Samuel Storrow Sumner (1842–1937) was a

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

Army general during the

Spanish–American War , partof = the Philippine Revolution, the decolonization of the Americas, and the Cuban War of Independence , image = Collage infobox for Spanish-American War.jpg , image_size = 300px , caption = (cloc ...

, Boxer Rebellion, and Philippine–American War.

Early life

Sumner was born in

Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania Carlisle Barracks is a United States Army facility located in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. The site of the U.S. Army War College, it is the nation's second-oldest active military base. The first structures were built in 1757, during the French and I ...

on February 6, 1842. Samuel's name commemorates his father's mentor and friend, Samuel Appleton Storrow (1787–1837), who served as a Judge Advocate in the U. S. Army from 1816 to 1821.

Civil War service

He served in the

Union Union commonly refers to: * Trade union, an organization of workers * Union (set theory), in mathematics, a fundamental operation on sets Union may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * Union (band), an American rock group ** ''Un ...

army during the

Civil War A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies ...

. Shortly after the outbreak of the war he was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant in the 2nd Cavalry Regiment on June 11, 1861. He was transferred to the 5th Cavalry on August 3, 1861. For much of the war, he served on the staff of his father, General Edwin V. Sumner. He fought at the

Battle of Fair Oaks The Battle of Seven Pines, also known as the Battle of Fair Oaks or Fair Oaks Station, took place on May 31 and June 1, 1862, in Henrico County, Virginia, nearby Sandston, as part of the Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil War. It was th ...

, Virginia on June 1, 1862. He was promoted to 1st lieutenant on July 17, 1862 and to aide de camp with the rank of captain on August 20 of the same year. He fought at the Battle of Antietam on September 17, 1862. He was assigned as a captain in the 5th Cavalry on March 30, 1864. He received brevets (honorary promotions) to 1st lieutenant, captain and major during the war for "gallant and meritorious service".

Post Civil War

After the war's end, Sumner stayed in the army and served in the cavalry during the

Indian Wars The American Indian Wars, also known as the American Frontier Wars, and the Indian Wars, were fought by European governments and colonists in North America, and later by the United States and Canadian governments and American and Canadian settle ...

as did his brother Civil War brevet brigadier general Edwin Vose Sumner, Jr. He was promoted to major of the 8th Cavalry on April 2, 1879. He received a brevet to lieutenant colonel on February 27, 1890 for "gallant service in action against Indians at Summit Springs, Colorado on 11 July 1869. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel of the 6th Cavalry on February 18, 1891 and to colonel in command of the 6th Cavalry on May 23, 1896.

Spanish–American War

When the

broke out in May 1898, Sumner was appointed

brigadier general Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...

of volunteers and placed in command of the 1st Brigade, Cavalry Division, V Corps. He was sent to

Cuba Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...

with the corps and led his brigade into action at the

Battle of Las Guasimas The Battle of Las Guasimas of June 24, 1898 was a Spanish rearguard action by Major General Antero Rubín against advancing columns led by Major General "Fighting Joe" Wheeler and the first land engagement of the Spanish–American War. The ba ...

. When

Joseph Wheeler Joseph "Fighting Joe" Wheeler (September 10, 1836 – January 25, 1906) was an American military commander and politician. He was a cavalry general in the Confederate States Army in the 1860s during the American Civil War, and then a general in ...

fell ill, Sumner temporarily assumed command of the Cavalry Division. He was still in command of the division when the fighting at the

Battle of San Juan Hill The Battle of San Juan Hill, also known as the Battle for the San Juan Heights, was a major battle of the Spanish–American War fought between an American force under the command of William Rufus Shafter and Joseph Wheeler against a Spanish fo ...

began. However, it is said that when Wheeler heard the sound of battle he rose from his sick bed and rushed to take command of the division. Sumner returned to command his brigade for the rest of the battle and in the

Siege of Santiago The siege of Santiago, also known as the siege of Santiago de Cuba, was the last major operation of the Spanish–American War on the island of Cuba. Santiago campaign The primary objective of the American Fifth Army Corps' invasion of Cuba ...

. In September, he was appointed

major general Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of ...

of volunteers. He was discharged from the volunteers and reverted to his Regular Army rank of colonel on April 15, 1899. After the war with

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

ended, Sumner served as a military attaché to American Embassy in

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

. During the Boxer Rebellion, Summer was again in field command and led a brigade in the China Relief Expedition. He then was sent to the

Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

and commanded the 1st District, Department of Southern Luzon during the Philippine–American War. On February 4, 1901, he was promoted to

in the

Regular Army A regular army is the official army of a state or country (the official armed forces), contrasting with irregular forces, such as volunteer irregular militias, private armies, mercenaries, etc. A regular army usually has the following: * a standin ...

. He was a companion of the

District of Columbia ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

Commandery of the

Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States The Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (MOLLUS), or simply the Loyal Legion is a United States patriotic order, organized April 15, 1865, by three veteran officers of the Army. The original membership was composed of members ...

. He was also a companion of the Pennsylvania Commandery of the

Military Order of Foreign Wars The Military Order of Foreign Wars of the United States (MOFW) is one of the oldest veterans' and hereditary associations in the nation with a membership that includes officers and their hereditary descendants from all of the Armed Services. Memb ...

. He continued to serve in the Army until his retirement at the age of 64 in 1906. He died on July 26, 1937, at his home in Brookline, Massachusetts, and is buried in

Arlington National Cemetery Arlington National Cemetery is one of two national cemeteries run by the United States Army. Nearly 400,000 people are buried in its 639 acres (259 ha) in Arlington, Virginia. There are about 30 funerals conducted on weekdays and 7 held on Sa ...

Awards

Civil War Campaign Medal The Civil War Campaign Medal is considered the first campaign service medal of the United States Armed Forces. The decoration was awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces who had served in the American Civil War between 1861 and 186 ...

* Indian Campaign Medal *

Spanish Campaign Medal The Spanish Campaign Medal was a military award of the United States Armed Forces which recognized those men of the U.S. military who had served in the Spanish–American War. Although a single decoration, there were two versions of the Spanish C ...

* China Campaign Medal *

Philippine Campaign Medal The Philippine Campaign Medal is a Awards and decorations of the United States military, medal of the United States Armed Forces which was created to denote service of U.S. military men in the Philippine–American War between the years of 1899 an ...

References

External links

S.S. Sumner in Warrenton, Va., 1862 (3rd on right, counterclockwise)
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Sumner, Samuel S. American military personnel of the Spanish–American War American military personnel of the Philippine–American War United States Army generals American military personnel of the Boxer Rebellion People from Carlisle, Pennsylvania People from Brookline, Massachusetts 1842 births 1937 deaths Burials at Arlington National Cemetery Sumner family People of Pennsylvania in the American Civil War Military personnel from Pennsylvania