Richard W. Colcock
Encyclopedia
Richard W. Colcock was the second president (then known as Superintendent) of the Citadel
, (Military College of South Carolina), from 1844 through 1852.
at West Point in 1822 and graduated in 1826. He was in the sixth class from the academy with the new four-year curriculum developed by Major Sylvanus Thayer. He was the 457th graduate of West Point and finished 26th of 41 graduates from his class. The Citadel Board of Visitors appointed Colcock to assume the duties of Superintendent after the death of Captain Graham in 1844.
Prior to becoming Superintendent, Colcock served for ten years as an infantry
officer in the U.S. Army. During eight of his ten years of active duty, he fought in the Indian Wars
on the Western frontier and the Seminole War in Florida
.
His first assignment after graduation was at Fort Duval, near Silver Springs, Florida
. The new territory of Florida, ceded to the United States from Spain
in 1821, quickly became a battle ground for a guerrilla war with the native American
tribes of the state. Lieutenant Colcock spent his first two years (1826-1828) at Fort Duval, Fort King
, and Cantonment Clinch in Florida.
During his tour in the Florida Territory
he was assigned to protect settlers in the newly acquired land. He fought the Seminole Indian Nation during several skirmishes which eventually led to the Second Seminole War
(1835-1842). Colcock was reassigned to the "Indian Frontier" in the far west at Jefferson Barracks
, Missouri
, Fort Leavenworth
, Kansas Territory
, and on Indian patrol on the Missouri River
from 1828-1830. He was assigned to fight the native Americans in the far west and to protect settlers traveling west during this period. In 1831, Lt Colcock and his infantry company assisted in relocating the Choctaw
from their traditional home in Mississippi
to Indian Territory (now the state of Oklahoma
) in accordance with the Indian Removal Act
of 1830. This relocation of thousands of native Americans was known as the “Trail of Tears
”, in which thousands died during the long, hard march to Indian Territory. After his short tour in the “mid-west” he was reassigned to the "north-west" in Iowa Territory
.
He served at Fort Atkinson
, Iowa Territory and fought in the Black Hawk War
from 1831 to 1832 (until the war ended). During these two years, he spent most of his time in the field of battle or pursuing hostile native Americans. When the Black Hawk War officially ended, he was reassigned to Fort Towson
, Indian Territory (Oklahoma) as Quartermaster
.
In 1833, he was assigned to the south-west corner of the United States border with Texas at Fort Jesup
, Louisiana. From 1834 to 1836, First Lieutenant Colcock returned to West Point as an engineer and as an instructor. During his last year in the U.S. Army, he served as Instructor of Infantry Tactics at West Point. Colcock, spent a grueling 10 years in the U.S. Army with most of his time spent fighting native Americans on the western frontier and in Florida. Colcock became gravely ill due to the hardships and exposure he endured on frontier duty. He resigned from the Army with effect from April 1, 1836 and returned to his home in Beaufort, South Carolina.
Colcock continued the work that Captain Graham started in 1843-1844. In the first decade of The Citadel’s existence, the influence of the West Point model was clearly evident. The first two Superintendents were West Pointers and several key staff and professors were also educated at the national military academy. Both Captain Graham and Major Colcock were intimately familiar with West Point’s "Thayer System" of instruction. (Major Thayer was known as the "Father of West Point" and established the four-year curriculum that was adapted for The Citadel by Graham and Colcock.)
Colcock succeeded in providing a military education tailored for the citizen soldier. In 1846, the first graduation exercises were held. Six men graduated with Cadet Charles C. Tew as the first honor graduate. Also in that year, the United States declared war on Mexico
following several border disputes in Texas. The Citadel trained the South Carolina volunteers of the Palmetto Regiment headed for the Mexican War
.
An early supporter of The Citadel and former Governor of South Carolina
, Pierce Mason Butler, requested that the Palmetto Regiment be trained at The Citadel in Charleston
. Butler, a veteran of the Seminole War in Florida, was appointed Colonel and Commander of the Palmetto Regiment. Major Colcock developed the "Drillmaster" concept to train troops in preparation for war. The faculty, staff, and cadets instructed the Palmetto Regiment in drill, infantry, and artillery tactics prior to their departure for Texas and Mexico. This new and innovative concept was to be used later by The Citadel, VMI, and other southern military colleges to train troops during the Civil War.
The Citadel training followed the Palmetto Regiment to Mexico City
where they were the first to raise a U.S. flag over the capitol of Mexico City. The regiment fought side by side with a battalion of U.S. Marines through the "Halls of Montezuma" in Chapultepec
and Mexico City. Cadets and graduates of The Citadel performed brilliantly in support of the Mexican War due in large part to the efforts of Colcock and his extensive experience as a combat infantry officer in the U.S. Army and a Military Tactics Instructor at West Point.
