Andrew Barclay Spurling facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Andrew Barclay Spurling
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Medal of Honor winner Andrew Barclay Spurling 1865
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| Born | March 20, 1833 Cranberry Isles, Maine |
| Died | August 13, 1906 (aged 73) Chicago, Illinois |
| Place of burial |
Rosehill Cemetery, Chicago, Illinois
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| Allegiance | United States of America Union |
| Service/ |
United States Army Union Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1866 |
| Rank |  Lieutenant Colonel Brevet Brigadier General |
| Unit | 1st Maine Cavalry Regiment 2nd Maine Cavalry Regiment |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War
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| Awards | Medal of Honor |
| Other work | Merchant ship captain, sheriff, cowboy, gold prospector, businessman, real estate investor |
Andrew Barclay Spurling (born March 20, 1833, died August 13, 1906) was a brave officer in the Union Army. He fought during the American Civil War. For his courage, he received the highest military award, the Medal of Honor.
Contents
Early Life and Adventures
Andrew Barclay Spurling was born on March 20, 1833. His hometown was Cranberry Isles, Maine. His father, Samuel L. Spurling, and his grandfather, Benjamin Spurling, were both sailors.
His grandfather, Captain Benjamin Spurling, fought in the War of 1812. He was even held as a prisoner on a British warship. Andrew's father, Captain Samuel Spurling, was the captain of a ship called the Cashier. He had exciting adventures, including fighting off pirates in the Caribbean Sea! He was even rewarded for defeating them once.
Andrew went to school until he was 12 years old. After that, he followed his family's tradition and became a sailor.
From Sailor to Miner
Andrew continued working as a sailor until he was 18. Then, he decided to move to California. He started working as a miner, hoping to find gold. However, the mining work was very hard on his health. After a couple of years, he stopped mining. He bought land in the San Jose valley and became a farmer instead.
When he was 22, Andrew returned to Maine. In 1855, he married Harriet S. Black. Her grandfather had also served in the War of 1812. Andrew then became a captain of a merchant vessel, just like his father.
Fighting in the Civil War
When the American Civil War began, Andrew Spurling joined the Union Army. He strongly believed that slavery should end. In September 1861, he became a first lieutenant in the 1st Maine Cavalry Regiment.
Early Battles
Lieutenant Spurling quickly saw action in battles. He fought at Middleton and Winchester, Virginia. By February 1863, he was promoted to captain. He then served in General David Gregg's cavalry division.
Captain Spurling led his company against Confederate troops. This happened at the Battle of Brandy Station on June 9, 1863. During this battle, he was shot in the thigh. He also fought at Middleburg, Virginia, and Upperville, Virginia. At Upperville, he was wounded in his right hand and arm during hand-to-hand combat with sabers.
Rising Through the Ranks
In January 1864, Captain Spurling was promoted again. He became a junior major in the 2nd Maine Cavalry Regiment. He was in charge of four companies. They went to Brazier City, Louisiana, and fought against guerrillas.
By June 1864, Spurling was promoted to lieutenant colonel of the regiment. He led his troops in battles in Florida later that year.
One time, Lieutenant Colonel Spurling and a small group of 19 men were sent on a special mission. They were separated from the main army for five days. During this time, they captured 15 enemy soldiers. They also took 50 horses, several wagons, and many cattle and mules. They did all this without losing a single man!
Medal of Honor Hero
The most important moment of his military career happened in 1865. This was at Evergreen, Alabama. Lieutenant Colonel Spurling was leading a group of scouts. They captured three Confederate soldiers who were trying to get help for their side.
For this brave act, he received the Medal of Honor in 1897. A newspaper at the time described his actions: "He captured three enemy soldiers all by himself. He wounded two of them and brought all three back to the Union camp. He was leading a cavalry group. While checking on his guards, he heard men approaching. He went forward in the dark and found the three rebels. He fired at them, and they fired back. General Spurling wounded two of them. He then took all three back to the Union lines. Official reports say this capture stopped the rebels from getting important information. This was very helpful to the Union cause."
By the end of the war, Spurling was promoted to brevet brigadier general. He was reportedly wounded about a dozen times during the war.
Life After the War
After the Civil War, Andrew Spurling returned to being a ship captain in Maine. However, his ship was wrecked off Cape May. After this, he stopped working on the sea.
He then served as the sheriff of Hancock County for four years. Later, he worked for the U.S. Department of the Interior. He also worked for the Department of Justice. For five years, he was a post-office inspector in Chicago, Illinois, for the Postal Service.
Business and Challenges
Andrew Spurling also became a successful businessman. He and two other investors started the Chicago Rawhide Manufacturing company. This company made leather belts for machines. Spurling was the first president of the company and led it for 12 years.
He was also appointed sheriff of Elgin, Illinois. He was known for enforcing the law fairly for everyone. Some people, especially saloon owners, did not like this strictness. They felt it hurt their business. Because of this, the city council did not renew his job. The mayor, Vincent S. Lovell, even resigned in protest.
Spurling became wealthy and started investing in real estate. He wanted to build Elgin's first skyscraper, a tall building. Construction began in 1891. But the work was delayed by a strike at a steel company. The building ended up costing a lot of money, much of it borrowed.
A year later, an economic depression hit the country. Many businesses failed. This meant there were not enough tenants to rent space in Spurling's big building. The people who lent him money took over the property. Spurling lost much of his wealth and his share in the Chicago Rawhide Manufacturing company.
After losing an election for sheriff of Kane County, Spurling moved back to Chicago. He stayed there until he passed away.
Later Years and Death
On October 19, 1900, Andrew Spurling had a stroke. After this, he retired from his business activities. He was living at 77 Maple Street in Chicago at the time.
In August 1906, Spurling had heart problems. He died on August 13, 1906, at the age of 73. He passed away in Chicago's Homeopathic hospital. Andrew Spurling is buried at Rosehill Cemetery in Chicago.
Images for kids
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Medal of Honor winner Andrew Barclay Spurling 1865
