Gustavus Loomis facts for kids

Gustavus A. Loomis (born September 23, 1789 – died March 5, 1872) was an important officer in the United States Army. He served in many major conflicts. These included the War of 1812, the Seminole Wars, the Mexican–American War, and the American Civil War. He was one of the oldest soldiers fighting in the Civil War.

Early Life and Military Start

Gustavus Loomis was born in Thetford, Vermont. He studied at West Point. He finished his studies there in 1811.

Serving in the War of 1812

Loomis joined the army as a second lieutenant. He was part of the artillery branch. From 1812 to 1813, he was stationed in New York. In 1813, he moved to the Niagara area. He fought in the War of 1812 there.

He helped capture Fort George in May 1813. Later, he was captured at Fort Niagara in December 1813. He was later exchanged. He then joined the Artillery Corps in May 1814.

Years of Service and Promotions

After the War of 1812, Loomis continued his military career. He was promoted to captain in 1819. In 1821, he moved to the infantry branch.

Fighting in Other Conflicts

In 1832, he was at Fort Crawford, Wisconsin. This was during the Black Hawk War. Later, he served in the Second Seminole War. He became a major in the 2nd U.S. Infantry Regiment in 1838.

He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1840. From 1842 to 1844, he led the 6th U.S. Infantry Regiment in Florida. He also served as a lieutenant colonel in the 6th U.S. Infantry during the Mexican–American War (1846–1848).

In 1851, Loomis became a colonel. He took command of the 5th U.S. Infantry Regiment. This was at Fort Belknap, Texas. From 1857 to 1858, he commanded the Department of Florida. This was during the Third Seminole War.

Role in the Civil War

During the American Civil War, Loomis helped the Union army. He was very good at finding new soldiers. He recruited many people in Connecticut and Rhode Island.

Because of his success, President Lincoln gave him a big job. He became the Superintendent of General Recruiting. This meant he was in charge of recruiting for the entire Union army. His office was at Fort Columbus in New York. He also managed the prisoner of war camp there.

Retirement and Later Service

Loomis retired from active duty in June 1863. However, he was immediately called back to serve. In 1864, he became a senior officer for court martial cases. He stayed on duty even after the war ended. He helped with army paperwork and legal matters. In 1867, he was still working in uniform.

On July 17, 1866, President Andrew Johnson honored Loomis. He was nominated to be a brevet brigadier general. This was for his long and loyal service. The U.S. Senate approved this on July 26, 1866.

Death and Legacy

Gustavus Loomis passed away on March 5, 1872. He died in Stratford, Connecticut. He was buried at Grove Street Cemetery in New Haven, Connecticut. Throughout his long military career, he was known as a dedicated Christian officer.