Edward John McClernand
Encyclopedia
Edward John McClernand (December 29, 1848 – February 9, 1936) was a United States Army
Brigadier General
who was a recipient of the Medal of Honor
for valor in action near the Bear Paw Mountains
, Montana
on September 30, 1877. An 1870 graduate of West Point
, his career spanned 42 years, as he served in the Army until his retirement on December 29, 1912.
, Illinois
, on December 29, 1848. He spent his early school years in Jacksonville and Springfield
before graduating from West Point
in 1870. His first assignment was to Ft. Ellis, Montana with the 2nd U.S. Cavalry in 1870, beginning nearly nearly 30 years in various assignments primarily in the American West. His actions at Bear Paw Mountain
, Montana
on September 30, 1877, resulted in his being received the Medal of Honor
on November 27, 1894. He returned to the east coast in 1879 as a Tactical Officer at West Point, returning to the frontier with assignments in Montana, California, and Washington starting in 1883.
Citation:
"Gallantly attacked a band of hostiles and conducted the combat with excellent skill and boldness."
, serving in the Santiago campaign. He later saw service in the Philippine Insurrection
. He was promoted to Brigadier General
shortly before he retired from active service on December 29, 1912. He lived in Easton, Pennsylvania
, where he wrote "With the Indians and the Buffalo in Montana," for the Cavalry Journal in 1925. He died on February 9, 1926 and was buried in Section 3, Lot 1931-SW of Arlington National Cemetery
.
John Alexander McClernand
, commander of the XIII Army Corps in the Civil War. His mother was Mrs. Sarah Dunlap McClernand. He married Ms. Sarah Pomp (1857 – 1926) who is buried along with him at Arlington.
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...
Brigadier General
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
who was a recipient of the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
for valor in action near the Bear Paw Mountains
Bear Paw Mountains
The Bear Paw Mountains are an insular-montane island range in North-Central Montana, USA, located approximately 10 miles south of Havre, Montana...
, Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
on September 30, 1877. An 1870 graduate of West Point
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...
, his career spanned 42 years, as he served in the Army until his retirement on December 29, 1912.
Early life and the western frontier
Edward John McClernand was born in JacksonvilleJacksonville, Illinois
Jacksonville is a city in Morgan County, Illinois, United States. The population was 18,940 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Morgan County....
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, on December 29, 1848. He spent his early school years in Jacksonville and Springfield
Springfield, Illinois
Springfield is the third and current capital of the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County with a population of 117,400 , making it the sixth most populated city in the state and the second most populated Illinois city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area...
before graduating from West Point
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...
in 1870. His first assignment was to Ft. Ellis, Montana with the 2nd U.S. Cavalry in 1870, beginning nearly nearly 30 years in various assignments primarily in the American West. His actions at Bear Paw Mountain
Bear Paw Mountains
The Bear Paw Mountains are an insular-montane island range in North-Central Montana, USA, located approximately 10 miles south of Havre, Montana...
, Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
on September 30, 1877, resulted in his being received the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
on November 27, 1894. He returned to the east coast in 1879 as a Tactical Officer at West Point, returning to the frontier with assignments in Montana, California, and Washington starting in 1883.
Medal of Honor citation
Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, 2d U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Bear Paw Mountain, Mont., 30 September 1877. Entered service at: Springfield, Illinois. Birth: Jacksonville, Illinois. Date of issue: 27 November 1894.Citation:
"Gallantly attacked a band of hostiles and conducted the combat with excellent skill and boldness."
Later career
McClernand fought in the Spanish-American WarSpanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
, serving in the Santiago campaign. He later saw service in the Philippine Insurrection
Philippine-American War
The Philippine–American War, also known as the Philippine War of Independence or the Philippine Insurrection , was an armed conflict between a group of Filipino revolutionaries and the United States which arose from the struggle of the First Philippine Republic to gain independence following...
. He was promoted to Brigadier General
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
shortly before he retired from active service on December 29, 1912. He lived in Easton, Pennsylvania
Easton, Pennsylvania
Easton is a city in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 26,800 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Northampton County....
, where he wrote "With the Indians and the Buffalo in Montana," for the Cavalry Journal in 1925. He died on February 9, 1926 and was buried in Section 3, Lot 1931-SW of Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
.
Personal life
Edward John McClernand's father was Major GeneralMajor 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...
John Alexander McClernand
John Alexander McClernand
John Alexander McClernand was an American lawyer and politician, and a Union general in the American Civil War. He was a classic case of the politician-in-uniform coming into conflict with career Army officers, graduates of the United States Military Academy. He was a prominent Democratic...
, commander of the XIII Army Corps in the Civil War. His mother was Mrs. Sarah Dunlap McClernand. He married Ms. Sarah Pomp (1857 – 1926) who is buried along with him at Arlington.