Albert Gallatin Brackett of New York
Appointed from Indiana, Second Lieutenant, 4th Indiana Volunteer Infantry, 1 June 1847
First Lieutenant, 18 June 1847
Honorably mustered our, 16 July 1848
Captain, 2nd U.S. Cavalry, 3 March 1855
5th U. S. Cavalry, 3 August 1861
Colonel, 9th Illinois Volunteer Cavalry, 26 October 1861
Honorably mustered out of the Volunteer Service, 26 October 1864
Major, 1st U. S. Cavalry, 17 July 1862
Lieutenant Colonel, Calvary, 9 June 1868
Colonel, 3rd U. S. Cavalry, 20 March 1879
Breveted Major, 28 June 1862, for gallant and meritorious services in the campaign in Arkansas
Breveted Lieuenant Colonel, 1 September 1864, for gallant and meritorious services in the Atlanta Campaign
Breveted Colonel, 13 March 1865 for gallant and meritorious services during the war
Retired 18 February 1891
Died 25 June 1896
Albert Gallatin Brackett, soldier, born in Cherry Valley, Otsego County, New York, 14 February, 1829. He removed to Indiana in 1846, and, during the war with Mexico, was First Lieutenant in the 4th Indiana volunteers, attached to Lane's brigade, being present at Huamantla, Puebla, and Atlixco. On 16 July, 1848, he was honorably discharged.
On 3 March, 1855, he became captain in the 2nd United States Cavalry, and, after raising a company in Indiana and Illinois, served on the Texas frontier, distinguishing himself in actions against the Comanche Indians. He was the first United States officer that crossed into Mexico in pursuit of hostile Indians.
When General Twiggs surrendered to the confederates in 1861, Captain Brackett escaped. He commanded the cavalry at Blackburn's Ford and the first battle of Bull Run, and in August, 1861, became Colonel of the 9th Illinois cavalry, serving with credit through the Arkansas campaign, and being severely wounded at Stewart's Plantation, where he saved a valuable train from falling into the hands of the Confederates.
On 28 June, 1862, he was brevetted Major in the regular army for services in the Arkansas campaign, and on 17 July received his full commission as Major in the 1st U. S. Cavalry. In 1863 he was Chief of Cavalry in the department of the Missouri, and in 1864 Assistant Inspector General of Cavalry, in the Department of the Cumberland.
He was engaged in the battles around Atlanta, was brevetted Lieutenant Colonel on 1 September, 1864, for his services there, and at the close of the war was brevetted Colonel.
After that time he served principally against hostile Indians in Nevada, Wyoming, and Arizona. He received his full commission as Lieutenant Colonel, 2nd U. S. Cavalry, on 9 June, 1868, and on 20 March, 1879, when commanding the District of the Yellowstone, was made Colonel of the 3d cavalry. He was afterward assigned to the command of Fort Davis, Texas, and in March, 1886, was recommended by the congressional delegation of Indiana and Texas for promotion to the rank of Brigadier General. He has published “General Lane's Brigade in Central Mexico” (Cincinnati, 1854); “History of the United States Cavalry” (New York, 1865); and has written many magazine and newspaper articles, especially in regard to military affairs and the development of the country.
24 June 1896:
Colonel A. G. Brackett, retired, died at his residence in Washington yesterday. Colonel Brackett was born in New York and appointed to the Army from Indiana in 1855. During the late war he was brevetted three times. He retired in 1891, when he was Colonel of the Third Cavalry. The interment will be at Arlington today, with military honors.
BRACKETT, ALBERT G
COL 3D US CAV
- DATE OF DEATH: 06/25/1896
- BURIED AT: SECTION SSIDE SITE LOT 1052
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.
Reviewed by: Michael Howard