Schuyler Hamilton

Background

Schuyler Hamilton was born on July 22, 1822 in New York City. He was the son of John Church Hamilton and Maria Eliza Van den Heuval, and grandson of Alexander Hamilton.

Education

At the age of fifteen Hamilton elected the career of soldier, in emulation of his grandfather, Alexander Hamilton, and of his great-grandfather, Philip Schuyler, and entered the United States Military Academy. He graduated in 1841, twenty-fourth in a class of fifty-two members.

Career

Hamilton was promoted second lieutenant of the 16th Infantry. After three years of duty in Iowa and Wisconsin, he spent a year as instructor in tactics at West Point, but he returned to the Middle West and was stationed there at the outbreak of the Mexican War. He was brevetted first lieutenant for gallantry at Monterey and captain for his conduct at the skirmish of Mil Flores. In both of these engagements he was severely wounded: in the first by a ball in the abdomen and in the second by a lance thrust through the lung, from the effect of which he suffered until his death.

On April 30, 1847, he was made aide-de-camp to General Scott, a position which he held for more than seven years. Shortly after leaving General Scott he resigned from the military service and went to the new state of California. Here, for a couple of years, he was administrador of a quicksilver mine, but the new occupation seems to have held him lightly, for in 1858 he moved to Connecticut and lived on a farm near Branford.

On the outbreak of the Civil War Hamilton marched to the relief of Washington as a private in the 7th New York. His previous service made him of immediate value, and within a few days he was made an acting aide to General Butler. Within the month his old commander, Scott, had learned of his presence in the army and had named him military secretary to the general-in-chief, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel. This position or the similar one of aide he held until General Scott's retirement. Thereupon he became assistant chief of staff to General Halleck, his brother-in-law, whom he accompanied to St. Louis.

Almost immediately he received an appointment as brigadier-general of volunteers and took part in Grant's operations in western Kentucky and Tennessee. At Island Number 10 he is said to have suggested to Pope the cutting of a canal to turn the enemy's position. Here and at New Madrid he commanded a division with such skill as to win for himself his promotion to major-general of volunteers.

Before he could accept his commission, however, he fell ill of malaria. His resignation followed, under the rule that no officer unfit for service should be named to Congress for confirmation. Hamilton felt that he had been victimized and for years after the war endeavored without success to have his name placed on the retired list. For two years he served as engineer in the department of docks in New York, but his health made regular occupation difficult. He lived quietly at his home in New York and died after a year and a half of severe suffering.

Achievements

• Schuyler Hamilton is best remembered for commanding the 7th New York Regiment and for his active engagement in operations against the Confederates in the Missouri, Mississippi and Tennessee campaigns.

Connections

On April 3, 1850, Hamilton married Cornelia Ray in New York City. She was the daughter of Robert Ray, a merchant, and Cornelia Prime.

In 1886 he married Louisa Francis Paine Allen.

Father:

John Church Hamilton

Mother:

Maria Elizabeth (Van den Heuvel) Hamilton

Spouse:

Cornelia (Ray) Hamilton

Spouse:

Louisa Francis Paine (Allen) Hamilton

Brother:

Laurens Hamilton

Brother:

Alexander Hamilton

Brother:

Charles Apthorpe Hamilton

Brother:

William Gaston Hamilton

Brother:

John Cornelius Adrian Hamilton

Sister:

Alice Hamilton

Sister:

Charlotte Augusta Hamilton

Sister:

Adelaide Hamilton

Sister:

Elizabeth (Hamilton) Cullum

Sister:

Maria E (Hamilton) Peabody

Son:

Schuyler Hamilton Jr.

Son:

Robert Ray Hamilton

Son:

Charles Althrop Hamilton

References

• Biographical register of the officers and graduates of the U. S. Military academy, from 1802 to 1867 (v.2)
• Famous Families of New York: Historical and Biographical Sketches of Families Which in Successive Generations Have Been Identified With the Development of the Nation (Classic Reprint)