Joseph P. Sanger

Last updated • 6 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

Joseph P. Sanger
SANGER, J.P. GENERAL LCCN2016857139.jpg
Born(1840-05-04)May 4, 1840
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
DiedMarch 15, 1926(1926-03-15) (aged 85)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Buried
Allegiance Union
United States
Service Union Army (1861–1865)
United States Army (1865–1904)
Years of service1861–1904
Rank Major General
Unit U.S. Army Field Artillery Branch
CommandsBattery D, 1st Regiment of Artillery
Battery E, 3rd Artillery
Light Battery, 1st Artillery
2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, First Army Corps
3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, First Army Corps
3rd Division, First Army Corps
2nd Division, First Army Corps
District of Matanzas
Director of the Census of Puerto Rico and Cuba
Director of the Census of the Philippines
Wars American Civil War
Spanish–American War
Philippine–American War
Alma mater University of Michigan (attended)
Spouse(s)Frances (Kent) Sanger (m. 1877–1926, his death)
Children3

Joseph P. Sanger (May 4, 1840 – March 15, 1926) was a career officer in the United States Army. A Union Army veteran of the American Civil War, after the war he served as an aide-de-camp for generals Emory Upton and John Schofield, and was secretary and military assistant for President Benjamin Harrison. After service in Cuba during the Spanish–American War, in 1903, he was assigned to supervise the first census of the Philippines following the end of the Philippine–American War. Sanger attained the rank of major general, and retired in January 1904.

Contents

Sanger was a native of Detroit, Michigan and attended the University of Michigan for two years before joining the Union Army for the American Civil War. After service in the 1st Michigan Infantry Regiment, a unit enlisted for three months at the start of the war, Sanger joined the 1st Regiment of Artillery, with which he served until the end of the war. Sanger remained in the army after the war, and served in a variety of assignments as he rose through the ranks in the 1870s and 1880s, including command of several batteries of the 1st Artillery.

In addition to his artillery assignments, Sanger also served as an aide-de-camp for General Emory Upton during Upton's inspection and observation tour of Asia and Europe in the mid-1870s, and General John Schofield during Schofield's command of the Military Division of the Atlantic and assignment as Commanding General of the United States Army. During the presidential administration of Benjamin Harrison, Sanger served as his military aide and acted as his presidential secretary.

During the Spanish–American War and Philippine–American War, Sanger commanded several brigades and divisions, then supervised censuses in Puerto Rico, Cuba, and the Philippines. He was promoted to major general on January 20, 1904, and retired the following day. In retirement, Sanger resided in Washington, D.C. He died there on March 15, 1926, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Early life and start of career

Joseph Prentice Sanger was born in Detroit, Michigan on May 4, 1840, a son of Henry Kirkland Sanger and Caroline (Prentice) Sanger. [1] He attended the schools of Detroit and was a student at the University of Michigan from 1858 to 1860. [2] He enlisted in the Union Army in April 1861 and was appointed a first lieutenant in the 1st Michigan Infantry Regiment, a unit organized in response to President Abraham Lincoln's call at the start of the war for troops to serve three-month enlistments. [3]

When the 1st Michigan mustered out in August 1861, Sanger joined the 1st Regiment of Artillery as commander of Battery D, and later commanded Battery E, 3rd Artillery. [4] [5] He served until the end of the war, and received promotion to captain and major by brevet in recognition of his heroism in the Bermuda Hundred campaign and the first and second battles of Deep Bottom, Virginia. [6]

Continued career

Sanger remained in the army after the Civil War, and was assigned as adjutant of the 1st Artillery in 1866. [6] He was the honor graduate of his Artillery School course in 1869, and afterwards remained at Fort Monroe, Virginia to serve as the school's adjutant. [6] When whiskey distillers in New York City refused to pay the federal tax on their product, a riot against federal authorities resulted. [6] This civil disturbance became known as the Brooklyn Whiskey War of 1871, and Sanger commanded a battery in the army response that ended the riot. [6]

From 1872 to 1875, Sanger was professor of military science at Bowdoin College, and he was promoted to captain in February 1875. [6] From 1875 to 1877, he was an aide-de-camp to General Emory Upton during Upton's observation and inspection of armies in several Asian and European countries, including Japan and England. [6] From 1877 to 1884, he commanded batteries of the 1st Artillery, including the regiment's Light Battery, which was posted to Fort Adams, Rhode Island. [7]

From 1884 to 1888, Sanger was an aide-de-camp to Major General John Schofield during Schofield's command of the Military Division of the Atlantic. [6] He was promoted to major in February 1891, and during the presidential administration of Benjamin Harrison, he served as Harrison's military aide and acting presidential secretary. [6] In the mid-1890s, he served as military secretary for Schofield during Schofield's term as Commanding General of the United States Army. [6] In September 1895, Sanger was detailed to the Inspector General's office, and he served first as inspector of the South Atlantic District, then as principal assistant to the army's Inspector General. [6]

