Theodore Harvey Barrett (1834-1900) was an American Brevet Brigadier General who commanded the 1st Missouri Colored Infantry Regiment in the later years of the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

and was known as the commander of the

Battle of Palmito Ranch The Battle of Palmito Ranch, also known as the Battle of Palmito Hill, is considered by some criteria the final battle of the American Civil War. It was fought May 12 and 13, 1865, on the banks of the Rio Grande east of Brownsville, Texas, and ...

which was the final battle of the war.

Biography

Theodore was born on August 27, 1834. Barrett enlisted on September 15, 1862, as a 2nd Lieutenant of the 9th Minnesota Infantry Regiment at Company G but wouldn't see active service as the 9th Minnesota was organized to engage in skirmish with Native American tribes. On December 29, 1863, he was transferred to the 1st Missouri Colored Infantry Regiment where he became a Colonel of the regiment which served in the

Department of the Gulf The Department of the Gulf was a command of the United States Army in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and of the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War, Civil War. History United States Army (Civil War) Creation The ...

Louisiana Louisiana ( ; ; ) is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It borders Texas to the west, Arkansas to the north, and Mississippi to the east. Of the 50 U.S. states, it ranks 31st in area and 25 ...

until June 1864. Afterwards, the Regiment was ordered to head for

Texas Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...

. Barrett was brevetted Brigadier General on March 13, 1865, for "faithful and meritorious services". He then organized a unofficial truce with the Confederates there around March until Barrett dispatched the 1st Missouri, the 34th Indiana and the 2nd Texas to raid a Confederate camp near

Fort Brown Fort Brown (originally Fort Texas) was a military post of the United States Army in Cameron County, Texas, during the latter half of the 19th century and the early part of the 20th century. Established in 1846, it was the first US Army military ...

but were driven back after some Mexican witnesses reported them to the Confederates due to a few skirmishes between them and the Union forces. On the next day,

John "Rip" Ford John Salmon Ford (May 26, 1815 – November 3, 1897), also known as "Rip" Ford, was an American military officer and politician. He served as a member of the Republic of Texas Congress and the Texas Senate. He was also the mayor of Brownsville a ...

engaged in a battle with Barrett at the

and despite the Confederate victory at the battle, it was all in vain as Ford's forces would surrender 2 weeks later. Barrett was then discharged on January 19, 1866, and returned to

Herman, Minnesota Herman is a city in Grant County, Minnesota, Grant County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 437 at the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census. It lends it name to Herman Beach which is the former shoreline of the prehistoric glacial ...

where he died on July 20, 1900, and was buried at Riverside Cemetery,

Sterling, Illinois Sterling is a city in Whiteside County, Illinois, United States, along the Rock River. The population was 14,782 at the 2020 census, down from 15,370 in 2010. Formerly nicknamed "Hardware Capital of the World", the city has long been associate ...

Legacy

Barrett, Minnesota Barrett is a city in Grant County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 415 at the 2010 census. History Barrett was platted in 1887. The community was named for General Theodore H. Barrett. A post office has been in operation at Barre ...

is named after Barrett after its establishment on 1887.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Barrett, Theodore Harvey 1834 births 1900 deaths Union army generals People from Wyoming County, New York Union army colonels People of Minnesota in the American Civil War

Biography

Legacy

See also

References