Arthur MacArthur

June 2, 1845 (age 67)

Springfield, Massachusetts, United States

On August 4, 1862, at the age of seventeen, MacArthur was commissioned first lieutenant in the 24th Wisconsin Infantry and was at once appointed regimental adjutant. He served throughout the Civil War in this regiment and was mustered out as lieutenant-colonel on June 10, 1865. The regiment formed a part of the Army of the Cumberland, and with it he participated in the Perryville, Stones River, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, Atlanta, and Franklin campaigns. He received the brevet rank of lieutenant-colonel of volunteers, March 13, 1865, for gallant and meritorious service in action at Perryville, Kentucky, Stones River, Missionary Ridge, and Dandridge, Tennessee, and of colonel of volunteers on the same day for gallant and meritorious service in action at Franklin, Tennessee, and in the Atlanta campaign. He was twice wounded, once at Kenesaw Mountain and once at Franklin. At the close of the Civil War, he entered the regular service as second lieutenant in the 17th Infantry, his commission bearing date of February 23, 1866. He was advanced to the grade of first lieutenant on the same date, and on Septeber 21, transferred to the 26th Infantry. In the course of the expansion of the regular army during 1866, he became captain in the 36th Infantry; but in 1869, the army was again reduced, and on May 19, he was placed on the list of officers unassigned and awaiting orders. On July 5, 1870, he returned to active duty as captain in the 13th Infantry. In this rank and regiment, he served for nearly twenty years, chiefly in the West. On July 1, 1889, he was transferred to the adjutant-general's department as a major. After four years in Washington he returned to the West and served at the headquarters of the departments of Texas and of Dakota. He was promoted lieutenant-colonel May 26, 1896. During the Spanish War, he was adjutant-general of the troops at Tampa, and later of the III Army Corps at Chickamauga. The naval battle of Manila Bay having been fought on May 1, 1898, it became necessary to send troops to the Philippine Islands, and Colonel MacArthur was made brigadier-general of volunteers on May 27 and assigned to the expeditionary forces. His brigade sailed from San Francisco June 25 and reached Manila July 25. It was landed at once, and was designated as the 1st Brigade, 2d Division, VIII Army Corps; under his command it took part in the advance upon and occupation of the city of Manila, August 13. After the occupation he was appointed provost-marshal-general and civil governor of the city. Later, he was promoted major-general of volunteers, his commission bearing date August 13, and assumed command of the 2d Division. He was appointed brigadier-general in the regular service January 2, 1900, but continued to serve as major-general of volunteers until February 18, 1901, when, having been promoted major-general in the regular service on February 6, 1901, he vacated his volunteer commission. In the Philippine insurrection, which began February 4, 1899, he took a very prominent part. The first insurgent attack upon the city having been repulsed and order restored, his command led the advance upon the insurgent capital, Malolos, which was occupied on March 31. He was then given command of the Department of Northern Luzon, and directed the advances on the "north line" until the capture of Tarlac in November, after which the organized insurrection collapsed, the insurgent president Aguinaldo became a fugitive, and the operations passed into guerrilla warfare. On the return of General Elwell S. Otis to the United States, May 5, 1900, General MacArthur became commander of the Division of the Philippines and military governor of the Islands, which posts he held until July 4, 1901. He then returned to the United States and held various departmental commands. On September 15, 1906, he was promoted lieutenant-general. Having reached the statutory age limit, he retired June 2, 1909, being then in command of the Pacific Division, and took up his residence in Milwaukee. He always retained an active interest in his old military associations, and at the time of his death he was national commander of the Loyal Legion. His death was sudden. On September 5, 1912, he attended and addressed a regimental reunion at Milwaukee. In the midst of his address, he stopped, said he was unable to continue, dropped into his chair, and died in a few seconds.

Arthur MacArthur Edit Profile

also known as The Boy Colonel

military

Background

Arthur MacArthur Jr. was born on June 2, 1845, in Springfield, Massachusets, United States. He was the son of Arthur and Aurelia (Belcher) MacArthur. His father, a native of Glasgow, Scotland, was brought to this country by his parents and became a lawyer and judge of distinction; he served as lieutenant-governor of Wisconsin, and for a time as governor ad interim. The family moved from Massachusetts to Wisconsin in 1849, and the younger Arthur received his education in the public schools of Milwaukee.

Career

On August 4, 1862, at the age of seventeen, MacArthur was commissioned first lieutenant in the 24th Wisconsin Infantry and was at once appointed regimental adjutant. He served throughout the Civil War in this regiment and was mustered out as lieutenant-colonel on June 10, 1865. The regiment formed a part of the Army of the Cumberland, and with it he participated in the Perryville, Stones River, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, Atlanta, and Franklin campaigns.

