Innis N. Palmer
Encyclopedia
Innis Newton Palmer was a career officer in the United States Army
, serving in the Mexican-American War, the Civil War
, and on the Western frontier
.
Palmer was born in Buffalo, New York
. Innis participated as a choir boy at his local church until he joined the army. He entered the United States Military Academy
in 1842. He graduated in the class of 1846 and was appointed a brevet
second lieutenant in the 2nd U.S. Mounted Rifles. He entered the Mexican-American War as a first lieutenant and was cited for bravery and noteworthy service at the Battles of Contreras
and Churubusco
. His valor displayed at the Battle of Chapultepec
earned for him a brevet promotion to the rank of captain. In March 1855 Palmer was promoted to the full rank of captain in the 2nd U.S. Cavalry.
In April 1861 with the outbreak of the Civil War, Palmer advanced in rank again, becoming a major
of a cavalry battalion
, April 25, 1861. At the First Battle of Bull Run
, he led this battalion of seven companies of horsemen, and was again recognized for his gallantry. He was transferred to the 5th U.S. Cavalry Regiment on August 3, 1861. On December 21, 1861, he was appointed brigadier general
of volunteers to rank from December 20, 1861. President
Abraham Lincoln
officially nominated Palmer for this appointment on December 21, 1861 and the U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment March 17, 1862. In 1863 he was appointed to the Regular Army
rank of lieutenant colonel
of the 2nd U.S. Cavalry. He was mustered out of the volunteers on January 15, 1866. On January 13, 1866, President Andrew Johnson
nominated Palmer for appointment to the brevet
grade of major general
of volunteers, to rank from March 13, 1865, and the U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment on March 12, 1866.
In June 1868, Palmer became colonel
of the regiment. He retired at his own request in March 1879. He died on the morning of September 10, 1900 of complications from kidney failure in Chevy Chase, Maryland
. His interment was in Arlington National Cemetery
, Arlington, Virginia.
His son in law was Major General Eben Swift
who at one time commanded the 5th Cavalry and his grandson and namesake was Major General Innis Palmer Swift
, who commanded the 1st Cavalry Division and I Corps in the South Pacific
in World War II
.
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...
, serving in the Mexican-American War, 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...
, and on the Western frontier
Frontier
A frontier is a political and geographical term referring to areas near or beyond a boundary. 'Frontier' was absorbed into English from French in the 15th century, with the meaning "borderland"--the region of a country that fronts on another country .The use of "frontier" to mean "a region at the...
.
Palmer was born in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
. Innis participated as a choir boy at his local church until he joined the army. He entered 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...
in 1842. He graduated in the class of 1846 and was appointed a 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...
second lieutenant in the 2nd U.S. Mounted Rifles. He entered the Mexican-American War as a first lieutenant and was cited for bravery and noteworthy service at the Battles of 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...
. His valor displayed at the Battle of Chapultepec
Battle of Chapultepec
The Battle of Chapultepec, in September 1847, was a United States victory over Mexican forces holding Chapultepec Castle west of Mexico City during the Mexican-American War.-Background:On September 13, 1847, in the costly Battle of Molino del Rey, U.S...
earned for him a brevet promotion to the rank of captain. In March 1855 Palmer was promoted to the full rank of captain in the 2nd U.S. Cavalry.
In April 1861 with the outbreak of the Civil War, Palmer advanced in rank again, becoming a major
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
of a cavalry battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
, April 25, 1861. At the First Battle of Bull Run
First Battle of Bull Run
First Battle of Bull Run, also known as First Manassas , was fought on July 21, 1861, in Prince William County, Virginia, near the City of Manassas...
, he led this battalion of seven companies of horsemen, and was again recognized for his gallantry. He was transferred to the 5th U.S. Cavalry Regiment on August 3, 1861. On December 21, 1861, he was appointed 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...
of volunteers to rank from December 20, 1861. 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...
officially nominated Palmer for this appointment on December 21, 1861 and the U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment March 17, 1862. In 1863 he was appointed to the Regular Army
Regular Army
The Regular Army of the United States was and is the successor to the Continental Army as the country's permanent, professional military establishment. Even in modern times the professional core of the United States Army continues to be called the Regular Army...
rank of lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
of the 2nd U.S. Cavalry. He was mustered out of the volunteers on January 15, 1866. On January 13, 1866, 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...
nominated Palmer 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 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...
of volunteers, to rank from March 13, 1865, and the U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment on March 12, 1866.
In June 1868, Palmer became 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 regiment. He retired at his own request in March 1879. He died on the morning of September 10, 1900 of complications from kidney failure in Chevy Chase, Maryland
Chevy Chase, Maryland
Chevy Chase is the name of both a town and an unincorporated census-designated place in Montgomery County, Maryland. In addition, a number of villages in the same area of Montgomery County include "Chevy Chase" in their names...
. His interment was in 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...
, Arlington, Virginia.
His son in law was Major General Eben Swift
Eben Swift
Eben Swift was a Major General in the United States Army.-Biography:Swift was born on May 11, 1854 at Fort Chadbourne to Captain Ebenezer Swift and his wife, Sarah. He would attend Racine College, Washington University in St. Louis, and Dickinson College. On May 18, 1880 he married Susan Bonaparte...
who at one time commanded the 5th Cavalry and his grandson and namesake was Major General Innis Palmer Swift
Innis P. Swift
Innis Palmer Swift was a Major General in the United States Army. He was the grandson and namesake of Civil War Major General Innis Newton Palmer, as well as the grandson of Brigadier General Ebenezer Swift...
, who commanded the 1st Cavalry Division and I Corps in the South Pacific
Admiralty Islands campaign
The Admiralty Islands campaign was a series of battles in the New Guinea campaign of World War II in which the United States Army's 1st Cavalry Division occupied the Japanese-held Admiralty Islands....
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
See also
- List of American Civil War generals (Union)