Richard C. Drum
Encyclopedia
Richard Coulter Drum was Adjutant General of the United States Army
from 1880 to 1889. He was born in Greensburg, Pennsylvania
, and graduated from Jefferson College
before entering the printing business. At the outbreak of the Mexican-American War, he enlisted as a private in the 1st Pennsylvania Volunteers, but was quickly commissioned a second lieutenant in the regular infantry. He took part in many of the battles of the war, including Chapultepec
and Mexico City
.
Following the war, he was transferred to the Fourth Artillery and was promoted to first lieutenant. He served as an aide-de-camp for General William S. Harney
during his expedition against the Sioux
, and participated in the Battle of Ash Hollow
. In 1861 he was appointed as an assistant adjutant general
for the far-flung Department of the Pacific
and promoted to captain. He was quickly promoted to major
and lieutenant colonel
, and after the end of the American Civil War
he was brevet
ted Colonel
and brigadier general
, for faithful and meritorious services in the Adjutant-General's Department during the war.
from June 1865 to October 1, 1866. Drum was appointed Assistant AdjutantGeneral for the Department of the East
, with Headquarters in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
from December 27, 1866, to January 6, 1868. He was appointed Assistant Adjutant-General, for the 3rd Military District to August 1, 1868, and Department of the South, headquarters Atlanta, Georgia
from March 20, 1868 to March 20, 1869, and from April 3, 1869 to November 26, 1873 for the Military Department of the Atlantic.
Drum was promoted to Colonel
in February 22, 1869. He was again made Assistant Adjutant-General, for the Military Division of the Missouri, in Chicago from November 28, 1873 to May 2, 1878, where he commanded the Federal troops in the Great Railroad Strike of 1877
. He then served until retirement in the Adjutant Generals office in Washington D. C. On June 16, 1880, he became Brigadier General and Adjutant General of the United States Army. He retired in May 20, 1889, and died in Drummond, Maryland
in 1909. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery
.
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...
from 1880 to 1889. He was born in Greensburg, Pennsylvania
Greensburg, Pennsylvania
Greensburg is a city in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States, and a part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The city is named after Nathanael Greene, a major general of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War...
, and graduated from Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College, also known as W & J College or W&J, is a private liberal arts college in Washington, Pennsylvania, in the United States, which is south of Pittsburgh...
before entering the printing business. At the outbreak of the Mexican-American War, he enlisted as a private in the 1st Pennsylvania Volunteers, but was quickly commissioned a second lieutenant in the regular infantry. He took part in many of the battles of the war, including 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...
and Mexico City
Battle for Mexico City
The Battle for Mexico City refers to the series of engagements from September 8 to September 15, 1847, in the general vicinity of Mexico City during the Mexican-American War...
.
Following the war, he was transferred to the Fourth Artillery and was promoted to first lieutenant. He served as an aide-de-camp for General William S. Harney
William S. Harney
William Selby Harney was a cavalry officer in the U.S. Army during the Mexican-American War and the Indian Wars. He was born in what is today part of Nashville, Tennessee but at the time was known as Haysborough....
during his expedition against the Sioux
Sioux
The Sioux are Native American and First Nations people in North America. The term can refer to any ethnic group within the Great Sioux Nation or any of the nation's many language dialects...
, and participated in the Battle of Ash Hollow
Battle of Ash Hollow
The Battle of Ash Hollow, also known as the Battle of Bluewater Creek, was an engagement of the First Sioux War, fought on September 2 and 3, 1855 between United States Army soldiers under Brigadier General William S. Harney and a band of the Brulé Sioux along the Platte River in present-day Garden...
. In 1861 he was appointed as an assistant adjutant general
Adjutant general
An Adjutant General is a military chief administrative officer.-Imperial Russia:In Imperial Russia, the General-Adjutant was a Court officer, who was usually an army general. He served as a personal aide to the Tsar and hence was a member of the H. I. M. Retinue...
for the far-flung Department of the Pacific
Department of the Pacific
The Department of the Pacific was a major command of the United States Army during the 19th century.-Formation:The Department of the Pacific was first organized on October 31, 1853, at San Francisco, California, taking over from the previous Pacific Division. The department reported directly to...
and promoted to captain. He was quickly promoted to 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...
and 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...
, and after the end 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 was 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...
ted Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
and 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...
, for faithful and meritorious services in the Adjutant-General's Department during the war.
After the Civil War
Assistant AdjutantGeneral for the Department of CaliforniaDepartment of California
The Department of California was one of two Army Departments created September 13, 1858, replacing the original Department of the Pacific and was composed of the territory of the United States lying west of the Rocky Mountains and south of Oregon and Washington territories, except the Rogue River...
from June 1865 to October 1, 1866. Drum was appointed Assistant AdjutantGeneral for the Department of the East
Department of the East
The Department of the East was a military administrative district established by the U.S. Army on March 5, 1866, with boundaries encompassing all the states east of the Mississippi River...
, with Headquarters in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
from December 27, 1866, to January 6, 1868. He was appointed Assistant Adjutant-General, for the 3rd Military District to August 1, 1868, and Department of the South, headquarters Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
from March 20, 1868 to March 20, 1869, and from April 3, 1869 to November 26, 1873 for the Military Department of the Atlantic.
Drum was promoted to 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...
in February 22, 1869. He was again made Assistant Adjutant-General, for the Military Division of the Missouri, in Chicago from November 28, 1873 to May 2, 1878, where he commanded the Federal troops in the Great Railroad Strike of 1877
Great railroad strike of 1877
The Great Railroad Strike of 1877 began on July 14 in Martinsburg, West Virginia, United States and ended some 45 days later after it was put down by local and state militias, and federal troops.-Economic conditions in the 1870s:...
. He then served until retirement in the Adjutant Generals office in Washington D. C. On June 16, 1880, he became Brigadier General and Adjutant General of the United States Army. He retired in May 20, 1889, and died in Drummond, Maryland
Drummond, Maryland
Drummond, Maryland is a village and special taxing district in Montgomery County, Maryland. Chartered in 1916, it is in the Chevy Chase, Maryland postal area. The village comprises two-thirds of Drummond Avenue.-External links:*...
in 1909. He is buried 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...
.