Samuel Ringgold

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Samuel Ringgold

Major Ringold Mortally wounded (LOC)

Samuel Ringgold (1796-1846) - Born , Died ,

member of the first graduating class of the United States Military Academy at West Point (1818), Ringgold, an artillery officer, was on General Winfield Scott's staff when this portrait was painted. He was later promoted to major general 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. Wounded, he died three days later. News of his death, the first of the war, created an explosion of national pride, and he became a hero.

Second Lieut., Corps of Artillery, July 24, 1818.

Served: in garrison at Ft. Mifflin, Pa., 1818; as acting Aide-de-Camp to Bvt. Maj.-General Scott, Dec., 1818, to July 2, 1821; on Topographical duty

(Second Lieut., 2d Artillery, in Re-organization of Army, June 1, 1821)

(Transferred to 3d Artillery, Aug. 16, 1821)

July 2, to Dec. 14, 1821; as Aide-de-Camp to Bvt. Maj.-General Scott,

(First Lieut., 3d Artillery, May 8, 1822)

Dec. 14, 1821, to July 12, 1823; in garrison at Ft. Severn, Md., 1824, -- Ft. Monroe, Va. (Artillery School for Practice), 1824-26; on Ordnance duty, Apr. 14, 1826, to dec. 23, 1830,m and Mar. 31 to Oct. 31,

(Bvt.-Captain, May 8, 1832, for Faithful Service Ten Years in One Grade)

1831; in garrison at Ft. Macon, N. C., 1832-35; on Ordnance duty, Jan. 14, 1835, to Aug. 29, 1836; in Florida War, 1836-37; in garrison at

(Captain, 3d Artillery, Aug. 31, 1836)

Carlisle Barracks, Pa., 1838-39; at the Camp of Instruction near Trenton,

(Bvt. Major, Feb. 15, 1838, for Meritorious Conduct in Activity

and Efficiency in the War Against the Florida Indians)

N. J., 1839; in garrison at Ft. McHenry, Md., 1834-43; on detached service at West Point, N. Y., June 17 to Oct. 1843; in garrison at Ft. McHenry, Md., 1843-45; with the “Army of Occupation” in Texas, 1845-46; in the War with Mexico, 1846, being engaged in the Battle of Palo Alto, Tex., May 8, 1846, where he was mortally wounded while gallantly directing the fire of the battery of horse artillery under his command.

Died of Wounds, May 11, 1846, at Point Isabel, Tex.: Aged 46.

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