Frederick Tracy Dent
Encyclopedia
Frederick Tracy Dent was an American
general, born in White Haven
, St. Louis County, Missouri
He graduated at West Point
in 1843, was assigned as brevet second lieutenant to the 6th US Infantry, served in the Southern campaign during the Mexican War, and was brevetted first lieutenant and captain for gallant and meritorious conduct at Contreras
and Churubusco
and at Molino del Rey
respectively. He served for 16 years on frontier duty, taking part in the Yakima War
, and in March 1863 was promoted to major in the 4th US Infantry and was stationed in New York
to suppress anticipated riots
. In March 1864 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel
and became aide-de-camp
to the General-in-Chief (his brother-in-law).
On April 5, 1865, President
Abraham Lincoln
appointed Dent brigadier general
of volunteers to rank from April 5, 1865 but the President did not submit the nomination to the U.S. Senate before his death ten days later so Dent's appointment was not immediately confirmed. Eventually, President Andrew Johnson
submitted the nomination on January 13, 1866 and the U.S. Senate confirmed it on February 23, 1866. Dent was mustered out of the Union Army
volunteer force on April 30, 1866.
On July 17, 1866, President Andrew Johnson nominated Dent for appointment to the brevet
grade of brigadier general in the Regular United States Army, and the U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment on July 23, 1866. From 1869 to 1873 he served as a military secretary to the president. He commanded Fort Trumbull, Conn.
, in 1875 and the post of St. Augustine in 1881. He retired in 1883. His sister Julia
married his West Point classmate Ulysses S. Grant
and became the mother of Frederick Dent Grant
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
general, born in White Haven
Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site
Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site is a United States National Historic Site located 10 miles southwest of Downtown St. Louis, Missouri within the municipality of Grantwood Village. The site, also known as White Haven, commemorates the life, military career, and Presidency of Ulysses S. Grant...
, St. Louis County, Missouri
St. Louis County, Missouri
St. Louis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. Its county seat is Clayton. St. Louis County is part of the St. Louis Metro Area wherein the independent City of St. Louis and its suburbs in St. Louis County, as well as the surrounding counties in both Missouri and Illinois all...
He graduated at 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 1843, was assigned as brevet second lieutenant to the 6th US Infantry, served in the Southern campaign during the Mexican War, and was brevetted first lieutenant and captain for gallant and meritorious conduct at Contreras
Battle of Contreras
The Battle of Contreras, also known as the Battle of Padierna, took place during August 19–20, 1847, in the final encounters of the Mexican-American War. In the Battle of Churubusco, fighting continued the following day.-Background:...
and Churubusco
Battle of Churubusco
The Battle of Churubusco took place on August 20, 1847, in the immediate aftermath of the Battle of Contreras during the Mexican-American War. After defeating the Mexican army at Churubusco, the U.S. Army was only 5 miles away from Mexico City, the capital of the nation...
and at Molino del Rey
Battle of Molino del Rey
The Battle of Molino del Rey was one of the bloodiest engagements of the Mexican-American War. It was fought in September 1847 between Mexican forces under General Antonio Léon against an American force under General Winfield Scott at a hill called El Molino del Rey near Mexico City.-Background:On...
respectively. He served for 16 years on frontier duty, taking part in the Yakima War
Yakima War
The Yakima War was a conflict between the United States and the Yakama, a Sahaptian-speaking people on the Northwest Plateau, then Washington Territory and now the southern interior of Eastern Washington, from 1855 to 1858.- Naming :...
, and in March 1863 was promoted to major in the 4th US Infantry and was stationed in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to suppress anticipated riots
New York Draft Riots
The New York City draft riots were violent disturbances in New York City that were the culmination of discontent with new laws passed by Congress to draft men to fight in the ongoing American Civil War. The riots were the largest civil insurrection in American history apart from the Civil War itself...
. In March 1864 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
and became aide-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to the General-in-Chief (his brother-in-law).
On April 5, 1865, 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....
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
appointed Dent brigadier general
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
of volunteers to rank from April 5, 1865 but the President did not submit the nomination to the U.S. Senate before his death ten days later so Dent's appointment was not immediately confirmed. Eventually, President Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson was the 17th President of the United States . As Vice-President of the United States in 1865, he succeeded Abraham Lincoln following the latter's assassination. Johnson then presided over the initial and contentious Reconstruction era of the United States following the American...
submitted the nomination on January 13, 1866 and the U.S. Senate confirmed it on February 23, 1866. Dent was mustered out of 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...
volunteer force on April 30, 1866.
On July 17, 1866, President Andrew Johnson nominated Dent for appointment to the 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...
grade of brigadier general in the Regular United States Army, and the U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment on July 23, 1866. From 1869 to 1873 he served as a military secretary to the president. He commanded Fort Trumbull, Conn.
Fort Trumbull
Fort Trumbull refers to a fort in New London, Connecticut and to a nearby neighborhood.-Neighborhood:The neighborhood of Fort Trumbull was demolished as part of plan for the economic development of New London. The plan was appealed in a case that reached the US Supreme Court, Kelo v...
, in 1875 and the post of St. Augustine in 1881. He retired in 1883. His sister Julia
Julia Grant
Julia Boggs Dent-Grant , was the wife of the 18th President of the United States, Ulysses S. Grant, and was First Lady of the United States from 1869 to 1877.-Background:...
married his West Point classmate Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...
and became the mother of Frederick Dent Grant
Frederick Dent Grant
Frederick Dent Grant was a soldier and United States minister to Austria-Hungary. Grant was the first son of General of the Army and President of the United States Ulysses S. Grant and Julia Grant. He was named after his uncle, Frederick Tracy Dent...
.