Beekman Du Barry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Beekman Du Barry
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Beekman Du Barry about 1900
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| Born | December 4, 1828 Bordentown, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Died | January 12, 1901 (aged 72) Washington, D.C., United States |
| Place of burial |
West Point Cemetery
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| Allegiance | United States of America Union |
| Service/ |
United States Army Union Army |
| Years of service | 1849–1892 |
| Rank |  Brigadier general |
| Commands held | 1st Artillery Regiment; 3rd Artillery Regiment; Commissary of Subsistence |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
Beekman Du Barry, Sr. (December 4, 1828 – January 12, 1901) was an important brigadier general in the United States Army. He briefly helped with a railroad survey in the Pacific Northwest in the 1850s. During the American Civil War, he served with great skill in the Union Army's Commissary of Subsistence. This department was in charge of making sure soldiers had enough food and supplies.
Contents
Growing Up and Choosing a Path
Beekman Du Barry was born on December 4, 1828, in Bordentown, New Jersey. His family had an interesting history. His grandfather came from a French colony in the Caribbean and moved to the United States. Beekman's father was a doctor in the United States Navy. He even worked for Joseph Bonaparte, who used to be a king in Europe. Beekman's mother's father, William J. Duane, was a powerful politician who served as the Secretary of the Treasury for President Andrew Jackson.
Beekman first wanted to be a doctor. He even started medical school when he was 16. But for reasons we don't know, he decided to join the military instead. He was accepted into the United States Military Academy (West Point) in West Point, New York. He started there on July 1, 1845. He was a very good student and graduated on July 1, 1849, as the seventh best in his class.
Early Army Adventures
Starting Out in Florida and West Point
After graduating from West Point, Du Barry became a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army. He joined the 1st Artillery Regiment. His unit was sent to Florida in August 1849 to help keep peace after some conflicts with Seminole Indians. His time there involved many marches and patrols.
In February 1850, Du Barry was moved to the 3rd Artillery Regiment. He then went to West Point in August. There, he became an assistant professor, teaching geography, history, and ethics. He taught at West Point until April 1853.
The Stevens Survey Expedition
In 1853, President Franklin Pierce chose Isaac Stevens to lead a big survey project. The goal was to find the best railroad routes across the western United States. This was a very important project, like the Lewis and Clark Expedition years before. Du Barry was one of five Army officers picked to join the survey.
Du Barry was first told to travel to St. Paul, Minnesota. From there, he was supposed to go northwest and meet with scouts. However, Stevens changed his mind. He had Du Barry join the main survey group in St. Paul. Du Barry's job was to record weather observations.
The survey party left St. Paul on June 6, 1853. Du Barry was put in charge of the scientific team and the supply wagons. He was told to collect plant and animal samples and observe nature as they traveled west. But Du Barry misunderstood some orders about sending wagons forward. This made Stevens very angry. Du Barry then asked to be sent back to West Point, and Stevens agreed. Du Barry's time with the survey ended on July 25, 1853.
Back to West Point and the Frontier
After the survey, Du Barry returned to West Point in August 1853. He became an assistant professor of French. He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant in December 1853.
In May 1854, he was sent back to active duty with the 3rd Artillery Regiment. He traveled by steamship to Panama, crossed the Isthmus by land, and took another ship to San Diego, California. His unit marched to Salt Lake in Utah Territory and then to Benicia, California. Later, they were sent to Fort Yuma in the New Mexico Territory. At Fort Yuma, Du Barry also managed supplies and helped build most of the fort's buildings. He also studied the plants and animals around the fort, collecting important specimens for the Smithsonian Institution.
Du Barry left Fort Yuma in July 1856. He was then assigned to Fort Snelling in Minnesota. In 1857, he took part in an expedition against some Santee Native Americans. The Army tried to hold a peace meeting, but some warriors tried to sneak in with weapons. Quick action by another officer prevented a fight. The expedition didn't capture the Santee leader.
