Henry Leavenworth
Henry Leavenworth (1783-1834) - Born 10 Dec 1783 in New Haven Connecticut. Died 21 Jul 1834 in the Cross Timbers area of what was then Indian Territory. First commissioned directly as a Captain in the 25th U.S. Infantry during the War of 1812 and wounded at the Battle of Niagara 25 Jul 1814. He returned to civilian life after the war but rejoined the military as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1818. He built several military posts in the Indian territory including Cantonment Leavenworth which later became Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He died while commanding the First Regiment of Dragoons on an expedition from Fort Gibson (1) into the Indian Territory, probably as a result of a hunting accident. While on this expedition he was promoted from colonel to Brigadier General but he died not knowing he had been promoted. Brigadier General Henry Leavenworth is interred at the Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery. Sources: |