Background
Saxton, Rufus was born on October 19, 1824 in Greenfield, Massachusetts, United States. Son of Jonathan Ashley and Miranda (Wright) Saxton.
Saxton, Rufus was born on October 19, 1824 in Greenfield, Massachusetts, United States. Son of Jonathan Ashley and Miranda (Wright) Saxton.
Public schools and academic, Deerfield, Massachusetts. Graduated from the United States Military Academy, 1849. Master of Arts, Amherst, 1853.
Bvt. Second lieutenant 3d Artillery, July 1, 1849. Second in command Lieutenant 4th Artillery, September 12, 1850. First lieutenant, March 2, 1855.
Captain assistant quartermaster, May 13, 1861.
Brigadier general volumes, April 15, 1862. Honorary mustered out of volunteer service, January 15, 1866.
Major quartermaster United States of America, July 29, 1866. Lieutenant colonel deputy quartermaster general, June 6, 1872.
Colonel assistant quartermaster general, March 10, 1882.
Retired by operation of law after 43 yrs’. service, October 19, 1888. Advanced to rank of brigadier general by act of April 23, 1904. Bvtd. major, lieutenant colonel and colonel, March 13, 1865, and brigadier general, April 9, 1865, and major general volumes, January 12, 1865.
Awarded medal of honor, April 25, 1893, for distinguished gallantry and good conduct in defense of Harper’s Ferry, Virginia, May 26-30, 1862.
Served on coast survey, 1853-1861. Member Military Order of Medal of Honor Legion of the United States Residence: Washington, Distric.
Married Matilda Gordon Thompson, March 11, 1863.