John Parker Hawkins
Encyclopedia
John Parker Hawkins was a Union Army
brigadier general
of volunteers during the American Civil War
. In 1866, after being mustered out of the Union Army volunteer force, he was appointed to the brevet
grade of major general
of volunteers to rank from March 13, 1865.
, the son of John Hawkins and Elizabeth (née Waller); his elder sister was Louisa Hawkins Canby
(who married Maj. Gen.
Edward Canby
). He graduated from West Point in 1852.
On April 25, 1863, President
Abraham Lincoln
appointed Hawkins brigadier general
of volunteers, to rank from April 13, 1863. Because the U.S. Senate returned the nomination to the President on April 1, 1864, President Lincoln renominated Hawkins on April 2, 1864 and the Senate confirmed the appointment on April 18, 1864. Hawkins commanded the 1st Division of US Colored Troops
from 1864 to 1865. He distinguished himself in the assault at the Battle of Fort Blakely
, April 9, 1865, which resulted in the capture of Mobile, Alabama
.
Hawkins was mustered out of the Union Army volunteer service on February 1, 1866. On July 17, 1866, President
Andrew Johnson
nominated Hawkins 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 July 23, 1866.
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...
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 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...
. In 1866, after being mustered out of the Union Army volunteer force, he was appointed 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.
Biography
Hawkins was born in Indianapolis, IndianaIndianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, the son of John Hawkins and Elizabeth (née Waller); his elder sister was Louisa Hawkins Canby
Louisa Hawkins Canby
Louisa Hawkins Canby was nicknamed the “Angel of Santa Fe” in 1862 for her compassion toward sick, wounded, and freezing Confederate soldiers at Santa Fe, New Mexico. Mrs. Canby was the wife of Union Brig. Gen...
(who married Maj. Gen.
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...
Edward Canby
Edward Canby
Edward Richard Sprigg Canby was a career United States Army officer and a Union general in the American Civil War, Reconstruction era, and the Indian Wars...
). He graduated from West Point in 1852.
On April 25, 1863, 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 Hawkins 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 April 13, 1863. Because the U.S. Senate returned the nomination to the President on April 1, 1864, President Lincoln renominated Hawkins on April 2, 1864 and the Senate confirmed the appointment on April 18, 1864. Hawkins commanded the 1st Division of US Colored Troops
United States Colored Troops
The United States Colored Troops were regiments of the United States Army during the American Civil War that were composed of African American soldiers. First recruited in 1863, by the end of the Civil War, the men of the 175 regiments of the USCT constituted approximately one-tenth of the Union...
from 1864 to 1865. He distinguished himself in the assault at the Battle of Fort Blakely
Battle of Fort Blakely
-Sources:**-External links:*...
, April 9, 1865, which resulted in the capture of Mobile, Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
.
Hawkins was mustered out of the Union Army volunteer service on February 1, 1866. On July 17, 1866, 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....
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 Hawkins 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 July 23, 1866.
See also
- List of American Civil War generals (Union)