Francis J. Lippitt facts for kids
Francis J. Lippitt (1812–1902) was an American lawyer and a brave soldier. He fought in three important wars: the Mexican–American War, the Bald Hills War, and the American Civil War. For his loyal service, he was given the special honorary rank of brigadier general.
Early Life and Learning
Francis J. Lippitt was born in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1812. He was a very smart student. After finishing his studies at Brown University, he showed a great talent for languages. He could speak and read French very well.
Because of his French skills, a famous French writer named Alexis de Tocqueville hired him. Lippitt's job was to read many American books and papers. He then wrote summaries of them in French for de Tocqueville.
Serving in California
In 1846, Francis Lippitt joined the army. He became a captain in a special group called Stevenson's 1st Regiment of New York Volunteers. This group was sent to California. They helped during the war with Mexico, known as the Mexican War.
In 1847, Captain Lippitt was in charge of the soldiers protecting Santa Barbara, California. After the war ended in 1848, he decided to stay in California. He later helped write the rules for California's government. This happened at the California Constitutional Convention in Monterey, California, in 1849.
A Leader in the Civil War
When the American Civil War began in 1861, Lippitt once again stepped up to serve. He helped create the 2nd California Infantry Regiment. He became its colonel, which is a high-ranking officer.
From 1862 to 1863, Colonel Lippitt was the first commander of the Humboldt Military District. This area was in northwestern California. His main job was to protect settlers and manage conflicts with Native American groups in the Bald Hills War. He set up several army posts to help keep the peace and defend the area.
In July 1863, Colonel Lippitt was replaced by Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Girard Whipple. Whipple had different ideas about how to handle the conflict. Lippitt and his soldiers then moved to other posts. They were stationed at Benicia Barracks and later at Fort Miller, California.
In October 1864, Colonel Lippitt finished his time in the army. He was given the honorary rank of brigadier general in March 1865. This was to thank him for his loyal service during the war.
Life After the War
After the Civil War, General Lippitt continued to be very active. He wrote several important books about military strategies. These books helped other soldiers learn about war tactics. Some of his books included A Treatise on the Tactical Use of The Three Arms and Field service in war.
Later in his life, he became interested in spiritualism. He wrote a book about it called Physical Proofs of Another Life in 1888. In 1902, he published his own life story, called Reminiscences of Francis J. Lippitt. He passed away in New York on September 27, 1902, at the age of 90.