The Citadel's post Mexican War years were marked by several improvements in the curriculum and the buildings on campus, which were spearheaded by Colcock. In 1849, a third story was added to the barracks to accommodate more cadets. The last major celebration of victory in Mexico occurred on Friday, March 9, 1849 during the visit of President James K. Polk
to Charleston. The Citadel also hosted a parade for President James K. Polk during his visit to Charleston. The Citadel and the Citadel Green also served as the site to honor John C. Calhoun
, U.S. Senator, U.S. Vice President, and Secretary of War after his death in April 1850. The Citadel and the Corps of Cadets served in the procession as his body was marched from the Citadel Green down King Street, other streets to the Battery, and finally to St Phillip’s Church prior to his burial two days later.
In 1852, after more than 8 years as Superintendent, Colcock returned to practicing law and then briefly served in the U.S. Customs prior to his death January 9, 1856. A tough 10-year tour in the U.S. Army followed by eight years at The Citadel took a toll. His accomplishments as Superintendent in the first decade of The Citadel made a lasting impression on the institution and a legacy of excellence that lasts to this day. Three cadets that graduated during his administration would later become Superintendent of The Citadel. One of the original faculty officers under his administration (Maj Francis W. Capers) followed him as Superintendent. Colcock was buried with his wife who preceded him, in St. Michael's Episcopal Church (Charleston, South Carolina)
. He died at only 49 years of age. A distinguished soldier, engineer, lawyer, and educator, his legacy was to establish The Citadel as a leading military college. Colcock, the “Father of The Citadel’s School of Arms”, was remembered as a tough but fair disciplinarian.
The Citadel (military college)
The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, also known simply as The Citadel, is a state-supported, comprehensive college located in Charleston, South Carolina, USA. It is one of the six senior military colleges in the United States...
, (Military College of South Carolina), from 1844 through 1852.
Early life
His father, Charles Jones Colcock, was a prominent South Carolina lawyer who graduated from Princeton College in 1787. As a little boy, Richard’s mother Mary Woodward Colcock read the Bible and a book Living Christianity to her young children. There being no schools in the area, Richard W. Colcock was educated at home by two private tutors: John Gates Creagh (an 1813 graduate of South Carolina College) and Elijah Gilbert (an 1815 graduate of South Carolina College with first honors).Army
Richard W. Colcock was appointed to the United States Military AcademyUnited 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...
at West Point in 1822 and graduated in 1826. He was in the sixth class from the academy with the new four-year curriculum developed by Major Sylvanus Thayer. He was the 457th graduate of West Point and finished 26th of 41 graduates from his class. The Citadel Board of Visitors appointed Colcock to assume the duties of Superintendent after the death of Captain Graham in 1844.
Prior to becoming Superintendent, Colcock served for ten years as an infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
officer in the U.S. Army. During eight of his ten years of active duty, he fought in the Indian Wars
Indian Wars
American Indian Wars is the name used in the United States to describe a series of conflicts between American settlers or the federal government and the native peoples of North America before and after the American Revolutionary War. The wars resulted from the arrival of European colonizers who...
on the Western frontier and the Seminole War 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...
.
His first assignment after graduation was at Fort Duval, near Silver Springs, Florida
Silver Springs, Florida
Silver Springs is a U.S. populated place and spring in Marion County, Florida, just to the east of the city of Ocala. It is part of the Ocala Metropolitan Statistical Area....
. The new territory of Florida, ceded to the United States from Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
in 1821, quickly became a battle ground for a guerrilla war with the native American
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
tribes of the state. Lieutenant Colcock spent his first two years (1826-1828) at Fort Duval, Fort King
Fort King
Fort King was a United States military fort in north central Florida. It was named after Colonel William King, commander of Florida's Fourth Infantry and the first governor of the provisional West Florida region. The fort was built in 1827, and became the genesis of the city of Ocala...
, and Cantonment Clinch in Florida.
During his tour in the Florida Territory
Florida Territory
The Territory of Florida was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 30, 1822, until March 3, 1845, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Florida...
he was assigned to protect settlers in the newly acquired land. He fought the Seminole Indian Nation during several skirmishes which eventually led to the Second Seminole War
Second Seminole War
The Second Seminole War, also known as the Florida War, was a conflict from 1835 to 1842 in Florida between various groups of Native Americans collectively known as Seminoles and the United States, part of a series of conflicts called the Seminole Wars...
(1835-1842). Colcock was reassigned to the "Indian Frontier" in the far west at Jefferson Barracks
Jefferson Barracks Military Post
The Jefferson Barracks Military Post, located on the Mississippi River at Lemay, Missouri, which is just south of St. Louis, Missouri,was, at first owned land by the DeGamache's then borrowed by military leaders, but after war, the land was not returned. It was an important and highly active U.S....
