfully prosecuted until the revolution when he was interested and employed although subjected to many annoyances in advancing the interests of the colonies This he did until his death in 1790 Frederick was educated in the sch x ls of the day and at the age of fifteen entered Union college Schenectady where he was graduated in 1844 at the age of nineteen years He studied la wand was admitted to the bar in 1849 The California gold fever drew him to the Pacific coast where his love of adventure his keen perception and high appreciation of the beauties of nature and his careful study of society in its various phases rendered his experience exciting interesting and profitable as well Iteturninghome he was made captain of company B Washington continentals of Albany organized the 76th regiment of militia of which he was colonel and later on the Albany zouave cadets His fitness to occupy some higher position in the military ranks becoming appreciated he was appointed by Gov King in 1857 adjutant general of the state of New York He left the practice of law and devoted his time as adjutant general to making reforms and infusing life and vigor into military organizations In 1859 he was reappointed adjutant general by Gov Morgan and it maybe trulv asserted that it was owing to the efficiency of Gen Towns end that so many New York troops were ready to take the field when the thunders of Fort Sumte r's guns aroused the loyal men of the North to action and called them to arms In 1861 Gen Townsend tendered his services to the country at the beginning of the civil war and organized the 3d regiment of New York state volunteers of which he was commissioned colonel in Mav and which he commanded at the battle of Big Bethel June 10 1861 where he was conspicuous for many acts of gallantry He was appointed by President Lincoln a major of the 18th infantry of the regular army Aug 19 1861 and wits assigned to duty in the West He commanded his battalion in the reconnoissance to Lick Creek Miss Apr 26 1802 also in the siesre of Corinth Apr 30th driving the rear guard of the enemy from Springfield to Texas Ky and took part in the battle of Perryville After the first day of the battle at Stone river Tenn Dec 31 1862 all the senior officers of the regular brigade having been shot except the brigade commander he was placed in command of the loft wing of the brigade In all his vigorous battles and engagements Ma Townseuil proved himself a brave soldier He received success vely the brevets of lieutenant colonel colonel and brigadier general all in the regular army In May 1863 he was detailed for duty at Albany as acting assistant provost marshal general In 1807 on bis return from Europe after a leave of absence he was ordered to California and as acting inspector general of the department made an inspection of all the government posts in Aiizona He resigned his commission in 1868 He is a member of the society of the army of the Cumberland of the Grand army of the republic and of the military order of the Loyal legion of the United States Qen Townseud has been a director of the New York national bank and trustee of the Albany & Bethlehem turnpike company since 1864 a trustee of Viis ear college since June 27 1876 a trustee of the Albany orphan asylum since 1879 a trustee of the Dudley observatory since Apr 22 1880 and a trustee of the Albany academy since May 11 1886 He was elected brfgadier general of the 9th brigade NGSXY in 1878 and resigned that position Jan 1 1880 to accept the appointment of adjutant general of the state of New York He was nominated bv the republican state convention in 1880 for the office of elector and cast his vote for Gartield and Arthur On Nov 9 1863 he married Sarah Ratlibonc of Albany Gen Townscnd is tall well proportioned of stalely soldierly bearing active in his movements courteous in his manners aud endowed with a high order of conversational powers <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=190DAAAAYAAJ&dq=matilda+mckay&lr=&...">The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography Being the History of the United States as Illustrated in the Lives of the Founders, Builders, and Defenders of the Republic, and of the Men and Women who are Doing the Work and Moulding the Thought of the Present Time By James Terry White</a>

TOWNSEND, Frederick, soldier, was born in

Albany, N.Y., Sept.21, 1825 ; grandson of Solomon

Townsend ; great-grandson of Samuel Townsend,

a member of the New York provincial congress

for many years and of the committee appointed

to prepare a form of government for the state of

New York. His ancestor, Henry Townsend, immigrated

to Massachusetts from Norfolk, England,

in 1640, and settled at Jamaica, on Long

Island, N.Y., removing to Oyster Bay. Frederick

attended a private school at Albany and Bartlett

Collegiate school at Poughkeepsie, and was graduated

from Union college, A.B., 1844. He studied

law under John V. L. Pruyn (q.v.): was admitted

to the bar in 1849, and practised in Albany, 1856-57,

when he was appointed adjutant-general of New

York, and devoted himself to military organization

in the state. In 1861 he organized the 3d

regiment, N.Y. volunteers, of which he was commissioned

colonel, and which he led in the battle

of Big Bethel, June 10, 1861. He was appointed

major of the 18th U.S. infantry, Aug. 19, 1861,

and served under Generals Buell and Rosecrans

in the west, taking part in the battles of Lick

Creek, Miss. ; in the siege and occupation of

Corinth, April-May, 1862, and the battle of Perry-

ville, Ky., Oct. 8, 1862, and at the battle of Stone's

river, commanding the left wing of his (4th)

brigade (Rousseau's division, Thomas's center), arriving after Majors King andSlemmer had been wounded and Carpenter killed. The loss of his brigade in the fight was 94 killed, 497 wounded and 50 missing. He was brevetted lieutenant- colonel, colonel and brigadier-general, U.S.A. ; was acting assistant provost-marshal-general at Albany, 1863-67, acting assistant inspector- general of the department of California, 1867-68 ; resigned his commission in 1868, and returned to Albany. He was appointed brigadier-general of state militia in 1878, and adjutant-general of the state in 1880. He was a trustee of Vassar college, and other institutions. He died at Albany, N.Y., Sept. 18, 1888.

http://books.google.com/books?id=Ou4UAAAAYAAJ&pg=PT182&dq=%22john+t...

Twentiety Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans 1904

TOWNSEND, Frederick, soldier, b. in Albany, N. Y.,

21 Sept., 1825. He was graduated at Union

college in 1844,

and admitted to the bar. Having a leaning toward military matters, he became adjutant-

general of the state in 1856. He found the

militia in a most disordered condition and addressed

himself to the task of making it what it

ought to be. He prepared an annual report from

this department for the first time, and he was re-

appointed by the next governor of the state. To

his efficiency is due the fact that the state of New

York sent so many troops to the field in the civil

war. He declined a reappointment as adjutant-

general in 1861, and organized a regiment, being

commissioned colonel. He took part in the battle

of Big Bethel, but soon afterward he was commissioned

a major in the regular army and resigned

his colonelcy. As major his duties led him

to organize troops in Columbus, Ohio. Afterward

he participated in the battles of Pea Ridge, Stone

River, and other engagements at the west. In 1863

he was detailed as assistant provost-marshal-general

in Albany, which position he filled for several

years. In 1867 he was ordered to California and

made a thorough inspection of all the military

posts in Arizona. In 1868 he resigned from the

army, and he has resided in Albany since that

time. In 1878 he was appointed a brigadier-general

in the state militia, and he afterward became

adjutant-general of the state under Gov. Alonzo

B. Cornell. In this post he again addressed himself

to the condition of the citizen soldiers and increased

their numbers to 12,000 effective men. He

successfully urged the adoption of a state service

uniform and a state military camp.

Appleton's Cyclopaedia of Amer Bio

http://books.google.com/books?id=V3QBok6hopAC&pg=PA148&lpg=PA148&dq...

1889