William Hoffman (United States Army) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Hoffman
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| Born | December 2, 1807 New York City |
| Died | August 12, 1884 (aged 76) Rock Island, Illinois |
| Place of burial |
Chippiannock Cemetery, Rock Island, Illinois
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| Allegiance | United States of America Union |
| Service/ |
United States Army Union Army |
| Years of service | 1829–1870 |
| Rank |  Colonel Brevet Major General |
| Unit | 6th U.S. Infantry 5th U.S. Infantry 8th U.S. Infantry |
| Commands held | Commissary-General of Prisoners 3rd U.S. Infantry |
| Battles/wars | Black Hawk War Seminole Wars Mexican–American War Mohave War American Civil War |
William Hoffman (1807–1884) was an important officer in the United States Army during the 1800s. He graduated from West Point, a famous military school. Hoffman fought in several major conflicts, including the Black Hawk War, the Seminole Wars, the Mexican–American War, and the American Civil War. During the Civil War, he held a special job as the Commissary-General of Prisoners. In this role, he was in charge of setting rules for how prisoners of war were treated and when they could be released.
William Hoffman's Life and Military Career
Early Life and Schooling
William Hoffman Jr. was born in New York City. His father, William Hoffman Sr., was also a military officer who fought in the War of 1812. Young William went to the United States Military Academy at West Point, one of the top military schools in the country. He finished his studies there and became a 2nd Lieutenant in the 6th U.S. Infantry on July 1, 1829. One of his classmates at West Point was Robert E. Lee, who would later become a famous general.
Starting His Military Journey
Hoffman's first military assignments were in the American frontier. From 1829 to 1836, he was stationed at places like Jefferson Barracks in Missouri and Fort Leavenworth in Kansas. In 1832, he took part in the Black Hawk War.
He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant in the 6th U.S. Infantry on November 16, 1836. After that, Hoffman moved south to Louisiana. He then fought in the Second Seminole War from 1837 to 1842. During this time, on February 1, 1838, he became a captain in the 6th U.S. Infantry. In 1842, he helped with recruiting new soldiers before being sent to Fort Smith in Arkansas.
Fighting in the Mexican-American War
In 1846, Hoffman helped gather volunteers for the military. Soon after, he joined the fight in the Mexican–American War. This war with Mexico lasted from 1846 to 1847.
During the war, Hoffman was involved in many important battles:
- The march through Chihuahua
- The Siege of Vera Cruz
- The Battle of Cerro Gordo
- A small fight at Amazoque
- The Capture of San Antonio
- The Battle of Contreras
- The Battle of Churubusco, where he was wounded
For his brave actions in the Battles of Contreras and Churubusco, Hoffman was given a special honor called a brevet to major on August 20, 1847. He also fought in the Battle of Molino del Rey and the Battle of Chapultepec. He was part of the attack and capture of Mexico City. For his bravery at the Battle of Molino del Rey, he was brevetted to lieutenant colonel on September 8, 1847.
Between Wars: Frontier Duty
After the Mexican-American War, Hoffman spent two years recruiting soldiers. Then, he returned to duty on the frontier. He was stationed again at Fort Leavenworth. On April 15, 1851, he was promoted to major in the 5th U.S. Infantry.
He moved to Jefferson Barracks in 1852 and then back to the 6th U.S. Infantry that same year. From 1852 to 1854, he was at Newport Barracks in Kentucky. In 1854, he went back to the frontier, serving at Fort Laramie in the Dakota Territory. He participated in the Sioux Expedition of 1855 and the Utah Expedition of 1858. He also marched to California that year. Hoffman then moved to California for frontier duty in the Mojave Country and Benicia, California. On October 17, 1860, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel in the 8th U.S. Infantry and transferred to San Antonio, Texas.
Role in the American Civil War
When the American Civil War began, Hoffman was in San Antonio, Texas. He was captured by the Confederates when Brigadier General David E. Twiggs surrendered the Union forces there on February 18, 1861. While still a prisoner of war, he was promoted to colonel in the 3rd U.S. Infantry on April 25, 1862. He was finally released in a prisoner exchange on August 27, 1862.
Leading the Prisoner Exchange Office
After his release, Hoffman was sent to Washington, D.C. That year, he became the Commissary-General of Prisoners. This office was in charge of all prisoners of war. It was created in 1861 and later reported directly to the Secretary of War. This meant Hoffman had direct access to the top military and political leaders.
In November 1864, the office was split into an Eastern and Western Branch. Hoffman was put in charge of the Eastern Branch. But on February 1, 1865, the office was made a single unit again, and Hoffman was back in charge of the whole operation.
Handling Prisoners of War
During the Civil War, over 104,000 Confederate soldiers left their army, and many surrendered to the Union army. The Union also captured thousands of soldiers, holding them in prison camps. Both sides tried to exchange prisoners between 1862 and 1863, but this system eventually stopped working.
The Union army was not ready for so many prisoners. Prison camps on both sides became very crowded. They often had little food, poor sanitation, and many diseases. Some Confederate prisoners even refused to be exchanged, saying they would not go back to the South.
Hoffman's Policies for Release
Hoffman worked with President Abraham Lincoln and War Secretary Edwin Stanton to create a way for Confederate prisoners and deserters to be released. They could be set free if they swore loyalty to the Union. Hoffman's office received many requests for release from Union officials, Confederate soldiers, and their families.
Hoffman believed that deserters were a chance to "reconstruct" the rebel soldiers and weaken the Confederate war effort. Military commanders could let deserters take an oath of loyalty if they could prove their stories and were not spies. However, Hoffman thought that regular prisoners of war were a bigger risk. They might return to their units or act as spies. Their release had to be reviewed individually by Hoffman's staff and approved by Secretary Stanton.
To encourage more desertions, the Union began offering incentives, like transportation home. Hoffman later made the rules for taking the oath of allegiance stricter. This caused the number of prisoners released to drop significantly.
Promotions for Service
On October 7, 1864, Hoffman was brevetted to brigadier general for his loyal service during the war. He was then brevetted to major general on March 13, 1865. This was for his loyal, excellent, and distinguished service as Commissary-General of Prisoners. He continued in this important role until November 3, 1865.
After the War and Retirement
After the Civil War, Hoffman commanded regiments in St. Louis, Missouri from 1865 to 1866 and at Fort Leavenworth from 1866 to 1868. He took a leave of absence for about a year. Then, in April 1869, he became the Superintendent of the General Recruiting Service. He officially retired from the army on May 1, 1870, as a colonel.
Hoffman retired to Rock Island, Illinois. There, he married his second wife, Mary. Together, they opened a school for girls. William Hoffman passed away in 1884 and was buried in Chippiannock Cemetery in Rock Island.
Images for kids
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William Hoffman, a key figure in managing Civil War prisoners.
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Insignia for a Colonel in the Union Army.
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Insignia for a Major General in the Union Army.