Spanish–American War

In March 1898, Sanger was appointed inspector general of United States Volunteers and promoted to lieutenant colonel. [6] In July 1898, he was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers, and in Cuba he successively commanded 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, First Army Corps, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, First Corps, 3rd Division, First Corps, and 2nd Division, First Corps. [6] In January 1899, Sanger was appointed commander of the District of Matanzas. [6] He was discharged from the volunteers in June 1899, and performed staff duty in the office of the Assistant Secretary of War. [6]

In August 1899, Sanger was appointed director of the U.S. census of Puerto Rico and Cuba, which was necessitated by the U.S. establishing governments there after defeating Spain. [6] He was promoted to the permanent ranks of colonel in February 1901, and brigadier general in July 1902. [6] From 1901 to 1903, he served in the Philippines during the Philippine–American War, holding simultaneously the positions of chief of staff and inspector general for Adna Chaffee, the military governor. [8] From 1903 to 1904, Sanger was director of the U.S. census of the Philippines. [6] On January 20, 1904, he was promoted to major general in accordance with a law permitting Union veterans still on active duty to be advanced one grade before retiring. [6] He retired on January 21, two months before reaching the mandatory retirement age of 64. [6]

Retirement and death

In retirement, Sanger was a resident of Washington, D.C. He had authored articles for professional journals during his career, and after retirement, he was responsible for completing The Military Policy of the United States. [9] This history of the army's doctrine and policy had been begun by Emory Upton, and it was edited for publication in 1904 by Sanger, William Dorrance Beach, and Charles Dudley Rhodes. [9] He remained active in military and veterans' affairs, including serving on the Army of the Potomac committee that arranged the 1907 design and placement of Washington's Equestrian statue of George B. McClellan. [10] In 1910, he was a member of the panel that investigated the Brownsville affair. [2] In 1917, he was a member of the board chaired by Nelson A. Miles that reviewed awards of the Medal of Honor beginning with the Civil War and made recommendations on which had been awarded under questionable circumstances and should be revoked. [11]

Sanger was a member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (MOLLUS) [12] and Military Order of Foreign Wars. [13] He also belonged to the General Society of Colonial Wars and Sons of the Revolution. [14] [15] He died at Walter Reed Army Medical Center on March 15, 1926. [16] He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. [16]

Family

In 1877, Sanger married Frances Kent (1850–1938) of Brooklyn, New York. [1] They were the parents of two children, Edith Sanger (1879–1975) and Walter Prentice Sanger (1881–1964). [1] Edith Sanger was the wife of attorney James Mandeville Carlisle (1879–1922). [1] [17] Walter Prentice Sanger, known as Prentice, was a prominent New York City architect and landscape designer. [18] Sanger's sister Frances Caroline Sanger (1848–1917) was the wife of Brigadier General John M. K. Davis. [19]

Legacy

In 1872, Sanger received the honorary degree of Master of Arts from Bowdoin College. [20] Joseph P. Sanger Camp No. 15 (Lynn, Massachusetts) of the United Spanish War Veterans was named for Sanger. [21]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emory Upton</span> Union Army general (1839–1881)

Emory Upton was a United States Army general and military strategist, prominent for his role in leading infantry to attack entrenched positions successfully at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House during the American Civil War, but he also excelled at artillery and cavalry assignments. His work, The Military Policy of the United States, which analyzed American military policies and practices and presented the first systematic examination of the nation's military history, had a tremendous effect on the U.S. Army when it was published posthumously in 1904.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peyton C. March</span> United States Army general (1864-1955)

General Peyton Conway March was a senior officer of the United States Army. He served in the Philippines, on the Mexican border, and World War I. March was the ninth Chief of Staff from 1918 to 1921, accomplishing centralized control over supply, the creation of the Air Service, Tank Corps, and Chemical Warfare Service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edmund Kirby (army officer)</span>

Edmund Kirby was a United States Army artillery officer who was mortally wounded at the Battle of Chancellorsville.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen Miller Foote</span> United States Army general

Stephen Miller Foote was a career officer in the United States Army during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. A veteran of the Spanish–American War, Philippine–American War, and World War I, he specialized in Coast Artillery and attained the rank of brigadier general.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John William Kilbreth</span> American general

John William Kilbreth was an American brigadier general who served during World War I. He received the Army Distinguished Service Medal for his accomplishments as Director of the Department of Firing at Fort Sill, Oklahoma's United States Army Field Artillery School.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Patten Story</span> United States Army general

