ALEXANDER CAMPBELL WILDER FANNING

Background

Alexander Campbell Wilder Fanning, the son of Barclay and Caroline Henson Orne Fanning, and a descendant of Edmund Fanning who settled at Pequot (New London), Connecticut, in 1653, was born in Boston, Massachusetts.

Education

He entered the Military Academy at West Point on April 14, 1809, as a cadet from that state.

He graduated fifteenth in his class on March 12, 1812, and was commissioned first lieutenant, 3rd Artillery.

Career

Promoted to captain March 13, 1813, he was severely wounded at the capture of York, Upper Canada, April 27, and distinguished himself in the repulse of the British naval forces on the St. Lawrence, November 2, 1813.

For his gallant defense of Fort Erie he was appointed brevet major August 15, serving with Jackson in the Seminole campaign of 1818, he acted for a time as deputy quartermaster-general and made an important reconnaissance to establish contact with the naval force in the Gulf.

With a detachment of 200 men he occupied the Spanish post of St. Mark’s.

He was a member of the court martial which tried Robert Ambrister and Alexander Arbuthnot, and on April 29, 1818, acted as provost-marshal at their execution.

While commanding at St. Mark’s in November 1818, he gave information about the continuance of Spanish intrigues among the hostile Indians.

This information was later used by Jackson in reply to criticisms of his order to Gaines.

From St. Mark’s he was transferred to Ft. Gadsden, and then served successively at various Northern posts (Detroit, 182223; Mackinaw, 1823; Columbus, 1824), and at the artillery school at Fortress Monroe, Virginia.

He was appointed brevet lieutenant-colonel August 15, 1824, and was commissioned major of the 4th Artillery November 3, 1832.

Fanning took an active part in the Seminole War in Florida.

His most notable service was the defense of Camp Monroe, later Ft. Mellon, on Lake Monroe, in the heart of the hostile Indian country, against a surprise attack by the Seminóles (Feb. 8, 1837).

Though creditable to Fanning and his troops, this affair convinced the commanding general, T. S. Jesup, that the whole plan of campaign in Florida was defective.

After further service in rounding up the Seminóles for deportation, Fanning was first transferred to the Canadian frontier, 1840-41, and then detached on recruiting service in the Western Department. He died at Cincinnati, Ohio, Aug. 18, 1846. His wife, a Miss Fowler, died shortly after their marriage.

Achievements

• His gallant conduct in a battle with the Indians at the Withlacoochee on December 31, 1835, led to his appointment as brevet colonel.

Connections

His wife, a Miss Fowler, died shortly after their marriage.

Father:

Barclay Fanning

Mother:

Caroline Henson Orne Fanning

Wife:

Miss Fowler