Rash's Surname Index
Notes for Quincy Adams GILLMORE
Name: General Quincy Adams Gillmore
was born at Black River, Lorain county, Ohio, February 28th, 1825. His parents were of mingled Scotch-Irish and German extraction. His father, Quartus Gillmore, was a native of Massachusetts, and the son of a farmer there. This farm was exchanged for a tract of one thousand acres on the Western Reserve, and at the age of twenty-one Quartus went thither. In 1824 he was married to Mrs. Elizabeth Smith, maiden name Reid. Both have lived to enjoy the fame of their distinguished son. Quartus Gillmore was a strong Whig, and his son was born on the day the news of John Quincy Adams' election to the Presidency was received. These two happy events coming together, it was thus that he came to be a namesake of the illustrious statesman. The boy grew up amid pioneer surroundings, working on the farm in the summer, and receiving the customary schooling in the winter. He was a very apt scholar, and made rapid progress. After entering his teens he was sent for a winter to Norwalk Academy, twenty-five miles from his home. At the age of seventeen he became a school-teacher, and for three years he followed this occupation, spending two vacations at a high school in Elyria. But he never liked school-teaching, and longed to change it for some other occupation. In the spring of 1845 the pupils of the Elyria High School gave an "exhibition," at which the young pedagogue read an original poem entitled "Erie," which was afterwards published in the county newspaper, and which possessed such merit as to be copied into many other journals. About this time he commenced the study of medicine in the office of Dr. Samuel Strong, at Elyria. Meanwhile the representative in Congress from the district, Hon. E. S. Hamlin, was casting about for a suitable youth to fill an appointment to West Point. Of two selected, one had failed, and the other proved too old. The advice of the editor of the Elyria Democrat being asked, he at once pointed to the author of "Erie," and urged that the author of such verse had something in him above the average. The appointment was given him, and he set out for home to acquaint his parents with the change in his prospects. They were not at all pleased, but eventually his father consented to furnish him with money for an outfit, saying, "I will give it to you if you will promise to come out at the head of your class." He made and kept this promise. In the year of his graduation he married Mary O'Magher, only daughter of the Academy Treasurer of Cadets. His high rank in gradnation made him a member of the Corps of Engineers. As a Brevet Second Lieutenant he was ordered to duty on the fortifications at Hampton Roads. Serving here three years he returned to the Academy as an instructor, and remained there four years, the last year as Treasurer and Quartermaster at the Academy. While here he devoted much time to the study of the theory and science of cannon projectiles, and their effect upon earthworks and masonry. In 1856 he was promoted to a First Lieutenancy of Engineers, and ordered to New York city to take charge of the Engineer Agency there established. The outbreak of the war found him here, and it was while occupying this post that he published a work which has since become a standard authority among engineers, on "Limes, Hydraulic Cements, and Mortars." A paper on mathematics, which he published during the same time, caused the faculty of Oberlin College to confer upon him the degree of Master of Arts. His published suggestions as to the defence of the Lake coast attracted the attention of scientific men and the War Department. When the war broke out he was in his thirty-sixth year and a widower, having lost his estimable wife in 1860, and being left to the care of four sons. In August, 1861, he asked to be placed in active field duty, and Governor Dennison offered him the command of a regiment. This he declined, and proposed to organize a brigade of sappers, miners, and pontoniers for service in the West. The Governor favored this, but the War Department did not. The Governor urged his appointment as a Brigadier-General of Volunteers, but this also fell through. An expedition destined for the coast of South Carolina was being organized, and his experience as agent at New York peculiarly qualified him for fitting out this expedition. He was promoted to a Captaincy in his corps, and made Chief Engineer to General W. T. Sherman, then about to set out for Port Royal. This was on the 3d of October, 1861. A month later he was present with the staff, and after the bombardment by Dupont and the descent upon Hilton Head Island by the troops, he was engaged for the next two months in fortifying the positions secured. Finally attention was directed to Fort Palaski, and the possibility of its reduction. The chief of engineers said it could be accomplished, but he could point to no authorities but his own theories to sustain him. His views were a matter of astonishment to the older engineers, as breaching a wall at five or six hundred yards was considered the limit by the wisest military men. His scheme was not favored by leading engineers, and was looked upon as wild and impracticable. The spot where he proposed to place his batteries was seventeen hundred yards distant from the fort, three times the distance considered practicable. But his commander indorsed his plan, and forwarded it to Washington for approval. Through various causes of delay, and the great difficulty in placing the batteries in position on the marshy coast of Tybee Island, the spring was far advanced before the bombardment commenced. In the meantime General W. T. Sherman had been relieved, but not before he had given his Chief of Engineers authority to act as Brigadier-General pending his appointment. His successor did not interfere with the plans. Eleven batteries were in position at last, and on the 10th of February firing commenced. After two days' firing a breach was made, and the magazine of the fort was in danger. The garrison surrendered at this crisis. The loss on the Union side was but one man killed. The garrison lost probably twenty-five, and the prisoners numbered three hundred and sixty. The victor had demonstrated the enormous power of the new heavy rifled artillery, for the mortars and columbiads proved almost useless. He was soon after made a Brigadier-General of Volunteers, but the malaria of the marshes had brought on a fever which incapacitated him for the next two months. On his recovery he was sent to New York to assist the Governor to equip and forward troops being raised there. When Kentucky was invaded by Bragg and Kirby Smith he was ordered at once to Cincinnati. He was assigned to the advance against Kirby Smith, but he was not particularly conspicuous in any operations in the West. He fought and won a