John P. Story was a career officer in the United States Army who attained the rank of major general. An 1865 graduate of the United States Military Academy, he served from shortly after the end of the American Civil War until retiring in 1905. A specialist in the use of coastal artillery for harbor defense, he was most notable for his service as commandant of the Artillery School (1902-1904) and the Army's Chief of Artillery (1904-1905).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frederick S. Strong</span> American businessman and U.S. Army general (1855–1935

Frederick S. Strong was a career officer in the United States Army. He attained the rank of major general, and was a veteran of the American Indian Wars, Spanish–American War, and World War I. Strong was best known for his command of the Hawaiian Department from 1916 to 1917 and the 40th Division during World War I.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harry L. Steele</span> United States Army general

Harry Lee Steele was a career officer in the United States Army. Enlisting as a private in 1895, he received his commission in 1898. A veteran of the Spanish–American War and World War I, Steele attained the rank of major general and was most notable for his service as the Army's Chief of Coast Artillery from 1935 to 1936.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Archibald H. Sunderland</span> United States Army general

Archibald Henry Sunderland was a career officer in the United States Army. A veteran of the Philippine–American War and World War I, he attained the rank of major general and was most notable for his service as the Army's Chief of Coast Artillery from 1936 to 1940, after which he retired from the military.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ernest Hinds</span> U.S. Army major general

Ernest Hinds was a career officer in the United States Army. A veteran of the Spanish–American War, Philippine–American War, and World War I, he attained the rank of major general and was notable for his service as Chief of Artillery for the American Expeditionary Forces during the First World War and his post war command of the 2nd Division and United States Army Field Artillery School.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henry W. Closson</span> US Army brigadier general

Henry W. Closson was a career officer in the United States Army. A veteran of the American Indian Wars and the American Civil War, he served from 1854 to 1896 and attained the rank of colonel. During the Civil War, Closson received brevet promotions to major and lieutenant colonel to recognize his heroism during the Siege of Port Hudson, Louisiana and Siege of Fort Morgan, Alabama.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William L. Haskin</span> U.S. Army brigadier general

William L. Haskin was a career officer in the United States Army. A Union Army veteran of the American Civil War, Haskin took part in the quashing of the 1866 and 1870 Fenian raids, when Irish nationalists attempted to organize in the United States, then invade the British dominion of Canada. In addition, he took part in the federal government's response to the Great Railroad Strike of 1877.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Moses</span> U.S. Army major general

Andrew Moses was a career officer in the United States Army. A graduate of the United States Military Academy, he served from 1897 to 1938, and was a veteran of the Spanish–American War and World War I. He attained the rank of major general and was most notable for his service as commander of 156th Field Artillery Brigade, 81st Division during the First World War, the Hawaiian Division and Schofield Barracks from 1936 to July 30, 1937, and the Hawaiian Department from 1937 to 1938.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Franklin Guest Smith</span>

Franklin Guest Smith was a career officer in the United States Army. A Union Army veteran of the American Civil War, Smith also served in the American Indian Wars and the Spanish–American War, and attained the rank of brigadier general.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John M. K. Davis</span> U.S. Army officer

John M. K. Davis was a career officer in the United States Army. A Union Army veteran of the American Civil War, after graduating from Georgetown University in 1862 and initial military service with the 3rd Maryland Cavalry Regiment in 1863, Davis attended the United States Military Academy. He graduated in 1867, and served until reaching the mandatory retirement age of 64 in January 1908. Davis served primarily in Field Artillery assignments, was a veteran of the Spanish–American War, and attained the rank of brigadier general.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oliver Lyman Spaulding (general)</span> U.S. Army brigadier general

Oliver Lyman Spaulding Jr. was a career officer in the United States Army. A veteran of the China Relief Expedition, Philippine–American War, Pancho Villa Expedition, World War I, and World War II, he attained the rank of brigadier general, and was a recipient of the Army Distinguished Service Medal and Legion of Merit from the United States, and the Order of the Black Star (Commander) from France.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John E. Woodward</span> U.S. Army brigadier general (1870–1944)

John E. Woodward was a career officer in the United States Army. A veteran of the Spanish–American War, Philippine–American War, Moro Rebellion, Pancho Villa Expedition, and World War I, he served from 1892 to 1934 and attained the rank of brigadier general. Woodward was most notable for his command of the 113th Infantry Regiment, Camp Upton, 152d Depot Brigade, 24th Infantry Brigade, 151st Depot Brigade, and 12th Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Bryden</span> United States Army major general