He received the brevet rank of lieutenant-colonel of volunteers, March 13, 1865, for gallant and meritorious service in action at Perryville, Kentucky, Stones River, Missionary Ridge, and Dandridge, Tennessee, and of colonel of volunteers on the same day for gallant and meritorious service in action at Franklin, Tennessee, and in the Atlanta campaign. He was twice wounded, once at Kenesaw Mountain and once at Franklin.

At the close of the Civil War, he entered the regular service as second lieutenant in the 17th Infantry, his commission bearing date of February 23, 1866. He was advanced to the grade of first lieutenant on the same date, and on Septeber 21, transferred to the 26th Infantry. In the course of the expansion of the regular army during 1866, he became captain in the 36th Infantry; but in 1869, the army was again reduced, and on May 19, he was placed on the list of officers unassigned and awaiting orders.

On July 5, 1870, he returned to active duty as captain in the 13th Infantry. In this rank and regiment, he served for nearly twenty years, chiefly in the West. On July 1, 1889, he was transferred to the adjutant-general's department as a major. After four years in Washington he returned to the West and served at the headquarters of the departments of Texas and of Dakota. He was promoted lieutenant-colonel May 26, 1896.

During the Spanish War, he was adjutant-general of the troops at Tampa, and later of the III Army Corps at Chickamauga. The naval battle of Manila Bay having been fought on May 1, 1898, it became necessary to send troops to the Philippine Islands, and Colonel MacArthur was made brigadier-general of volunteers on May 27 and assigned to the expeditionary forces.

His brigade sailed from San Francisco June 25 and reached Manila July 25. It was landed at once, and was designated as the 1st Brigade, 2d Division, VIII Army Corps; under his command it took part in the advance upon and occupation of the city of Manila, August 13. After the occupation he was appointed provost-marshal-general and civil governor of the city.

Later, he was promoted major-general of volunteers, his commission bearing date August 13, and assumed command of the 2d Division. He was appointed brigadier-general in the regular service January 2, 1900, but continued to serve as major-general of volunteers until February 18, 1901, when, having been promoted major-general in the regular service on February 6, 1901, he vacated his volunteer commission.

In the Philippine insurrection, which began February 4, 1899, he took a very prominent part. The first insurgent attack upon the city having been repulsed and order restored, his command led the advance upon the insurgent capital, Malolos, which was occupied on March 31. He was then given command of the Department of Northern Luzon, and directed the advances on the "north line" until the capture of Tarlac in November, after which the organized insurrection collapsed, the insurgent president Aguinaldo became a fugitive, and the operations passed into guerrilla warfare.

On the return of General Elwell S. Otis to the United States, May 5, 1900, General MacArthur became commander of the Division of the Philippines and military governor of the Islands, which posts he held until July 4, 1901. He then returned to the United States and held various departmental commands.

On September 15, 1906, he was promoted lieutenant-general. Having reached the statutory age limit, he retired June 2, 1909, being then in command of the Pacific Division, and took up his residence in Milwaukee. He always retained an active interest in his old military associations, and at the time of his death he was national commander of the Loyal Legion.

His death was sudden. On September 5, 1912, he attended and addressed a regimental reunion at Milwaukee. In the midst of his address, he stopped, said he was unable to continue, dropped into his chair, and died in a few seconds.

Achievements

Arthur MacArthur Jr. was a United States Army general. He became the military Governor-General of the American-occupied Philippines in 1900 but his term ended a year later due to clashes with the civilian governor, future President William Howard Taft. A medal of honor was awarded him June 30, 1890, "for seizing the colors of his regiment at a critical moment, and planting them on a captured work on the crest of Missionary Ridge, " November 25, 1863.

Connections

MacArthur was married May 19, 1875, to Mary Pinkney Hardy of Norfolk, Virginia, who survived him, together with their two sons, Arthur, an officer in the navy, and Douglas, in the army.

Father:: Arthur MacArthur Sr.
Mother:: Aurelia Belcher MacArthur
Grandson:: Arthur MacArthur IV
Grandson:: Douglas MacArthur II
Wife:: Mary Pinkney “Pinkie” Hardy MacArthur
Son:: Malcolm MacArthur
Son:: Arthur MacArthur III
Son:: Douglas MacArthur

References

The General's General: The Life And Times Of Arthur Macarthur (History and Warfare)

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