battle at Somerset, and for this success was brevetted a Colonel of Engineers. He had just been relieved in Kentucky when news came of Dupont's failure to reduce Fort Sumter. He employed his leisure in submitting his views to the War Department. He was summoned to Washington for consultation, and his opinions were received as final authority. The matter ended in his being given command of this department, with Rear Admiral Foote in command of the naval operations. The history of this campaign makes a large volume in itself, and only the merest outline can be expected here. The undertaking was a most hazardous one, and arrested the attention, not only of the North, but of all military Europe. Forty-seven pieces of artillery with all their adjuncts were planted on the extremity of Folly Island, within speaking distance of the enemy's pickets, and without discovery or suspicion. On the 10th of July, 1863, these batteries belched forth upon the enemy across the inlet. The astonished enemy retreated, and a landing on Morris Island was effected. Soon three-fourths of the island was in possession of the storming party, and Fort Wagner was within musket range. Resting until next day, an unsuccessful assault was made upon Wagner, the slaughter to the Union troops being great. Siege was laid to it, and in a week another assault was made, but it was handsomely repulsed again. This second failure decided the commander to turn his attention to Sumter. His defensive line was between four and five thousand yards from the fort, considerably over two miles. He at once began the construction of breaching batteries consisting of one, two, and three-hundred-pounder Parrott guns. Finally, after overcoming great difficulties, the fire upon Sumter was opened on the morning of August 17th. For a week the fire was kept up, and in a few days great gaps were made in the wall. Wagner kept up a fierce fire, and came near dismantling some of the breaching guns. But Sumter began to present the appearance of a shapeless ruin, and the work of reduction was nearly accomplished. At this juncture the great artillerist called upon Beauregard to surrender, adding that if he did not comply within four hours, he would shell Charleston. The Confederate treated the demand with contempt. In the middle of the night a shell, from an unknown quarter, burst in the streets. Shell after shell followed, shattering the costly residences of the aristocratic quarter. Where they came from was a mystery. Beauregard said it was barbarous, and a violation of the rules of war. The shells came from an oozy marsh, where the Union General had placed a gun with the greatest difficulty and with the utmost secrecy. The placing of this gun in this marsh was a remarkable exploit, from the great difficulty in securing a foundation. The continuous firing upon Sumter had made it almost untenable, and this and the shelling of the town had struck terror to the very heart of Charleston. But in the midst of it all came a lull. The navy was accomplishing nothing, although Sumter was silenced and the early capitulation of the city seemed a certainty. Failing to secure the co-operation of this arm of the service, Gillmore again turned his attention to Wagner, as yet defiant. Opening a fire upon it which lasted for two days and nights, he prepared for another assault. But the enemy quietly evacuated, and the fort was entered without opposition. Great was the praise bestowed upon him in this country and in Europe. An editorial in the Tribune was concluded as follows:
Pulaski, Somerset, the landing at Morris Island, the demolition of Sumter--Wagner. "The greatest is behind!" Whatever may be thought of the many deeds which may illuminate the sad story of the Great Rebellion, the capture of Wagner by General Gillmore will be regarded as the greatest triumph of engineering that history has yet recorded.
But after all these successes the fall of Charleston did not take place until eighteen months afterward. General Gillmore now organized a movement to invade Florida, and despatched General Seymour there. The latter was met by the rebels and disastrously defeated. Operations around Charleston being at a standstill, he asked to be relieved there and sent to another field. He was ordered to report, with the Tenth Army Corps, to General Butler, at Fortress Monroe. But he soon had a disagreement with Butler, and this continuing, Grant removed him to another department. He was given a command to oppose Early, who was operating in Maryland. Three days after assuming command, he was severely injured by a fall from his horse, and was unable to report for duty until the latter part of August. When he did so, he was appointed by Mr. Lincoln President of a board to test the Ames gun. After this service had been performed satisfactorily, he was appointed Acting Inspector General of Fortifications for the Military Division of the West Mississippi, and he spent a couple of months in an extended tour of inspection. In the latter part of January, 1865, it was decided to again place him in command of the Department of South Carolina, the field where he had achieved his fame. He assumed command on the 9th of February, and a week or so later he was steaming into the harbor of Charleston. His government of the department was wise and judicious, but he longed for his old familiar work in the Engineer Corps. Accordingly he was mustered out of the volunteer service at his own request, at the time holding the rank of Brevet Major-General in the United States army. A distinguished writer has said of him:
.... In his proper province as engineer and artillerist, he was as bold as in the field he was cautious. He ignored the limitations of the books. He accepted theories that revolutionized the science, and staked his professional standing on great operations based upon them. He made himself the great artillerist of the war. If not also the foremost engineer, he was second to none, and in the boldness and originality of his-operations against Wagner, he surpassed any similar achievements, not only in this, but in any war; so that now .... when men speak of great living engineers, they think as naturally of Gillmore in the new world, as of Todleben in the old.
In appearance General Gillmore is one of the handsomest officers in the army. He is above the medium height and compactly built. In society he is found to be refined and accomplished. In common with most of the army officers, he is a conservative in politics. Since the close of the war he has been constantly employed in the engineer service, and his head-quarters at present are in New York, where he has charge of a large amount of important work, including the construction of forts and batteries, and the testing of metals submitted to a board of examiners of which he is a member.
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