Edward Otho Cresap Ord was an American engineer and United States Army officer.
Background
Edward Otho Cresap Ord was born in Cumberland, Maryland, the third son of James Ord, an officer in the United States Navy for a short time, and afterwards a lieutenant in the army during the War of 1812. His mother was a daughter of Col. Daniel Cresap, who had been a lieutenant of Maryland Volunteers. His grandfather had commanded one of the regiments which Washington sent to Pennsylvania to quell the whiskey insurrection. In 1819, the Ords moved to Washington, D. C.
Education
Edward received his early schooling mostly from his father, a thorough scholar. When but seven years old, he showed marked aptitude as a calculator. At sixteen he entered the United States Military Academy, and graduated in 1839, seventeenth in a class of thirty-one.
Career
On July 1, 1839, Edward Ord was appointed second lieutenant and assigned to the 3rd Artillery. His first service was against the Seminole Indians in the Florida Everglades in 1840. He was promoted first lieutenant for gallant conduct on this expedition. In 1847 he was sent on the Lexington from New York, around Cape Horn, to California. Shortly after his arrival, he was dispatched with two men to capture three murderers. He caught up with them at Santa Barbara, shot one who attempted to escape, brought the other two to jury trial before an alcade court, secured their conviction, and promptly executed them. Ord had to take matters in his own hands, for the alcade would neither assume responsibility nor take any action without Ord's direction. Ord received his captaincy on September 7, 1850. During 1856, in Oregon, he campaigned successfully against the Rogue River Indians and later against the Spokane Indians in Washington Territory. In 1859, he was in the Artillery School at Fort Monroe, Virginia, and served in the expedition that suppressed John Brown's raid at Harpers Ferry.
At the outbreak of the Civil War, |Ord was stationed at the Presidio, San Francisco, where he was appointed brigadier-general of volunteers on September 14, 1861. He was ordered East and from November 1861 to May 1862 commanded a brigade in the army defending Washington, D. C. During this period, at Dranesville, Virginia, December 20, 1861, he led the attack against the Confederate forces under Gen. J. E. B. Stuart. The morale of his men was low; but through his brilliant leadership, success was attained and the drooping spirits of the men revived. For his conduct in this action he was brevetted lieutenant-colonel. He was appointed major-general of volunteers, May 2, 1862. In the Army of the Tennessee he commanded the left wing from August to September 1862, and on September 19, was brevetted colonel for gallant and meritorious service during the advance upon Iuka, Missouri. After the battle of Corinth, in October, he joined the Federal army in pursuit of the retreating Confederates at Hatchie, assumed command, and drove back the head of the Confederate column. After this engagement, in which he was severely wounded, he was brevetted brigadier-general.
From June 18 to October 28, 1863, he commanded the XIII Army Corps in the Army of the Tennessee in the Vicksburg campaign. During the siege of Vicksburg, he served on Grant's staff and later, July 16, 1863, took part in the capture of Jackson, Missouri. From August to October 1863, he served with the Army of Western Louisiana. In March 1864 he joined Gen. Franz Sigel at Cumberland and, with Gen. George Crook, directed the campaign against Staunton, Virginia. On July 9, 1864, he was given command of the VIII and later, of the XVIII Army Corps, in the operations before Richmond. In the assault and capture of Fort Harrison, September 29, he was severely wounded. After his recovery he assumed command, January 8, 1865, of the Army of the James and the Department of North Carolina. He engaged in the various operations about Petersburg, Virginia, and in the pursuit of General Lee until the surrender at Appomattox Court House, April 9, 1865. On March 13, 1865, he had been brevetted major-general. Following the war he commanded several military departments in turn until he was retired, December 6, 1880.
By Act of Congress, approved January 28, 1881, he was made a major-general on the retired list. Subsequently he became identified with various civilian enterprises and remained so engaged until stricken with yellow fever en route from New York to Vera Cruz. He was taken ashore at Havana, Cuba, where he died. His remains were interred in the National Cemetery at Arlington, Virginia.
Achievements
Personality
Quotes from others about the person
Ord's aide-de-camp, the Rev. S. S. Seward, said: "I never saw him under any circumstances lose his self-control or forfeit for an instant his character as a courteous gentleman. Before battle he was exceedingly cautious but as soon as the first bullet whistled over his head he seemed to lose all sense of fear, all hesitation, all thought, except to go forward and win the victory. "
Connections
At San Francisco, October 14, 1854, Edward Ord married Mary Mercer Thompson.