William Bryden was a career officer in the United States Army. A veteran of the Philippine–American War, Pancho Villa Expedition, World War I, and World War II, he attained the rank of major general and was three-time recipient of the Army Distinguished Service Medal. Bryden was best known for his assignment to several senior command positions, including the 15th Field Artillery Brigade (1918), 9th Field Artillery Brigade (1918–1919), 16th Infantry Brigade and Fort George G. Meade (1937–1938), 13th Field Artillery Brigade and Fort Bragg (1938–1940), Deputy Chief of Staff of the United States Army (1940–1942), Fourth Corps Area (1942), Fourth Service Command (1942–1944), and president of the Secretary of War´s Separation Board (1944–1946).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel W. Hand</span> U.S. Army brigadier general

Daniel W. Hand was a career officer in the United States Army. A veteran of the Spanish–American War, Philippine–American War, Pancho Villa Expedition, and World War I, Hand attained the rank of brigadier general and was a recipient of the Army Distinguished Service Medal and Silver Star. He was best known for his command of Field Artillery units including the Department of Firing at the United States Army Field Artillery School and several Field Artillery regiments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Ennis (U.S. Army brigadier general)</span> American Brigadier General (1841–1939)

William Ennis was a career officer in the United States Army. A veteran of the American Civil War, American Indian Wars, and Spanish–American War, he attained the rank of brigadier general, and was most notable for his command of several Field Artillery and Coast Artillery posts and districts.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Virkus, Frederick A., ed. (1925). The Abridged Compendium of American Genealogy. Vol. I. Chicago, IL: A. N. Marquis & Company. p. 286 via Google Books.
  2. 1 2 The Encyclopedia Americana: A Library of Universal Knowledge. Vol. 24. New York, NY: Encyclopedia Americana Corporation. 1919. p. 261 via Google Books.
  3. "Army Appointments from Michigan". Detroit Free Press . Detroit, MI. August 9, 1861. p. 1 via Newspapers.com.
  4. Davis, George B.; Perry, Leslie J.; Kirkley, Joseph W. (1893). The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Vol. Series I, Volume XLII, Part II. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 620 via Google Books.
  5. Scott, Robert N. (1891). The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Vol. Series I, Volume XXXVI, Part I. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 117 via Google Books.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Johnson, Rossiter, ed. (1904). The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans. Vol. IX. Boston, MA: The Biographical Society. p. Sanford–Sanger via Google Books.
  7. "To Boston: The Thirteenth and Twenty-third Regiments off To-Day". Brooklyn Eagle . Brooklyn, NY. September 16, 1880 via Newspapers.com.
  8. "Two Big Army Plums Waiting On Congress". Brooklyn Eagle . Brooklyn, NY. January 23, 1902. p. 5 via Newspapers.com.
  9. 1 2 Upton, Emory (1904). Sanger, Joseph P.; Beach, William D.; Rhodes, Charles D. (eds.). The Military Policy of the United States. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. p. iv via Google Books.
  10. "Army of the Potomac: Getting Ready to Unveil the McClellan Statue". The Sunday Star . Washington, DC. March 17, 1907. p. 9 via Newspapers.com.
  11. "77 Medal Officers To Be Investigated". The New York Times . New York Times. May 28, 1916. p. 22 via Newspapers.com.
  12. Carroon, Robert Girrard; Niermeyer, Douglas Reed (2005). "Original Companions of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States: Surnames Beginning with the Letter S". SUVCW.org. Philadelphia, PA: Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  13. Morgan, James S. (1900). Register of the Military Order of Foreign Wars of the United States. New York, NY: National Commandery of the Military Order of Foreign Wars of the United States. p. 154 via Internet Archive.
  14. Register of the Society of Colonial Wars in the District of Columbia. Washington, DC: Law Reporter Company. 1897. p. 79 via Google Books.
  15. Sons of the Revolution: Officers of the General and State Societies, July 4th, 1894. Baltimore, MD: John Murphy & Co. 1894. p. 49 via Google Books.
  16. 1 2 "Gen. J. P. Sanger Dies In 86th Year". The Evening Star . Washington, DC. March 15, 1926. p. 4 via Newspapers.com.
  17. Obituary Record of the Graduates of Yale University. New Haven, CT: Yale University. 1920. pp. 806–807 via Google Books.
  18. "Historical & Biographical Note, Walter Prentice Sanger". Archive Record, Prentice Sanger Collection. Smithtown, NY: Long Island Room, Smithtown Building, The Smithtown Library. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  19. "Biography, General John Moore Kelso Davis, American, 1844 – 1920". Emuseum.chs.org. Hartford, CT: Connecticut Historical Society Museum and Library. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  20. General Catalogue of Bowdoin College and the Medical School of Maine. Brunswick, ME: Bowdoin College. 1889. p. 137 via Google Books.
  21. "United Spanish War Veterans". The Boston Globe . Boston, MA. May 10, 1914. p. 67 via Newspapers.com.