Military officer; born in
East Greenwich, R. I., July 12, 1807; was graduated at
West Point in 1826; served with Worth in
Florida (1837-41) and under
Scott in the war with
Mexico (1847-48) ; was also in the operations against the Indians on the
Pacific coast in 1856.
Early in the
Civil War he was made brigadier-general of volunteers, and organized and disciplined the volunteers at and near
Washington.
He was made major-general of volunteers in May, 1862, and commanded a division in
General Keyes's corps on the
Peninsula, and received the first attack of the
Confederates in the battle of
fair Oaks (q. v.).
General Casey was brevetted major-general
U. S. A. in March, 1865, for “meritorious service during the rebellion,” and the legislature of
Rhode Island gave him a vote of thanks in 1867.
He was author of a
System of Infantry tactics (1861) and
Infantry tactics for colored troops (1863). He died in
Brooklyn, N. Y., Jan. 22, 1882.