Fletcher Webster
Encyclopedia
Daniel Fletcher Webster, commonly known as Fletcher Webster (July 25, 1818, Portsmouth, New Hampshire
– August 30, 1862) was the son of renowned politician Daniel Webster
and Grace Fletcher Webster. During his father's first term as Secretary of State
, Fletcher served as Chief Clerk of the United States State Department
which, at the time, was the second most powerful office in the State Department. As Chief Clerk, he delivered the news of President
William Henry Harrison
's death to Vice President
John Tyler
.
During the Civil War
, Webster served as colonel
of the 12th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. The unit was known in the Army of the Potomac
as "The Webster Regiment" in honor of their commander. He was killed in the Second Battle of Bull Run
on August 30, 1862. A memorial boulder stands in Manassas National Battlefield Park
in Colonel Webster's honor. A memorial to the Webster Regiment stands in Gettysburg National Park
.
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth is a city in Rockingham County, New Hampshire in the United States. It is the largest city but only the fourth-largest community in the county, with a population of 21,233 at the 2010 census...
– August 30, 1862) was the son of renowned politician Daniel Webster
Daniel Webster
Daniel Webster was a leading American statesman and senator from Massachusetts during the period leading up to the Civil War. He first rose to regional prominence through his defense of New England shipping interests...
and Grace Fletcher Webster. During his father's first term as Secretary of State
United States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
, Fletcher served as Chief Clerk of the United States State Department
Chief Clerk
The Chief Clerk, between 1789 and 1853, was the second-ranking official within the United States Department of State, known as the Department of Foreign Affairs before September 5, 1789. Section 2 of the Act of Congress of July 27, 1789 The Chief Clerk, between 1789 and 1853, was the second-ranking...
which, at the time, was the second most powerful office in the State Department. As Chief Clerk, he delivered the news of President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison was the ninth President of the United States , an American military officer and politician, and the first president to die in office. He was 68 years, 23 days old when elected, the oldest president elected until Ronald Reagan in 1980, and last President to be born before the...
's death to Vice President
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
John Tyler
John Tyler
John Tyler was the tenth President of the United States . A native of Virginia, Tyler served as a state legislator, governor, U.S. representative, and U.S. senator before being elected Vice President . He was the first to succeed to the office of President following the death of a predecessor...
.
During the 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...
, Webster served as colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
of the 12th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. The unit was known in the Army of the Potomac
Army 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...
as "The Webster Regiment" in honor of their commander. He was killed in the Second Battle of Bull Run
Second Battle of Bull Run
The Second Battle of Bull Run or Second Manassas was fought August 28–30, 1862, as part of the American Civil War. It was the culmination of an offensive campaign waged by Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia against Union Maj. Gen...
on August 30, 1862. A memorial boulder stands in Manassas National Battlefield Park
Manassas National Battlefield Park
Manassas National Battlefield Park, located north of Manassas, in Prince William County, Virginia preserves the site of two major American Civil War battles: the First Battle of Bull Run on July 21, 1861, and the Second Battle of Bull Run which was fought between August 28 and August 30, 1862...
in Colonel Webster's honor. A memorial to the Webster Regiment stands in Gettysburg National Park
Gettysburg Battlefield
The Gettysburg Battlefield is the area of the July 1–3, 1863, military engagements of the Battle of Gettysburg within and around the borough of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Locations of military engagements extend from the 4 acre site of the first shot & at on the west of the borough, to East...
.