Background
Elwell Stephen Otis was born on March 25, 1838, at Frederick, Maryland, the son of William and Mary Ann Catherine (Late) Otis, and a descendant of Richard Otis who was in Massachusetts as early as 1655.
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Elwell Stephen Otis was born on March 25, 1838, at Frederick, Maryland, the son of William and Mary Ann Catherine (Late) Otis, and a descendant of Richard Otis who was in Massachusetts as early as 1655.
Elwell graduated at the University of Rochester in 1858 and at the Harvard Law School in 1861.
After graduation Elwell Otis began the practice of law in New York. On September 13, 1862, however, he entered the military service as captain in the 140th New York Infantry. With this regiment he served in all the subsequent operations of the V (Warren's) Corps, Army of the Potomac. He became lieutenant-colonel December 23, 1863, and after the battle of Spotsylvania commanded his regiment, replacing the colonel, who had been killed in action. On October 1, 1864, during the operations about Petersburg, he was wounded in the head by a rifle bullet - a wound which occasioned him inconvenience for the rest of his life. He was given sick leave, but being still unfit for duty at its termination he was honorably mustered out on January 24, 1865. For gallant conduct in action he received the brevet ranks of colonel and brigadier-general of volunteers.
In the reorganization of the regular army after the war, he was appointed lieutenant-colonel in the 22nd Infantry, with rank from July 28, 1866. He accepted the appointment on February 7, 1867, and joined his regiment in Dakota. As additional recognition of his services at Spotsylvania, he received the brevet rank of colonel in the regular service. He remained with his regiment in the northwest until 1880, serving in various Indian campaigns, the most important of which was that of Little Big Horn in 1876 and 1877. In 1874 and 1875 he was assistant inspector-general of the Department of Dakota. The ideas which he formed during these years of frontier service are contained in his thoughtful book The Indian Question, published in New York in 1878.
On February 8, 1880, Otis was promoted colonel of the 20th Infantry, and joined his new command on March 31. In the autumn of the next year he moved with headquarters and two companies of his regiment to Fort Leavenworth, having been designated by General Sherman, commanding the army, to establish a school of application for young officers. Three companies from other infantry regiments, four troops of cavalry, and a light battery were added to his command. He organized the school, and remained as its commandant until June 1885. It rapidly established itself as the center of military education in the army. Under various official names, but always colloquially as "Leavenworth, " it has had continuous existence, and, among the numerous special schools which have grown up in the army, it has retained its hegemony.
In the fall of 1890 Otis left his regiment to become chief of the recruiting service. He never rejoined it, for on November 28, 1893, he was promoted brigadier-general. He commanded the department of the Columbia until the spring of 1897, then went to the Department of Colorado. On May 4, 1898, he was made major-general of volunteers, and ordered to San Francisco for duty with the force outfitting for the Philippines. The first expedition sailed on May 25; General Otis went in July, with the fourth. Upon arrival in Manila on August 21 he was placed in command of the VIII Army Corps, comprising all the troops present, and on the 29th he relieved General Wesley Merritt in command of the Department of the Pacific and as military governor of the Philippines.
The situation was complicated and delicate. The first necessity was to relieve the Spanish officials, both military and civil, throughout the islands, and to establish American government with the least possible confusion. The Spanish officials could not always be found; and when found, their affairs were often in confusion and an orderly transfer impossible. Meanwhile, Aguinaldo and his insurgent government were maneuvering for recognition and for military position in the outskirts of Manila. The American government was established, and, by the exercise of great diplomacy and self-restraint, peace with the insurgents was maintained until February 4, 1899. On that night a Filipino soldier approached the American outposts, refusing to halt or to answer challenges. The American sentinel finally fired, and the fire was instantly and actively taken up by the insurgent troops. The situation was tense in Manila for a few days, but the city was promptly cleared of insurgents, and American columns took the offensive in all directions. The operations thus begun continued until the insurgent forces were completely scattered, then gradually passed into occupation of the country, suppression of brigandage, and the establishment of civil government. General Otis continued in command until May 5, 1900, when he was relieved by Gen. Arthur MacArthur and returned to the United States.
For his services in the Islands Otis received the brevet rank of major-general in the regular service, and on June 16, 1900, was promoted substantively to that grade. Until his retirement, March 25, 1902, he commanded the Department of the Lakes; he then took up his residence in Rochester, where he remained until his death.
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Elwell Otis was a member of the Schurman Commission (1899-1900).
Elwell Otos was a man of medium height, stoutly built, erect, soldierly and distinguished in appearance. He was quiet in his tastes and manner, but forceful and never afraid of responsibility.
Otis was twice married: first, October 5, 1870, to Louise, daughter of Judge Henry R. Seldon of Rochester, who died April 24, 1875; second, April 13, 1878, to Louise, daughter of Col. Alexander Hamilton Bowman and widow of Col. Miles McAlester.