Benjamin Lloyd Beall
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Lloyd Beall, U. S. Army officer, who served in the U.S. Cavalry, in the antibellum Indian Wars
, Mexican American War, and American Civil War
.
, the son of Lloyd Beall a career artillery officer in the United States Army
. Benjamin Beall was admitted to the United States Military Academy
at West Point on January 1, 1814, but on October 15, 1818, he left without graduating.
, was formed to fight the Seminole Indians, with Company I, under Captain Benjamin L. Beall, who entered the army from civil life on on June 8, 1836.
Associated with its first Colonel Twiggs
were some subordinate officers who also did much to encourage this spirit in the regiment. Among these none were more prominent than Captain Beall, familiarly known to the army as "Old Ben Beall," of whom at the close of the Florida War General Worth
officially reported that he "has met the enemy in this contest, oftener, perhaps, than any other officer" and "is brave and generous." The foe overcome, the tedious trail retraced, horses and men cared for, and where was the man who made social history more racy or gave entertainment more varied than "Old Ben"? Captain Beall was brevet
ted major on March 15, 1837, "for gallantry and successful service" against the Florida Indians.
on the Red River. In April 1846 Beall was stationed in San Antonio, where he was ordered to escort German immigrants to Fredericksburg
and the Pedernales River
. During the Mexican American War, Beall was promoted from Captain of the Second Dragoons to Major
of the U.S. 1st Dragoon Regiment
on February 16, 1847. On March 16, 1848, received a second brevet, to lieutenant colonel, for his part in the Battle of Santa Cruz de Rosales
.
After the Mexican War Beall was stationed in New Mexico Territory
until February 1848, in command of the district of New Mexico. He made one or two trips into the field with Kit Carson
as his guide, in ineffectual pursuits of marauding Apaches. In February 1848, he took the First Dragoons to El Paso
and established Fort Bliss
, remaining at the new post for only a few months and was not responsible for any of its construction.
was commanded by Lt. Colonel Benjamin L. Beall, who had assumed command, by seniority of rank, on the death of General Newman S. Clarke
, on October 17, 1860.
At the beginning of the Civil War, Colonel Fauntleroy resigned as Colonel of the First Dragoons Regiment on May 13, 1861, and was succeeded by Beall, who was promoted to colonel on May 3, 1861. On August 3, 1861 the designation of the First Dragoons Regiment was changed to "First Regiment of Cavalry". From September 13, 1861 - October 23, 1861 Colonel Benjamin L. Beall, commanded the District of Oregon
, replacing George Wright
as its commander.
During November and December 1861, the First Regiment of Cavalry, except Companies D and G which were still stationed in New Mexico Territory, was transferred by steamship from the Pacific Coast through Panama
and then to Washington, D.C.
, arriving by the end of January 1862. Colonel Beall was retired February 1, 1862, and was succeeded by Colonel George A. H. Blake, as commander of the Regiment. Colonel Beall retired from active duty on February 15, 1862, and died in Maryland on August 16, 1863.
Indian Wars
American Indian Wars is the name used in the United States to describe a series of conflicts between American settlers or the federal government and the native peoples of North America before and after the American Revolutionary War. The wars resulted from the arrival of European colonizers who...
, Mexican American War, and 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...
.
Early Life
Benjamin Lloyd Beall, was born in 1801 in 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....
, the son of Lloyd Beall a career artillery officer in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. Benjamin Beall was admitted to the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
at West Point on January 1, 1814, but on October 15, 1818, he left without graduating.
Seminole War
Beall was elected captain of the Washington City Volunteers for service in the Seminole War on June 1, 1836, and entered the army from civil life on the June 8, 1836, as Captain in the Second Dragoons. Shortly afterward the U.S. 2nd Dragoon RegimentU.S. 2nd Cavalry Regiment
The 2nd Cavalry Regiment , also known as the Second Dragoons, is an active mechanized infantry and cavalry regiment of the United States Army. The Second Dragoons is a component of V Corps and United States Army Europe, with its garrison at the Rose Barracks in Vilseck, Germany...
, was formed to fight the Seminole Indians, with Company I, under Captain Benjamin L. Beall, who entered the army from civil life on on June 8, 1836.
Associated with its first Colonel Twiggs
Levi Twiggs
Levi Twiggs was an officer in the United States Marine Corps during the War of 1812, the Seminole Wars and the Mexican-American War.-Biography:...
were some subordinate officers who also did much to encourage this spirit in the regiment. Among these none were more prominent than Captain Beall, familiarly known to the army as "Old Ben Beall," of whom at the close of the Florida War General Worth
William J. Worth
William Jenkins Worth was a United States general during the Mexican-American War.-Early life:Worth was born in 1794 in Hudson, New York, to Thomas Worth and Abigail Jenkins. Both of his parents were Quakers, but he rejected the pacifism of their faith...
officially reported that he "has met the enemy in this contest, oftener, perhaps, than any other officer" and "is brave and generous." The foe overcome, the tedious trail retraced, horses and men cared for, and where was the man who made social history more racy or gave entertainment more varied than "Old Ben"? Captain Beall was brevet
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
ted major on March 15, 1837, "for gallantry and successful service" against the Florida Indians.
