Augusto Rodriguez
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant Augusto Rodríguez (1841 - March 22, 1880), was a Puerto Rican
officer in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
. Rodríguez served in the defenses of Washington, D.C. and led his men in the Battles of Fredericksburg and Wyse Fork.
when the island was still a Spanish
possession. He emigrated to the United States in the 1850s. The 1860 census of New Haven, Connecticut
, shows there were 10 Puerto Ricans living there, amongst them Augusto Rodríguez, who resided in Columbus Ave.
, Connecticut and Massachusetts
. Upon the outbreak of the American Civil War, many Puerto Ricans joined the ranks of the military armed forces. However, since Puerto Ricans were still Spanish subjects, they were inscribed as Spaniards.
, the first general officer killed in the U.S. Civil War. The Regiment left Connecticut for Washington, D.C.
on August 28, and was attached to Casey's Provisional Brigade, Military District of Washington, serving in the defenses of Washington until September 17, 1862.
commanded by Major General
Ambrose E. Burnside. Lieutenant Rodríguez led his men in the Battle of Fredericksburg
which was fought against General Robert E. Lee
's Confederate
Army of Northern Virginia
from December 12–15. The battle resulted in a disastrous defeat for General Burnside and the Union Army. Burnside attempted to make an offensive movement on January 20, 1863, in which Lt. Rodríguez and the men of the 15th Connecticut Regiment were involved. However the offensive, which became known as the Mud March
, was aborted because of constant rain.
On March 1865, Lt. Rodríguez and the 15th Connecticut Regiment were assigned to the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, District of Beaufort, N. C., Dept. North Carolina. From March 8–10, Lt. Rodríguez once more led his men in combat in the Battle of Wyse Fork
, a confrontation against a Confederate army being gathered under Confederate
General Joseph E. Johnston
and Union troops under the command of Maj. Gen. John M. Schofield. The final outcome of the battle resulted in a Union victory.
The 15th Connecticut Regiment was assigned to provost duty as part of the garrison upon the occupation of Kinston, North Carolina
by Union forces. They performed this duty until June 6, when it was ordered to New Bern, North Carolina
, to prepare for muster-out.
Puerto Rican people
A Puerto Rican is a person who was born in Puerto Rico.Puerto Ricans born and raised in the continental United States are also sometimes referred to as Puerto Ricans, although they were not born in Puerto Rico...
officer in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. Rodríguez served in the defenses of Washington, D.C. and led his men in the Battles of Fredericksburg and Wyse Fork.
Early years
Augusto Rodríguez was born in San Juan, Puerto RicoSan Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
when the island was still a Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
possession. He emigrated to the United States in the 1850s. The 1860 census of New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
, shows there were 10 Puerto Ricans living there, amongst them Augusto Rodríguez, who resided in Columbus Ave.
19th century Puerto Rican diaspora
During the 19th century, commerce existed between the ports of the eastern coast of the United States and Puerto Rico. Ship records show that many Puerto Ricans traveled on ships that sailed from and to U.S. and Puerto Rico. Many of them settled in places such as New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Connecticut and Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. Upon the outbreak of the American Civil War, many Puerto Ricans joined the ranks of the military armed forces. However, since Puerto Ricans were still Spanish subjects, they were inscribed as Spaniards.
15th Connecticut Regiment
In 1862, Rodríguez volunteered and joined the 15th Connecticut Regiment, Connecticut Volunteer Infantry. For unknown reasons his name was misspelled and listed as "Augustus Rodereques". His unit was organized on August 25, 1862 in New Haven, and was also known as the "Lyon Regiment" in honor of Nathaniel LyonNathaniel Lyon
Nathaniel Lyon was the first Union general to be killed in the American Civil War and is noted for his actions in the state of Missouri at the beginning of the conflict....
, the first general officer killed in the U.S. Civil War. The Regiment left Connecticut for Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
on August 28, and was attached to Casey's Provisional Brigade, Military District of Washington, serving in the defenses of Washington until September 17, 1862.
Battles of Fredericksburg and Wyse Fork
In December 1 through 6, the 15th Connecticut Regiment marched to Fredericksburg, Virginia and was assigned to the 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 9th Army Corps, Army of the PotomacArmy of the Potomac
The Army of the Potomac was the major Union Army in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War.-History:The Army of the Potomac was created in 1861, but was then only the size of a corps . Its nucleus was called the Army of Northeastern Virginia, under Brig. Gen...
commanded by Major General
Major general (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general...
Ambrose E. Burnside. Lieutenant Rodríguez led his men in the Battle of Fredericksburg
Battle of Fredericksburg
The Battle of Fredericksburg was fought December 11–15, 1862, in and around Fredericksburg, Virginia, between General Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army of Northern Virginia and the Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside...
which was fought against General Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee
Robert Edward Lee was a career military officer who is best known for having commanded the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War....
's Confederate
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
Army of Northern Virginia
Army of Northern Virginia
The Army of Northern Virginia was the primary military force of the Confederate States of America in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War, as well as the primary command structure of the Department of Northern Virginia. It was most often arrayed against the Union Army of the Potomac...
from December 12–15. The battle resulted in a disastrous defeat for General Burnside and the Union Army. Burnside attempted to make an offensive movement on January 20, 1863, in which Lt. Rodríguez and the men of the 15th Connecticut Regiment were involved. However the offensive, which became known as the Mud March
Mud March (American Civil War)
The Mud March was an abortive attempt at a winter offensive in January 1863 by Union Army Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnside in the American Civil War....
, was aborted because of constant rain.
On March 1865, Lt. Rodríguez and the 15th Connecticut Regiment were assigned to the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, District of Beaufort, N. C., Dept. North Carolina. From March 8–10, Lt. Rodríguez once more led his men in combat in the Battle of Wyse Fork
Battle of Wyse Fork
The Battle of Wyse Fork was a battle fought in the Carolinas Campaign of the American Civil War, resulting in a Union Army victory.-Background:...
, a confrontation against a Confederate army being gathered under Confederate
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
General Joseph E. Johnston
Joseph E. Johnston
Joseph Eggleston Johnston was a career U.S. Army officer, serving with distinction in the Mexican-American War and Seminole Wars, and was also one of the most senior general officers in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War...
and Union troops under the command of Maj. Gen. John M. Schofield. The final outcome of the battle resulted in a Union victory.
The 15th Connecticut Regiment was assigned to provost duty as part of the garrison upon the occupation of Kinston, North Carolina
Kinston, North Carolina
Kinston is a city in Lenoir County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 23,688 at the 2000 census. The population was estimated at 22,360 in 2008. It has been the county seat of Lenoir County since its formation in 1791 . Kinston is located in North Carolina's Inner Banks...
by Union forces. They performed this duty until June 6, when it was ordered to New Bern, North Carolina
New Bern, North Carolina
New Bern is a city in Craven County, North Carolina with a population of 29,524 as of the 2010 census.. It is located at the confluence of the Trent and the Neuse rivers...
, to prepare for muster-out.
Later years
The regiment was mustered out on June 27, 1865 and Rodríguez was discharged in New Haven on July 12, 1865. After the war Rodríguez, as a civilian became a proprietor of a cigar store, a bartender and saloon keeper. He was also a firefighter in New Haven. Rodríguez Records show his surname misspelled as "Rodregues" with an "e" instead of "Rodríguez" with an "i" between the r and q . was married to Eliza Rodregues with whom he had a daughter, Clara A Rodregues. On March 22, 1880, he died in his home in New Haven and was buried in the Evergreen Cemetery of his hometown.Awards and decorations
Augusto Rodríguez's awards and decorations include the following:Further reading
- "The history of the Fifteenth Connecticut volunteers in the war for the defense of the Union, 1861-1865"; By Sheldon B. Thorpe; Publisher" Kessinger Publishing.
See also
- List of famous Puerto Ricans
- List of Puerto Rican military personnel
- Hispanics in the American Civil WarHispanics in the American Civil WarHispanics in the American Civil War fought on both the Union and Confederate sides of the conflict. It is estimated that approximately 3,500 Hispanics, mostly Mexican-Americans, Puerto Ricans and Cubans living in the United States joined the war: 2500 for the Confederacy and 1000 for the Union...