John Haskell Calef facts for kids
John Haskell Calef was an important officer in the United States Army. He was born in Massachusetts in 1841. He fought bravely in the American Civil War. Calef spent his entire career serving his country. He was known for his skills in artillery.
Contents
John Haskell Calef: A Military Life
Early Years
John Haskell Calef was born on September 24, 1841. His hometown was Gloucester, Massachusetts. He had several older sisters and a brother. John went to the United States Military Academy at West Point. This is a famous school for army officers. He graduated from West Point in 1862. He was 22nd in his class. In 1870, he married Mary Matilda Newell. They had children together.
Fighting in the Civil War
After graduating, Calef became an officer in the 5th Regiment of Artillery. He fought in many important battles. These included the Peninsula Campaign and the Battle of Antietam. In October 1862, he moved to a different unit. This was Battery A, 2nd U.S. Artillery. It was part of the U.S. Horse Artillery Brigade.
The Battle of Gettysburg
In the summer of 1863, Calef was in charge of Battery A. His cannons helped support Union troops. This was on the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg. He showed great bravery during this battle. For his excellent service, he earned special promotions. He was promoted to captain and then major. On November 3, 1863, he became a permanent First Lieutenant. He also worked as an assistant officer for his regiment.
After the War
After the Civil War ended, Lieutenant Calef stayed in the Regular army. He was stationed in different places. These included the Presidio of San Francisco in California. He also served at Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland. He was offered a promotion to captain. This would have meant joining a different army branch. However, he chose to stay with the Artillery branch. He earned his captaincy with the 2nd U.S. Artillery. He also taught at the Artillery School of Practice. This school was at Fort Monroe in Hampton, Virginia. Later, he was promoted again. He became a colonel and commanded the 1st Regiment of Artillery.
Later Life and Legacy
Lieutenant Colonel Calef retired from the army in 1900. He had served his country for many years. He passed away on January 4, 1912. He died from pneumonia in St. Louis, Missouri. He was buried at the Post Cemetery. This cemetery is at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York.
