James Totten
Encyclopedia
James Totten was a career American
soldier who served in the United States Army
and retired from active service in 1870 as the Assistant Inspector General. He served as a general in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
.
, He graduated from the United States Military Academy
in 1841 and subsequently became a first lieutenant in 1847 before fighting Seminole
Indians in Florida
during 1849-50. After attaining the rank of captain in 1855, he went to Bleeding Kansas
to try to suppress the disturbances there.
, arsenal with just 65 men. He was forced to evacuate his forces to St. Louis
when about 5,000 pro-secession
volunteers led by Governor Henry M. Rector poured into the city and surrounded the federal armory. Serving under generals Nathaniel Lyon
and John C. Frémont
in Missouri
as their chief of artillery, Totten was promoted to lieutenant colonel
in September 1861.
He became known for the style which he used to issue orders to his batteries. Punctuated with profanity, a typical order might sound like, "Forward that caisson, G-d d--n you, sir!" It was claimed that some soldiers would walk half a mile just to listen to Totten for five minutes. On February 12, 1862, Totten was promoted to Brigadier General
in the Missouri Militia
. Totten commanded the 2nd Division in the Army of the Frontier
in 1862. He was not present with the division when it went into action at the battle of Prairie Grove
and was therefore led by Colonel Daniel Huston, Jr.
In 1865 Totten commanded the artillery in the Military Division of West Mississippi and participated in the battle of Fort Blakely
.
Following the war, the Army issued a wide series of omnibus promotions to hundreds of officers to cite their service. Totten received brevets
to the ranks of colonel
and brigadier general in the Union Army dating from March 13, 1865, "for gallant and meritorious service in the field".
, in the fall of 1871, and was buried in Crown Hill Cemetery.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soldier who served 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...
and retired from active service in 1870 as the Assistant Inspector General. He served as a general in 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...
during the 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 and career
Totten was born in 1818 in Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
, He graduated from 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 1841 and subsequently became a first lieutenant in 1847 before fighting Seminole
Seminole
The Seminole are a Native American people originally of Florida, who now reside primarily in that state and Oklahoma. The Seminole nation emerged in a process of ethnogenesis out of groups of Native Americans, most significantly Creeks from what is now Georgia and Alabama, who settled in Florida in...
Indians in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
during 1849-50. After attaining the rank of captain in 1855, he went to Bleeding Kansas
Bleeding Kansas
Bleeding Kansas, Bloody Kansas or the Border War, was a series of violent events, involving anti-slavery Free-Staters and pro-slavery "Border Ruffian" elements, that took place in the Kansas Territory and the western frontier towns of the U.S. state of Missouri roughly between 1854 and 1858...
to try to suppress the disturbances there.
Civil War service
When the American Civil War began in 1861, Totten was in command of the Little Rock, ArkansasLittle Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock is the capital and the largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 699,757 people in the 2010 census...
, arsenal with just 65 men. He was forced to evacuate his forces to St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
when about 5,000 pro-secession
Secession
Secession is the act of withdrawing from an organization, union, or especially a political entity. Threats of secession also can be a strategy for achieving more limited goals.-Secession theory:...
volunteers led by Governor Henry M. Rector poured into the city and surrounded the federal armory. Serving under generals Nathaniel Lyon
Nathaniel Lyon
Nathaniel Lyon was the first Union general to be killed in the American Civil War and is noted for his actions in the state of Missouri at the beginning of the conflict....
and John C. Frémont
John C. Frémont
John Charles Frémont , was an American military officer, explorer, and the first candidate of the anti-slavery Republican Party for the office of President of the United States. During the 1840s, that era's penny press accorded Frémont the sobriquet The Pathfinder...
in Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
as their chief of artillery, Totten was promoted to 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...
in September 1861.
He became known for the style which he used to issue orders to his batteries. Punctuated with profanity, a typical order might sound like, "Forward that caisson, G-d d--n you, sir!" It was claimed that some soldiers would walk half a mile just to listen to Totten for five minutes. On February 12, 1862, Totten 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...
in the Missouri Militia
Missouri State Militia (Union)
The Missouri State Militia was a federally funded state militia organization of Missouri conceived in 1861 and beginning service in 1862 during the American Civil War...
. Totten commanded the 2nd Division in the Army of the Frontier
Army of the Frontier
The Army of the Frontier was a Union army that served in the Trans-Mississippi Theater during the Civil War. It fought in several minor engagements in Arkansas, Indian Territory, and Kansas...
in 1862. He was not present with the division when it went into action at the battle of Prairie Grove
Battle of Prairie Grove
The Battle of Prairie Grove was a battle of the American Civil War fought on 7 December 1862, that resulted in a tactical stalemate but essentially secured northwest Arkansas for the Union.-Strategic situation: Union:...
and was therefore led by Colonel Daniel Huston, Jr.
Daniel Huston, Jr.
Daniel Huston, Jr. was a career soldier in the United States army. Huston served in the infantry in the Regular Army and commanded a volunteer regiment of cavalry during the American Civil War. He retired from the army with the rank of colonel....
In 1865 Totten commanded the artillery in the Military Division of West Mississippi and participated in the battle of Fort Blakely
Battle of Fort Blakely
-Sources:**-External links:*...
.
Following the war, the Army issued a wide series of omnibus promotions to hundreds of officers to cite their service. Totten received brevets
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...
to the ranks of 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...
and brigadier general in the Union Army dating from March 13, 1865, "for gallant and meritorious service in the field".
Postbellum
Totten died in Sedalia, MissouriSedalia, Missouri
Sedalia is a city located about south of the Missouri River in Pettis County, Missouri. U.S. Highway 50 and U.S. Highway 65 intersect in the city. As of 2006, the city had a total population of 20,669. It is the county seat of Pettis County. The Sedalia Micropolitan Statistical Area consists of...
, in the fall of 1871, and was buried in Crown Hill Cemetery.
See also
- List of American Civil War generals