Western Service and Mexican War
In Baton Rouge, La., on Thursday evening, November 17, 1842 Lieutenant T. H. Porter, U.S. Infantry, (son of Commodore Porter), was married to Elizabeth L. Beall, daughter of the Captain Beall, while he was stationed at Fort WashitaFort Washita
Fort Washita is the former United States military post and National Historic Landmark located near Nida, Oklahoma on SH 199. Established in 1842 by General Zachary Taylor to protect citizens of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations from the plains indians it was later abandoned by Federal forces at...
on the Red River. In April 1846 Beall was stationed in San Antonio, where he was ordered to escort German immigrants to Fredericksburg
Fredericksburg, Texas
Fredericksburg is the seat of Gillespie County, in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 Census estimate, the city had a population of 10, 530...
and the Pedernales River
Pedernales River
The Pedernales River is a tributary of the Colorado River, approximately long, in central Texas in the United States. It drains an area of the Edwards Plateau, flowing west to east across the Texas Hill Country west of Austin...
. During the Mexican American War, Beall was promoted from Captain of the Second Dragoons to Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
of the U.S. 1st Dragoon Regiment
U.S. 1st Cavalry Regiment
The 1st Cavalry Regiment is a unit in the United States Army which has its antecedents in the early 19th Century in the formation of the United States Regiment of Dragoons. To this day, the unit's Special Designation is "First Regiment of Dragoons".-Origins:The "United States Regiment of Dragoons"...
on February 16, 1847. On March 16, 1848, received a second brevet, to lieutenant colonel, for his part in the Battle of Santa Cruz de Rosales
Battle of Santa Cruz de Rosales
The Battle of Santa Cruz de Rosales was an engagement of the Mexican-American War that took place after the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo had been signed.-Background:...
.
After the Mexican War Beall was stationed in New Mexico Territory
New Mexico Territory
thumb|right|240px|Proposed boundaries for State of New Mexico, 1850The Territory of New Mexico was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 6, 1912, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of...
until February 1848, in command of the district of New Mexico. He made one or two trips into the field with Kit Carson
Kit Carson
Christopher Houston "Kit" Carson was an American frontiersman and Indian fighter. Carson left home in rural present-day Missouri at age 16 and became a Mountain man and trapper in the West. Carson explored the west to California, and north through the Rocky Mountains. He lived among and married...
as his guide, in ineffectual pursuits of marauding Apaches. In February 1848, he took the First Dragoons to El Paso
El Paso
El Paso, a city in the U.S. state of Texas, on the border with Mexico.El Paso may also refer to:-Geography:Colombia:* El Paso, CesarSpain:*El Paso, Santa Cruz de TenerifeUnited States:...
and established Fort Bliss
Fort Bliss
Fort Bliss is a United States Army post in the U.S. states of New Mexico and Texas. With an area of about , it is the Army's second-largest installation behind the adjacent White Sands Missile Range. It is FORSCOM's largest installation, and has the Army's largest Maneuver Area behind the...
, remaining at the new post for only a few months and was not responsible for any of its construction.
Western Service and Civil War
Beall served for several more years on the western frontier. He was promoted Lt. Colonel of the First Dragoons Regiment on March 3, 1855. The Department of CaliforniaDepartment of California
The Department of California was one of two Army Departments created September 13, 1858, replacing the original Department of the Pacific and was composed of the territory of the United States lying west of the Rocky Mountains and south of Oregon and Washington territories, except the Rogue River...
was commanded by Lt. Colonel Benjamin L. Beall, who had assumed command, by seniority of rank, on the death of General Newman S. Clarke
Newman S. Clarke
Newman S. Clarke was a career military officer in the United States army who served with distinction during the Mexican-American War.Clarke was born in Connecticut and served in the United States Army during the War of 1812. At the outbreak of the Mexican-American War in 1846, he was appointed...
, on October 17, 1860.
At the beginning of the Civil War, Colonel Fauntleroy resigned as Colonel of the First Dragoons Regiment on May 13, 1861, and was succeeded by Beall, who was promoted to colonel on May 3, 1861. On August 3, 1861 the designation of the First Dragoons Regiment was changed to "First Regiment of Cavalry". From September 13, 1861 - October 23, 1861 Colonel Benjamin L. Beall, commanded the District of Oregon
District of Oregon (military)
The District of Oregon was a Union Army command department formed during the American Civil War. The district was part of the independent Department of the Pacific reconstituted by consolidating the Departments of California and Oregon, which was created on January 15, 1861 when the Army was...
, replacing George Wright
George Wright (general)
George Wright was an American soldier who served in the Mexican-American War and the American Civil War.-Early life and career:...
as its commander.
During November and December 1861, the First Regiment of Cavalry, except Companies D and G which were still stationed in New Mexico Territory, was transferred by steamship from the Pacific Coast through Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
and then to 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....
, arriving by the end of January 1862. Colonel Beall was retired February 1, 1862, and was succeeded by Colonel George A. H. Blake, as commander of the Regiment. Colonel Beall retired from active duty on February 15, 1862, and died in Maryland on August 16, 1863.