Background
John MacRae Washington was born on his father's estate, "Windsor Forest, " in Stafford County, Va. His father was a second cousin of George Washington.
John MacRae Washington was born on his father's estate, "Windsor Forest, " in Stafford County, Va. His father was a second cousin of George Washington.
On October 24, 1814, John became a cadet at the United States Military Academy, where he was graduated July 17, 1817, and appointed third lieutenant of artillery.
His first service was in Charleston Harbor, S. C. , with the 3rd Artillery, during which he was promoted second lieutenant and appointed battalion quartermaster of artillery, March 20, 1818. In this capacity he served until he was promoted first lieutenant, May 23, 1820, and sent to the Florida frontier. Under the reorganization of the army, he was transferred to the 4th Artillery, June 1, 1821, and served successively at Savannah Harbor (1821 - 22), Fort Moultrie (1822 - 24), and Augusta, Ga. (1824). While at the last station, he was detailed as instructor of mathematics at the artillery school at Fort Monroe, Va. , where he remained until 1826. The next year he served at Fort Marion, Fla. , and then returned to Fort Monroe as ordnance officer, which post he held until 1833. On May 23, 1830, he was brevetted a captain for ten years' faithful service in one grade (an empty method employed by the government to overcome slow promotion), and on May 30, 1832, was regularly promoted a captain. From 1833 to 1838 he was engaged in the Creek and Florida wars, taking an active part in the battle of Lochahatchee against the Seminoles. During 1838 and 1839, as an assistant quartermaster, he aided Gen. Winfield Scott in the delicate task of transporting the Cherokee nation to Oklahoma, and in the prosecution of the Florida War. After duty at the instruction camp, Trenton, N. J. , he was again detailed to assist Scott in the even more delicate undertaking of peacefully quelling the Canadian border disturbances, and was at Dearbornville, Mich. , Detroit, and Buffalo, N. Y. , until 1842. After the success of Scott's mission, he served successively at Fort McHenry, Md. , and Carlisle Barracks, Pa. , until 1846. When the Mexican War began he was placed in command of a light battery of eight guns and joined the forces under Gen. John E. Wool which made the heroic, bloodless, and successful march through unbroken country from San Antonio, Tex. , to Saltillo, Mexico. On the first day of the battle of Buena Vista, Feburary 22, 1847, General Wool placed Washington's battery on the right flank of the army, at the critical pass of La Angostura. Washington's deft and determined management of his command was the chief factor in repelling the vigorous attacks of overwhelming numbers of Mexicans. On the second day of the battle, when three regiments of Illinois and Kentucky troops retreated in disorder, he held fast and not only saved the lives of many of the fleeing volunteers, but maintained the key point of the American position by his staunchness and skill. Although six days before this action he had been regularly promoted a major, the news of his commission had not reached him. On Feburary 23, 1847, he was brevetted a lieutenant-colonel for gallant and meritorious conduct in the battle. From June 24 to December 14, 1847, he acted as governor of Saltillo, and during much of the same period was chief of artillery of Wool's division and of the army of occupation. He was then placed in command of the expedition to Santa Fé, and served as civil and military governor of New Mexico from October 1848 until October 23, 1849. After the cessation of hostilities he served at Fort Constitution, N. H. , from 1850 to 1852. In 1853 he embarked with the 3rd Artillery on the steamer San Francisco, for transportation to duty on the west coast. In a violent storm off the mouth of the Delaware, he, with three other officers and 178 men, was washed overboard and drowned.
In his early career he had married Fanny Macrae, daughter of Dr. Jack Macrae, a nephew of Col. William, brother of Baily Washington. To this union were born three children.
