Augustus Canfield Macomb – Colonel, United States Army

Colonel A. C. Macomb
Retired Army Officer Dies At
Age Of 77 In Washington

Washington, January 2, 1932

Colonel Augustus C. Macomb, U.S.A., retired, died at his home here today at the age of 77.  Born in Michigan on October 17, 1854, he was appointed a Second Lieutenant of Infantry in 1878, and transferred to the Cavalry the next year.  He reached the grade of Colonel in 1914 and retired for age in 1918.

During the war with Spain he served in the Porto Rican campaign as a Captain in the Fifth Cavalry.  He received a Silver Star citation for gallantry in action near Hormiguaro, P. R. on August 10, 1898.  He was recalled to active service in the World War.  He was a graduate of the Army War College.  A widow survives.

augustus-c-macomb-colonel-usa-courtesy-loc-from-bill-gonyo-001

Augustus Canfield Macomb (17 October 1854-1932), Colonel, United States Army.  Born at Detroit, Michigan, he was the son of John Navarre Macomb and Anne Minerva Rodgers Macomb.

Ella Chelle McKelden Macomb (1857-1946), wife of Augustus Canfield Macomb. Both are buried in Section 1, Grave 1270, of Arlington National Cemetery.

Their son, Alexander Macomb, Captain, United States Navy (4 February 1888-3 March 1970) and his wife, Edna Wilson Macomb (died 3 August 1984), are also buried in his gravesite in Arlington National Cemetery.


Courtesy of Michael T. Stein:

Colonel Augustus Canfield Macomb
Born in Detroit, Michigan October 17, 1854
Died 1932

  • Cadet U.S. Naval Academy 1872-76
  • Second Lieutenant, United States Army, January 23rd, 1878
  • First Lieutenant March 11th, 1887
  • Captain June 2nd, 1897
  • Major April 10th, 1905
  • Lieutenant Colonel March 11th, 1911
  • Colonel 1914
  • Served with 4th Infantry Regiment 1878-79
  • Served with 5th Cavalry Regiment 1879-05
  • Served with 9th Cavalry Regiment 1905-12
  • Unassigned 1912-13
  • Served with 9th Cavalry Regiment 1913-14
  • Commanding Officer, 14th Cavalry Regiment 1915-17
  • Participated in Crow Indian Campaign 1878
  • Participated in Northern Cheyyenne Indian Campaign 1879
  • Served in Ute Indian Campaign 1879
  • Served in Puerto Rico and the Philippines
  • Served in Mexico 1916

Augustus Canfield Macomb of Michigan

  • Appointed from Pennsylvania, Cadet, United States Naval Academy, 25 September 1872 to 23 June 1876
  • Appointed Second Lieutenant, 4th United States Infnatry, 23 January1878
  • Transferred to the 5th United States Cavalry, 3 June 1879
  • Promoted to First Lieutenant, 11 March 1887
  • Promoted to Captain, 2 June 1897

Crook House, Fort Huachuca. Constructed in 1884, it is now named for General George Crook, the Indian Wars leader and one time commander of the Department of Arizona, who played the key role in subduing Arizona’s Apaches. Known occupants of this home were Captain Augustus C. Macomb who commanded Troop A, 5th Cavalry, and who was post commander from July 1900 to March 1901.


It was the last large-scale maneuver of the horse cavalry. Alexander Macomb, son of Captain Augustus C. Macomb, Fort Huachuca, Arizona, January 1902, rode a horse named Billy. The boy would become a U.S. Navy Captain and retire in 1932.

MACOMB, AUGUSTUS

  • COL US ARMY RETIRED
  • VETERAN SERVICE DATES: Unknown
  • DATE OF DEATH: 01/02/1932
  • DATE OF INTERMENT: 01/05/1932
  • BURIED AT: SECTION WEST  SITE 1270-A
  • ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

MACOMB, ELLA C

  • DATE OF BIRTH: 02/12/1857
  • DATE OF DEATH: 07/30/1946
  • DATE OF INTERMENT: 08/03/1946
  • BURIED AT: SECTION WEST  SITE 1270
  • ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
  • WIFE OF AUGUSTUS C. MACOMB, COL, USA

acmacomb-gravesite-section1-062803

Read our general and most popular articles

Leave a Comment

error: