William Scott Ketchum
Encyclopedia
William Scott Ketchum U. S. Army officer before and during the American Civil War
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William Scott Ketchum was born on July 7, 1813 in Norwalk, Connecticut
. Graduated from the United States Military Academy
, at West Point, New York
in 1834. He served in the Seminole Wars
and on the Western frontier. During the 1857 Cheyenne Expedition of Col. Edwin Vose Sumner
against the Cheyenne
and the Battle of Solomon's Fork, Captain Ketchum of G Company commanded the 6th Infantry Regiment detachment (of C, D and G Companies).
in Oregon
, protecting settlers from Indian raids. He was ordered to San Francisco and then sent to take command of the federal troops in Southern California to protect it from secessionist rising and Confederate invasion from Arizona or Texas
. Headquartered in San Bernardino, California
his troops kept an eye on the secessionists of the region and reinforced Fort Yuma
. Relieved by California Volunteer troops, Ketchum and his regiment assembled in San Pedro for the voyage to eastern United States
in the late fall of 1861. Ketchum was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in late 1861. He was made a brigadier General of Volunteers in February 1862. For the rest of the war he had staff duties in Washington D.C. and was concerned with inspection, recruiting, and auditng.
Following the Civil War, General Ketchum spent four years on special service in the adjutant generals office in Washington D.C., then retired in December 1870. He died on June 28, 1871 in Baltimore, Maryland under suspicious circumstances, the landlady of his boarding house, Elizabeth G. Warton was suspected of poisoning him. She was found not guilty.
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...
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William Scott Ketchum was born on July 7, 1813 in Norwalk, Connecticut
Norwalk, Connecticut
Norwalk is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of the city is 85,603, making Norwalk sixth in population in Connecticut, and third in Fairfield County...
. 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...
, at West Point, New York
West Point, New York
West Point is a federal military reservation established by President of the United States Thomas Jefferson in 1802. It is a census-designated place located in Town of Highlands in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 7,138 at the 2000 census...
in 1834. He served in the Seminole Wars
Seminole Wars
The Seminole Wars, also known as the Florida Wars, were three conflicts in Florida between the Seminole — the collective name given to the amalgamation of various groups of native Americans and Black people who settled in Florida in the early 18th century — and the United States Army...
and on the Western frontier. During the 1857 Cheyenne Expedition of Col. Edwin Vose Sumner
Edwin Vose Sumner
Edwin Vose Sumner was a career United States Army officer who became a Union Army general and the oldest field commander of any Army Corps on either side during the American Civil War...
against the Cheyenne
Cheyenne
Cheyenne are a Native American people of the Great Plains, who are of the Algonquian language family. The Cheyenne Nation is composed of two united tribes, the Só'taeo'o and the Tsétsêhéstâhese .The Cheyenne are thought to have branched off other tribes of Algonquian stock inhabiting lands...
and the Battle of Solomon's Fork, Captain Ketchum of G Company commanded the 6th Infantry Regiment detachment (of C, D and G Companies).
Civil War
At the start of the Civil War, Major Ketchum now with US Fourth Infantry Regiment commanded Fort DallesFort Dalles
Fort Dalles was a United States Army outpost located on the Columbia River at the present site of The Dalles, Oregon, in the United States. Built when Oregon was a territory, the post was used mainly for dealing with wars with Native Americans...
in Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, protecting settlers from Indian raids. He was ordered to San Francisco and then sent to take command of the federal troops in Southern California to protect it from secessionist rising and Confederate invasion from Arizona or Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. Headquartered in San Bernardino, California
San Bernardino, California
San Bernardino is a city located in the Riverside-San Bernardino metropolitan area , and serves as the county seat of San Bernardino County, California, United States...
his troops kept an eye on the secessionists of the region and reinforced Fort Yuma
Fort Yuma
Fort Yuma is a fort in California that is located in Imperial County, across the Colorado River from Yuma, Arizona. It was on the Butterfield Overland Mail route from 1858 until 1861 and was abandoned May 16, 1883, and transferred to the Department of the Interior. The Fort Yuma Indian School and a...
. Relieved by California Volunteer troops, Ketchum and his regiment assembled in San Pedro for the voyage to eastern United States
Eastern United States
The Eastern United States, the American East, or simply the East is traditionally defined as the states east of the Mississippi River. The first two tiers of states west of the Mississippi have traditionally been considered part of the West, but can be included in the East today; usually in...
in the late fall of 1861. Ketchum was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in late 1861. He was made a brigadier General of Volunteers in February 1862. For the rest of the war he had staff duties in Washington D.C. and was concerned with inspection, recruiting, and auditng.
Following the Civil War, General Ketchum spent four years on special service in the adjutant generals office in Washington D.C., then retired in December 1870. He died on June 28, 1871 in Baltimore, Maryland under suspicious circumstances, the landlady of his boarding house, Elizabeth G. Warton was suspected of poisoning him. She was found not guilty.