, 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...
, Fort Leavenworth
Fort Leavenworth
Fort Leavenworth is a United States Army facility located in Leavenworth County, Kansas, immediately north of the city of Leavenworth in the upper northeast portion of the state. It is the oldest active United States Army post west of Washington, D.C. and has been in operation for over 180 years...
, Kansas Territory
Kansas Territory
The Territory of Kansas was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 30, 1854, until January 29, 1861, when the eastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Kansas....
, and on Indian patrol on the Missouri River
Missouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
from 1828-1830. He was assigned to fight the native Americans in the far west and to protect settlers traveling west during this period. In 1831, Lt Colcock and his infantry company assisted in relocating the Choctaw
Choctaw
The Choctaw are a Native American people originally from the Southeastern United States...
from their traditional home in Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
to Indian Territory (now the state of Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
) in accordance with the Indian Removal Act
Indian Removal Act
The Indian Removal Act was signed into law by President Andrew Jackson on May 28, 1830.The Removal Act was strongly supported in the South, where states were eager to gain access to lands inhabited by the Five Civilized Tribes. In particular, Georgia, the largest state at that time, was involved in...
of 1830. This relocation of thousands of native Americans was known as the “Trail of Tears
Trail of Tears
The Trail of Tears is a name given to the forced relocation and movement of Native American nations from southeastern parts of the United States following the Indian Removal Act of 1830...
”, in which thousands died during the long, hard march to Indian Territory. After his short tour in the “mid-west” he was reassigned to the "north-west" in Iowa Territory
Iowa Territory
The Territory of Iowa was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 4, 1838, until December 28, 1846, when the southeastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Iowa.-History:...
.
He served at Fort Atkinson
Fort Atkinson
Fort Atkinson is the name of several locations in the United States:*Fort Atkinson, Iowa, a town named after General Atkinson*Fort Atkinson State Preserve, 1840s U.S. Army post in Fort Atkinson, Iowa*Fort Atkinson , 1820s U.S. Army post...
, Iowa Territory and fought in the Black Hawk War
Black Hawk War
The Black Hawk War was a brief conflict fought in 1832 between the United States and Native Americans headed by Black Hawk, a Sauk leader. The war erupted soon after Black Hawk and a group of Sauks, Meskwakis, and Kickapoos known as the "British Band" crossed the Mississippi River into the U.S....
from 1831 to 1832 (until the war ended). During these two years, he spent most of his time in the field of battle or pursuing hostile native Americans. When the Black Hawk War officially ended, he was reassigned to Fort Towson
Fort Towson
Fort Towson was a frontier outpost for Frontier Army Quartermasters along the Permanent Indian Frontier located about two miles northeast of the present community of Fort Towson, Oklahoma....
, Indian Territory (Oklahoma) as Quartermaster
Quartermaster
Quartermaster refers to two different military occupations depending on if the assigned unit is land based or naval.In land armies, especially US units, it is a term referring to either an individual soldier or a unit who specializes in distributing supplies and provisions to troops. The senior...
.
In 1833, he was assigned to the south-west corner of the United States border with Texas at Fort Jesup
Fort Jesup
Fort Jesup, also known as Fort Jesup State Historic Site or Fort Jessup or Fort Jesup State Monument, was built in 1822, 22 miles west of Natchitoches, Louisiana, to protect the United States border with Spain and to return order to the Neutral Strip. Originally named Cantonment Jesup, the fort...
, Louisiana. From 1834 to 1836, First Lieutenant Colcock returned to West Point as an engineer and as an instructor. During his last year in the U.S. Army, he served as Instructor of Infantry Tactics at West Point. Colcock, spent a grueling 10 years in the U.S. Army with most of his time spent fighting native Americans on the western frontier and in Florida. Colcock became gravely ill due to the hardships and exposure he endured on frontier duty. He resigned from the Army with effect from April 1, 1836 and returned to his home in Beaufort, South Carolina.
The Citadel
From 1836-1842 he served as Superintendent of Public Works for the State of South Carolina. He was admitted to the Beaufort, South Carolina Bar in December 1842 and served as a lawyer with his brother William Colcock just prior to his appointment as Superintendent of The Citadel in 1844. Colonel John P. Thomas (class of 1851) described Colcock as a superintendent that "contributed largely to the development of its fortunes, especially as a school of arms." Colcock was known as a strict disciplinarian. "His disciplinary methods consisted in the steady application of law, carried out in military fashion."Colcock continued the work that Captain Graham started in 1843-1844. In the first decade of The Citadel’s existence, the influence of the West Point model was clearly evident. The first two Superintendents were West Pointers and several key staff and professors were also educated at the national military academy. Both Captain Graham and Major Colcock were intimately familiar with West Point’s "Thayer System" of instruction. (Major Thayer was known as the "Father of West Point" and established the four-year curriculum that was adapted for The Citadel by Graham and Colcock.)
