Samuel Ringgold

Samuel Ringgold (1796-1846) - Born 16 Oct 1796, Hagerstown, Washington, Maryland. A professional military officer and United States Military Academy graduate. Mortally wounded during the Mexican War at Palo Alto he died 11 May 1846 at Point Isabel, Texas.

Samuel Ringgold circa 1825

Major Ringold Mortally wounded (LOC)

Samuel entered the United States Military Academy at West Point 24 Oct 1814 and graduated 24 Jul 1818. He was later promoted to Bvt. Major in acknowledgment of his military innovations: the McClelland military saddle and the idea of flying artillery, a tactical concept employing artillery pieces that could be moved quickly from place to place. In 1846, in the first clash of the Mexican War, Ringgold led a small American force to victory at Palo Alto. Severely wounded in both thighs by cannon fire, he died on 11 May 1846 at Point Isabel. He was buried outside the walls of Fort Polk, Texas. His remains were reinterred in Greenmount Cemetery, Baltimore, Maryland, on 22 Dec 1846. News of his death, the first of the war, created an explosion of national pride, and he became a hero.

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Father: Samuel Ringgold (1770-1829) Born 15 Jan 1770, Chestertown, Kent, Maryland. Died 18 Oct 1829, Frederick, Frederick, Maryland.

Mother: Maria Cadwalader (1776-1811) Born 4 Feb 1776, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Died 1 Aug 1811, Hagerstown, Washington, Maryland.

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Assignments:

• (1814-1818) Cadet, United States Military Academy at West Point
• (1818-1818) 2nd Lt. 24 Jul 1818), Fort Mifflin, Pennsylvania
• (1818-1821) 2nd Lt., Acting Aide-de-Camp to Bvt. Maj. Gen. Winfield Scott, Dec., 1818, to July 2, 1821;
• (1821-1821) 2nd Lt. (1 Jun 1821), 2nd U.S. Artillery, on Topographical duty July 2, to Dec. 14, 1821;
• (1821-1823) 1st Lt. (8 May 1822), 3rd U.S. Artillery, Aide-de-Camp to Bvt. Maj. Gen. Winfield Scott
• (1824-1826) 1st Lt., Fort Severn, Maryland; Fort Monroe, Virginia (Artillery School for Practice)
• (1826-1831) 1st. Lt., Ordnance duty
• (1832-1835) Bvt. Capt. (8 May 1832), Fort Macon, North Carolina
• (1835-1836) Bvt. Capt., Ordnance duty
• (1836-1837) Capt. (31 Aug 1836), 3rd U.S. Artillery, Florida War
• (1838-1839) Bvt. Maj. (15 Feb 1838), Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania
• (1839-1839) Bvt. Maj., Camp of Instruction near Trenton, New Jersey
• (1839-1843) Bvt. Maj., Fort McHenry, Maryland
• (1843-1843) Bvt. Maj., Detached service at the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York
• (1843-1845) Bvt. Maj., Fort McHenry, Maryland
• (1845-1846) Bvt. Maj., “Army of Occupation” in Texas
• (1846-1846) Bvt. Maj., Mexican War

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Sources:

Links:

• Samuel Ringgold, Mexican War Officer
• Ringgold biography