Peter Smith Michie (March 24, 1839 – February 16, 1901) was an American soldier, Army engineer, and military educator. Michie's biography of Major General George B. McClellan, who lead the Union Army, Union Army of the Potomac during the Peninsula campaign, Peninsula and Maryland campaign, Maryland campaigns, including the Seven Days Battles and the Battle of Antietam, was published in 1901. In 2010, historian John C. Waugh referred to it as "the oldest and still one of the best McClellan biographies."

Life and career

Michie was born in Brechin, Scotland and came to the United States in 1843; he was brought up in Cincinnati. He graduated second in the class of 1863 at the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point and entered the United States Army Corps of Engineers. During the American Civil War, Civil War, Michie served in the campaign of 1864 against Richmond, Virginia; was chief engineer of General Benjamin Butler's Army of the James during the construction of the Dutch Gap Canal; and was at the head of all engineering operations of the left column at the Battle of Hatcher's Run during the Siege of Petersburg, and the subsequent pursuit of General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. After the war, having attained the brevet rank of brigadier in 1865, he was for a year engaged in the government survey of the theatre of the war. From 1867 to 1869 he taught various courses at West Point; and was a member of a coastal fortification commission which visited Europe in 1870. For the last thirty years of his life he was professor of natural and experimental philosophy at the Academy. In addition, from 1871 to 1901 he was an overseer of the Thayer School of Engineering, Thayer School of Civil Engineering at Dartmouth College.

Death

Michie died in West Point, New York, at the age of 61, and was buried at the West Point Cemetery on February 18, 1901.

Honors

Michie was a companion of the New York Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. His son, William R. Michie, was an hereditary member of the order.

Dates of rank

* Cadet, United States Military Academy: July 1, 1859 * First Lieutenant, Engineers: June 11, 1863 * Lieutenant Colonel, Assistant Inspector General: March 23 to June 6, 1865 * Brevet Brigadier General: January 1, 1865 * Captain, Engineers: October 23, 1865 *Professor, USMA: February 14, 1871

Works

* ''Elements of Wave Motion Relating to Sound and Light'' (1882) * ''The Life and Letters of Emory Upton'' (1885) * ''Elements of Analytical Mechanics'' (1886) * ''The Personnel of Sea-Coast Defense'' (1887) * ''Hydrodynamics'' (1888) * ''Practical Astronomy'' (1891) * ''George B. McClellan, General McClellan'' (“Great Commanders Series,” New York, 1901)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Michie, Peter Smith 1839 births 1901 deaths People from Brechin Scottish emigrants to the United States United States Military Academy alumni Military personnel from Cincinnati American military engineers People of Ohio in the American Civil War Union army generals United States Army officers United States Military Academy faculty American educators Writers from Cincinnati People from West Point, New York Burials at West Point Cemetery