Colcock succeeded in providing a military education tailored for the citizen soldier. In 1846, the first graduation exercises were held. Six men graduated with Cadet Charles C. Tew as the first honor graduate. Also in that year, the United States declared war on Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
following several border disputes in Texas. The Citadel trained the South Carolina volunteers of the Palmetto Regiment headed for the Mexican War
Mexican–American War
The Mexican–American War, also known as the First American Intervention, the Mexican War, or the U.S.–Mexican War, was an armed conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848 in the wake of the 1845 U.S...
.
An early supporter of The Citadel and former Governor of South Carolina
Governor of South Carolina
The Governor of the State of South Carolina is the head of state for the State of South Carolina. Under the South Carolina Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the South Carolina executive branch. The Governor is the ex officio...
, Pierce Mason Butler, requested that the Palmetto Regiment be trained at The Citadel in Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
. Butler, a veteran of the Seminole War in Florida, was appointed Colonel and Commander of the Palmetto Regiment. Major Colcock developed the "Drillmaster" concept to train troops in preparation for war. The faculty, staff, and cadets instructed the Palmetto Regiment in drill, infantry, and artillery tactics prior to their departure for Texas and Mexico. This new and innovative concept was to be used later by The Citadel, VMI, and other southern military colleges to train troops during the Civil War.
The Citadel training followed the Palmetto Regiment to Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
where they were the first to raise a U.S. flag over the capitol of Mexico City. The regiment fought side by side with a battalion of U.S. Marines through the "Halls of Montezuma" in Chapultepec
Chapultepec
Chapultepec Park, more commonly called the "Bosque de Chapultepec" in Mexico City, is the largest city park in Latin America, measuring in total just over 686 hectares. Centered on a rock formation called Chapultepec Hill, one of the park's main functions is to be an ecological space in the vast...
and Mexico City. Cadets and graduates of The Citadel performed brilliantly in support of the Mexican War due in large part to the efforts of Colcock and his extensive experience as a combat infantry officer in the U.S. Army and a Military Tactics Instructor at West Point.
The Citadel's post Mexican War years were marked by several improvements in the curriculum and the buildings on campus, which were spearheaded by Colcock. In 1849, a third story was added to the barracks to accommodate more cadets. The last major celebration of victory in Mexico occurred on Friday, March 9, 1849 during the visit of President James K. Polk
James K. Polk
James Knox Polk was the 11th President of the United States . Polk was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. He later lived in and represented Tennessee. A Democrat, Polk served as the 17th Speaker of the House of Representatives and the 12th Governor of Tennessee...
to Charleston. The Citadel also hosted a parade for President James K. Polk during his visit to Charleston. The Citadel and the Citadel Green also served as the site to honor John C. Calhoun
John C. Calhoun
John Caldwell Calhoun was a leading politician and political theorist from South Carolina during the first half of the 19th century. Calhoun eloquently spoke out on every issue of his day, but often changed positions. Calhoun began his political career as a nationalist, modernizer, and proponent...
, U.S. Senator, U.S. Vice President, and Secretary of War after his death in April 1850. The Citadel and the Corps of Cadets served in the procession as his body was marched from the Citadel Green down King Street, other streets to the Battery, and finally to St Phillip’s Church prior to his burial two days later.
In 1852, after more than 8 years as Superintendent, Colcock returned to practicing law and then briefly served in the U.S. Customs prior to his death January 9, 1856. A tough 10-year tour in the U.S. Army followed by eight years at The Citadel took a toll. His accomplishments as Superintendent in the first decade of The Citadel made a lasting impression on the institution and a legacy of excellence that lasts to this day. Three cadets that graduated during his administration would later become Superintendent of The Citadel. One of the original faculty officers under his administration (Maj Francis W. Capers) followed him as Superintendent. Colcock was buried with his wife who preceded him, in St. Michael's Episcopal Church (Charleston, South Carolina)
St. Michael's Episcopal Church (Charleston, South Carolina)
St. Michael's Episcopal Church is an historic Episcopal church and the oldest surviving religious structure in Charleston, South Carolina. It is located at Broad and Meeting streets on one of the Four Corners of the Law, and represents ecclesiastical law. It was built in the 1750s by order of the...
. He died at only 49 years of age. A distinguished soldier, engineer, lawyer, and educator, his legacy was to establish The Citadel as a leading military college. Colcock, the “Father of The Citadel’s School of Arms”, was remembered as a tough but fair disciplinarian.