John C. Kelton
Encyclopedia
John C. Kelton was an officer in the United States Army
who served as Adjutant General of the U.S. Army from 1889 to 1892.
and graduated from the United States Military Academy
in 1851. He was appointed to the 6th Infantry, in which he served until the outbreak of the American Civil War
. He served in various staff positions during the war, with the rank of colonel
of Volunteers.
Kelton was appointed to the Adjutant General's Department in April 1865 and was promoted to lieutenant colonel
in March 1866. He was appointed as adjutant general of the Division of the Pacific in July 1870, where he remained until September 1885, earning a promotion to colonel in June 1880. In October 1885 he returned to the Adjutant General's Department in Washington, and he was elevated to Adjutant General of the U. S. Army with the rank of brigadier general
in June 1889. He retired in June 1892.
After retirement, he was appointed as governor of the Soldier's Home in Washington, where he served until his death in July 1893. He is buried in the cemetery there, now known as the United States Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery
.
John C. Kelton was born in Delaware County, Pennsylvania and graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point on July 1, 1851. He was appointed as 2nd Lieutenant to the 6th Infantry in which he served two years on the northwestern frontier. Here he served until the outbreak of the American Civil War. In 1855, he was transferred to Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, where he was made 1st Lieutenant. He was appointed Assistant Instructor of Infantry Tactics at West Point in 1857 and again in 1859 after the war of rebellion broke out in Europe. Shortly after, Kelton was made Chief Purchasing Commissary at St. Louis for supplying troops in the West. He then served as Assistant Adjutant General of the Department of the West with the rank of Captain. In the fall of 1861, Kelton was commissioned Colonel of the 9th Missouri Volunteers. He resigned his volunteer commission on March 12, 1862 and in turn served as Assistant Adjutant General of the Department of Mississippi in 1862. Here he served on the field during the siege of Corinth. Kelton, who was chief of the army in 1864, was promoted in Richmond to Brevet Colonel and again to Brevet Brigadier for his valuable services.
Near the end of the war, Kelton traveled to Washington, where he served as Assistant Adjutant General from July 1865 to July 26, 1870. At that time he was appointed Adjutant General of the Division of the Pacific.
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...
who served as Adjutant General of the U.S. Army from 1889 to 1892.
Biography
He was born in Delaware County, PennsylvaniaDelaware County, Pennsylvania
Delaware County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 558,979, making it Pennsylvania's fifth most populous county, behind Philadelphia, Allegheny, Montgomery, and Bucks counties....
and 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 1851. He was appointed to the 6th Infantry, in which he served until the outbreak of 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...
. He served in various staff positions during the war, with the rank 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...
of Volunteers.
Kelton was appointed to the Adjutant General's Department in April 1865 and 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 March 1866. He was appointed as adjutant general of the Division of the Pacific in July 1870, where he remained until September 1885, earning a promotion to colonel in June 1880. In October 1885 he returned to the Adjutant General's Department in Washington, and he was elevated to Adjutant General of the U. S. Army with the rank of 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 June 1889. He retired in June 1892.
After retirement, he was appointed as governor of the Soldier's Home in Washington, where he served until his death in July 1893. He is buried in the cemetery there, now known as the United States Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery
United States Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery
United States Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery, in Washington, D.C., is located next to the Armed Forces Retirement Home. It is one of only two national cemeteries administered by the Department of the Army—the other being Arlington National Cemetery...
.
See also
John C. Kelton was born in Delaware County, Pennsylvania and graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point on July 1, 1851. He was appointed as 2nd Lieutenant to the 6th Infantry in which he served two years on the northwestern frontier. Here he served until the outbreak of the American Civil War. In 1855, he was transferred to Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, where he was made 1st Lieutenant. He was appointed Assistant Instructor of Infantry Tactics at West Point in 1857 and again in 1859 after the war of rebellion broke out in Europe. Shortly after, Kelton was made Chief Purchasing Commissary at St. Louis for supplying troops in the West. He then served as Assistant Adjutant General of the Department of the West with the rank of Captain. In the fall of 1861, Kelton was commissioned Colonel of the 9th Missouri Volunteers. He resigned his volunteer commission on March 12, 1862 and in turn served as Assistant Adjutant General of the Department of Mississippi in 1862. Here he served on the field during the siege of Corinth. Kelton, who was chief of the army in 1864, was promoted in Richmond to Brevet Colonel and again to Brevet Brigadier for his valuable services.
Near the end of the war, Kelton traveled to Washington, where he served as Assistant Adjutant General from July 1865 to July 26, 1870. At that time he was appointed Adjutant General of the Division of the Pacific.