William Hemsley Emory was born in Queen Annes County, Maryland, son of Thomas and Anna Maria (Hemsley) Emory. His grandfather came to this country from England in the eighteenth century, and acquired an estate under a patent from the Lord Proprietor of Maryland. He served in the Revolution and his son served in the War of 1812. The estate was originally called Brampton, ” but its owner considered it unpatriotic to retain the English name, and changed it to “Poplar Grove. ”
Emory was graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1831, where he was familiarly known as “Bold Emory, ’ and promoted brevet second lieutenant, 4th Artillery.
He resigned from the service in 1836, and two years later, on the reorganization of the army, was commissioned first lieutenant in the Topographical Engineers. He served as pi incipal assistant on the Northeastern boundary survey between the United States and Canada (1844 - 46), and at the outbreak of the Mexican War was assigned as chief engineer officer and acting assistant adjutant-general, Army of the West, and subsequently as a lieutenant-colonel of volunteers, in Mexico. While with the Army of the West he distinguished himself at the battles of San Pasquale, San Gabriel, and the Plains of Mesa, and won two brevets. After the war he was assigned as chief astronomer for running the boundary line between California and Mexico (1848 - 53), and in 1854 was appointed by the president, both commissioner and astronomer, with full powers, under the Gadsden Treaty. This work was completed in 1857 and he was brevetted lieutenant-colonel for his services. While on these duties he was promoted captain (1851), and on the reorganization of the army in 1855, was promoted major, 2nd Cavalry, one of the new regiments. During his service in the Topographical Engineers he was very active and conspicuous in making surveys, and in compiling and reducing to form such maps as existed of the country west of the Mississippi River. His works appeared as Notes of a Military Reconnaissance from Fort Leavenworth in Missouri, to San Diego in California, ” Senate Ex. Doc. No. 7, 30 Cong. , 1 Sess. ; Obserz'ations, Astronomical, Magnetic, and Meteorological, made at Chagres and Gorgona, Isthmus of Darien and- at the City of Panama, New Granada (1850) ; and “Report on the United States and Mexican Boundary Survey, ” House Ex. Doc. No. 135, 34 Cong. , 1 Sess. In 1861 he was assigned to command the troops in Indian Territory, including Forts Cobb, Smith, Washita, and Arbuckle. Finding the country in a state of insurrection, and convinced that he could not hold the forts, he withdrew to Fort Leavenworth, and was the only officer on the frontier who brought his entire command out of the insurrectionary country without the loss of a man. The troops thus saved from capture were of great importance beyond the consideration of numbers, as their timely arrival restored the confidence of the friends of the government in that section, formed the nucleus of General Lyon’s army, and probably prevented the secessionists from forcing Missouri into rebellion. Emory was appointed brigadier-general of volunteers in 1862, and served with distinction as brigade, division, and corps commander. He received four brevets, and was twice thanked on the field by the general commanding for the success of his brilliant operations—at Hanover Court House, where he separated the wings of the Confederate army, capturing many prisoners, and again for destroying the railway bridges between Hanover Junction and the Chickahominy, and driving the enemy out of Ashland. He was commissioned major-general of volunteers in 1865, and commanded the Department of West irginia until mustered out of the volunteer service in January 1866. Fie commanded successively the Department of Washington, District of the Republican (1869 - 71), Department of the Gulf (1871 - 75), and was retired with the rank of brigadier-general, July 1, 1876, after a period of forty-five years of service.
Emory was a talented and skilful soldier, always calm and dignified in bearing, courageous and firm. Though apparently stern in character he was really warmhearted, sympathetic, and generous.
In May 1838 he married Matilda Wilkins Bache, a great- granddaughter of Benjamin Franklin.
