Frederick Townsend facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Frederick Townsend
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General Frederick Townsend (1825-1897)
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| Born | September 21, 1825 |
| Died | September 12, 1897 (aged 71) |
| Buried |
Albany Rural Cemetery, Albany, New York, New York
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| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ |
United States Army Union Army New York State Militia |
| Years of service | 1857–1881 |
| Rank |  Colonel Brevet Brigadier General Brigadier General (Militia) |
| Unit | 18th U.S. Infantry Regiment 9th U.S. Infantry Regiment |
| Commands held | 76th New York Militia Regiment 3rd New York Infantry Regiment |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War
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| Other work | Adjutant General of New York |
Frederick Townsend (born September 21, 1825 – died September 12, 1897) was an important officer for the Union during the American Civil War. He started and led the 3rd New York Infantry Regiment as a Colonel. Later, he joined the U.S. Army's 18th and 9th Infantry regiments. He was given the special rank of brevet Brigadier General for his brave service. Townsend also served as the top military officer for New York State, called the Adjutant General, three times between 1857 and 1880.
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Frederick Townsend's Early Life
Frederick Townsend was born in Albany, New York on September 21, 1825. His parents were Isaiah and Hannah Townsend. His family had a long history in America. His great-great-grandparents, Henry and John Townsend, came from England in 1640. They helped found Oyster Bay on Long Island, New York.
Frederick had seven brothers and two sisters. Many of his family members served in the military. His brother, Franklin Townsend, was also an Adjutant General for New York. Another brother, Robert, served in the U.S. Navy for the Union. Interestingly, his sister Mary married General William H.T. Walker, who fought for the Confederate Army.
Frederick went to The Albany Academy and Bartlett Collegiate School. He then attended Union College at age 15, graduating in 1844. He studied law and became a lawyer in Albany in 1849.
Around that time, gold was found in California. Frederick decided to go seek his fortune there. After a long time with no news, his family worried he was lost. But Frederick returned to Albany with exciting stories. He told of being captured by Native Americans and surviving a tornado. He also brought back a gold nugget, which his grandmother kept as a special family treasure.
Military Career and Service
After returning home, Frederick became a captain in a local militia group in Albany. He then helped organize the 76th regiment of militia and later the Albany Zouave cadets.
In 1857, Governor John Alsop King appointed him as the Adjutant general of New York State. This meant he was in charge of the state's military forces. Frederick stopped practicing law to focus on this important role. He found the state militia needed a lot of work. He made many improvements, like writing the first annual report for the legislature. He also made conditions better for the soldiers and increased their numbers to 12,000 trained men. His hard work was noticed, and he was reappointed by the next governor, Edwin D. Morgan, in 1859.
Civil War Service
When the American Civil War began in 1861, Frederick Townsend organized the 3rd New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment. He became its Colonel and led them in the Battle of Big Bethel on June 10, 1861. During this battle, his unit was accidentally shot by another Union regiment, the 7th New York, who thought they were Confederates. Twenty-one of his soldiers were wounded.
On August 19, 1861, President Abraham Lincoln appointed him a Major in the 18th U.S. Infantry. He served under Generals Don Carlos Buell and William Rosecrans. Townsend took part in several important battles:
- The Battle of Lick Creek, Mississippi, where he led his battalion on a scouting mission.
- The Siege of Corinth in Mississippi.
- The Battle of Perryville, Kentucky, on October 8, 1862. This battle was one of the bloodiest of the Civil War for the number of soldiers involved.
At the Battle of Stones River on December 31, 1862, many senior officers in his brigade were wounded. Frederick Townsend was then put in charge of the left side of the brigade. His brigade suffered heavy losses in this fight.
Post-War Military Roles
After these battles, he was given special "brevet" ranks: lieutenant colonel, colonel, and brigadier general in the regular Army. These were honorary ranks given for brave service. In 1863, he worked as an assistant provost marshal general in Albany. After a trip to Europe in 1867, he inspected government posts in Arizona. He resigned from the Army in 1868 and returned to Albany.
In 1878, he was appointed a brigadier general of the 9th Brigade of the state militia. Then, in 1880, he became the Adjutant General of New York again under Governor Alonzo B. Cornell. He helped revise the state's military rules. This led to some changes, including reducing the number of regiments and officers. Even though these changes were difficult, he successfully pushed for a standard uniform for state soldiers. He also helped create a state military camp, which was later named Camp Townsend (now Camp Smith) in Peekskill.
Other Activities and Interests
Frederick Townsend was a member of several military groups, including:
- The Society of the Army of the Cumberland
- The Grand Army of the Republic
- The Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States
In 1880, he was chosen by the Republican party to be a presidential elector. He cast his vote for James A. Garfield on November 9, 1880.
Leadership Roles
General Townsend also served as a director or trustee for several important organizations:
- Trustee of Vassar College
- New York National Bank
- Albany & Bethlehem Turnpike Company
- Albany Orphan Asylum
- Dudley Observatory
- The Albany Academy
Family Life
In 1863, Frederick Townsend married Sarah Rathbone from Albany. They had three children:
- Annie Townsend (1866–1881), who passed away at age 15.
- Frederick Townsend (1871–1949), who later became the President of Albany Savings Bank.
- Sarah Rathbone Townsend (1868-1930), who married Gerrit Yates Lansing.
Death
Frederick Townsend passed away at Lake Luzerne, New York, on September 12, 1897. He is buried at the Albany Rural Cemetery.
Images for kids
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Grave of Frederick Townsend at the Albany Rural Cemetery
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Detail of Townsend's grave