In August 1857, Du Barry's unit moved to Fort Leavenworth in Kansas Territory. This was during a time called "Bleeding Kansas", when people fought over whether the territory would allow slavery. The 3rd Artillery helped the governors keep order during this period of unrest. Du Barry also mapped the Missouri River to find a good spot for an Army supply center.
In September 1858, his unit went to Fort Ridgely in Minnesota. Tensions were high between white settlers and Native Americans. Du Barry then took a long leave from May to August 1859. When he returned, he was again an assistant professor of French at West Point.
Serving in the Civil War
The American Civil War began on April 12, 1861. Just a month later, on May 11, Du Barry was promoted to captain. He moved from the artillery to the Commissary of Subsistence. This department was vital for feeding and supplying the Union Army. He started at a supply depot in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
The Army was growing very fast, and getting supplies was chaotic. Du Barry became very skilled at buying and organizing supplies. He also arranged for wagon trains to take these supplies to the front lines. Harrisburg was also a big training camp, so Du Barry helped send new soldiers to their commands.
Working with General Grant
Du Barry's excellent work caught the eye of Ulysses S. Grant, who would become a famous general. Grant was impressed with Du Barry. In December 1861, Du Barry was made Chief of Commissary for Grant's forces in the field. This meant he was in charge of all food and supplies for Grant's troops.
As Grant's army moved deeper into the Confederacy, Du Barry went with him. Grant was given command of the Army of the Tennessee in February 1862. After the Battle of Shiloh, Grant was temporarily relieved of command. But after the Siege of Corinth, Grant was put back in charge. Du Barry continued to serve as Chief Commissary for Grant's forces. He inspected supply depots in many cities, making sure everything was running smoothly.
Cincinnati and Washington, D.C.
Du Barry's reputation for being efficient also reached General-in-chief Henry Halleck. In October 1862, Halleck ordered Du Barry to take command of the Commissary of Subsistence depot in Cincinnati, Ohio. Grant wanted Du Barry back with his army and even asked for him to be promoted. But Halleck said Du Barry was too important in Cincinnati.
Du Barry was promoted to major in February 1863. He stayed in Cincinnati until December 1864. Then, he was transferred to Washington, D.C., to work as an assistant to the Commissary General of Subsistence. His skill in getting supplies at good prices and delivering them on time was recognized. On March 13, 1865, he received two special promotions: to brevet lieutenant colonel and to brevet colonel, for his outstanding service during the war.
After the War
The Civil War ended in April 1865. Du Barry continued to serve as assistant to the Commissary General until November 1873. He then became Chief of Commissary for the Department of Dakota in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Later, he was in charge of supply depots in Boston, Massachusetts, and New York City. During the big railroad strikes of 1877, President Rutherford B. Hayes sent the U.S. Army to help end the strikes. Du Barry worked hard to make sure federal troops had enough food. Major General Winfield Scott Hancock praised Du Barry's efforts highly.
Du Barry returned to West Point in August 1879. He became the Treasurer, Quartermaster, and Commissary of Subsistence for the Cadet Battalion. He took another long leave from October 1881 to March 1882.
When he rejoined the Army, he returned to Washington, D.C., as assistant to the Commissary General. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in May 1882, and to colonel in September 1889. On July 10, 1890, Du Barry was promoted to brigadier general and became the Commissary General of Subsistence. This was a very high position.
Du Barry served as Commissary General until he retired on December 4, 1892. He lived quietly in Washington, D.C., after his retirement.
Family Life
Beekman Du Barry married Helen A. Bratt at West Point on May 14, 1861. They had six children, but only four lived to be adults: Helen, Beekman Jr., Estelle, and Elise.
Helen Du Barry was at Ford's Theatre on April 14, 1865, when President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. Her letters about the president's death were later published.
Death
Beekman Du Barry died on January 12, 1901, at his home in Washington, D.C. He was buried at West Point Cemetery in West Point, New York, on January 16, 1901. He was survived by his wife, son, and three daughters.
