Samuel B. Holabird facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Samuel B. Holabird
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| Born | June 16, 1826 Canaan, Connecticut |
| Died | February 3, 1907 (aged 80) Washington D.C. |
| Place of burial |
United States Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery
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| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ |
Union Army United States Army |
| Years of service | 1849-1890 |
| Rank |  Brigadier General |
| Unit | U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps |
| Commands held | Quartermaster General of the United States Army Philadelphia Quartermaster Depot |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Theodosia Grant |
| Children | 3 (including William Holabird) |
| Relations | Agnes von Kurowsky (granddaughter) |
| Signature | .png){kind=small} |
Samuel Beckley Holabird (born June 16, 1826 – died February 3, 1907) was a dedicated officer in the United States Army. He was a veteran of the American Civil War, fighting for the Union Army. Holabird rose to the rank of brigadier general. He is best known for his important role as the Army's Quartermaster General, a job he held from 1883 to 1890.
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Early Life and Military Training
Samuel B. Holabird was born in Canaan, Connecticut, on June 16, 1826. He went to school in Canaan and later attended Winsted Academy and Amenia Seminary.
Holabird then studied at the United States Military Academy, also known as West Point. He graduated in 1849, ranking 31st in his class. After graduating, he became a second lieutenant in the Infantry. His first assignment was with the 1st Infantry Regiment in Fort Brown, Texas.
Starting His Army Career
From 1849 to 1850, Holabird worked on the frontier, exploring and performing duties at forts like Fort Brown, Fort Duncan, and Fort McIntosh. He officially became a second lieutenant on June 10, 1850.
For the next eight years, from 1850 to 1858, Holabird continued his work on the frontier. He also started taking on "quartermaster" duties. A quartermaster is an army officer who makes sure soldiers have everything they need, like food, clothing, and supplies. He served at places like Ringgold Barracks, Fort Terrett, and Fort McKavett. He was promoted to first lieutenant in 1855.
From 1858 to 1859, Holabird helped with recruiting new soldiers. Then, from 1859 to 1861, he worked as the adjutant (a kind of administrative assistant) at the United States Military Academy. In May 1861, he was promoted to captain.
Service During the Civil War
When the American Civil War began, Holabird played a key role as a quartermaster for the Union Army. From June to August 1861, he was in charge of supplies at the army camp in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He then moved to Frederick, Maryland, serving there until July 1862.
He continued as a quartermaster for different army groups, including a division led by Nathaniel P. Banks and the Army of Virginia's II Corps. Holabird was involved in the Northern Virginia campaign and later with the Army of the Potomac during the Maryland campaign. This included the major Battle of Antietam in September 1862.
From December 1862 to July 1865, he was the chief quartermaster for the Department of the Gulf. He took part in the Siege of Port Hudson, Louisiana, which lasted from May to July 1863. During this time, he became ill and was on sick leave for a long period. While recovering, Holabird translated an important French military book, Treatise on Grand Military Operations, into English. This helped the U.S. military learn from it.
After recovering, he worked as a depot quartermaster in New Orleans and then as the chief quartermaster for the Department of Louisiana until March 1866.
Holabird received several special promotions, called "brevet" promotions, for his excellent service during the war. These were temporary promotions to recognize his bravery and skill. He was permanently promoted to major in July 1862. By the end of the war, he had received brevet promotions to lieutenant colonel, colonel, and brigadier general.
After the Civil War
After the war, Holabird returned to his permanent rank of major. From March 1866 to February 1867, he worked in Washington, D.C. to sort out the army's wartime accounts and claims. In July 1866, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel.
Holabird continued to serve as a chief quartermaster in various army departments across the country. He worked in the Department of Dakota (1867-1872), the Department of Texas (1872-1875), and the Military Division of the Missouri (1875-1878).
From May 1878 to October 1879, he was the chief quartermaster for the Department of the Pacific and the Department of California. He then became the Army's Assistant Quartermaster General from 1879 to 1882. Holabird was promoted to colonel in January 1881. Before his biggest role, he commanded the army's Philadelphia Quartermaster Depot from May 1882 to July 1883.
Becoming Quartermaster General
On July 1, 1883, Samuel Holabird was promoted to brigadier general and given the very important job of Quartermaster General of the United States Army. This meant he was in charge of all supplies and equipment for the entire U.S. Army. He held this position until he retired from the army on June 16, 1890.
As Quartermaster General, Holabird worked to settle all the claims from civilians who had lost property during the Civil War. He also focused on making soldiers' lives better. He improved their uniforms and personal equipment. He also worked to build new barracks (places where soldiers live), mess halls (where they eat), storehouses, and hospitals, or to fix up old ones.
Holabird also tried to make the Army's Quartermaster Corps more professional. At the time, soldiers from different army branches would do quartermaster duties only when needed. Holabird wanted to create about 1,300 permanent jobs for soldiers to work as quartermaster clerks, drivers, and laborers. However, his plan was not successful.
Retirement and Legacy
After retiring from the army, Holabird lived first in Evanston, Illinois, and then in Washington, D.C. He passed away in Washington on February 3, 1907. He was buried at the United States Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery.
Holabird was also an inventor! He is credited with creating the Army's first "pup tent," which is a small, portable tent for soldiers. He also helped develop the first canvas fatigue uniform for the army.
To honor his service, a U.S. Army transport ship, active before and during World War I, was named the General S. B. Holabird. Also, Fort Holabird, an important U.S. Army base in Baltimore, Maryland, which operated from 1918 to 1973, was named after him.
Family Life
In 1849, Samuel Holabird married Mary Theodosia Grant. They had three children: Agnes, Mary, and William.
Their daughter Agnes Holabird married Paul von Kurowsky. Their child, also named Agnes von Kurowsky, became a Red Cross nurse. She famously cared for writer Ernest Hemingway after he was injured during World War I. She was even the inspiration for a character in his famous novel, A Farewell to Arms.
Samuel's son, William Holabird, became a well-known architect in Chicago. His daughter Mary married U.S. Army general William Mackey Cruikshank.
