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Browsing named entities in Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing). You can also browse the collection for December 4th, 1861 AD or search for December 4th, 1861 AD in all documents.
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Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Phelps , John Wolcott 1813 -1885 (search)
Phelps, John Wolcott 1813-1885
Military officer; born in Guilford, Vt., Nov. 13, 1813; graduated at West Point in 1836; and served in the artillery in the Seminole War. He fought in the war against Mexico, and accompanied the Utah expedition in 1858.
He resigned in 1859.
In May, 1861, he became colonel of a Vermont volunteer regiment, with which he established an intrenched camp at Newport News, and was soon afterwards made brigadier-general.
Attached to General Butler's expedition against New Orleans, he landed on Ship Island, Miss., on Dec. 4, 1861, when he issued a proclamation hostile to slavery.
It was disavowed by his superiors, and the temporizing policy which he believed was to rule caused his resignation.
He was the first officer who enlisted and disciplined negro soldiers in the Civil War. He died in Guilford, Vt., Feb. 2, 1885.
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), United States of America . (search)