August V. Kautz

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August V. Kautz


August Valentine Kautz (1828-1895) - Born 5 Jan 1828, Baden, Germany. Died 4 Sep 1895, Seattle, Washington. He graduated from U.S. Military Academy, West Point, Class of 1852.

Biography

About 1828 his parents emigrated to the United States and settled in Baltimore, Maryland. In 1832 they relocated to Brown County, Ohio. He attended school in Georgetown, Ohio, and during the first year of Mexican War served as a Private, 1st Ohio Infantry. A Year after discharge, he was appointed to the U.S. Military Academy, where he graduated in the Class of 1852.

Northwest Service

He served for number of years in Pacific Northwest, where was twice wounded during engagements with Indians during the Snake River and Rogue River campaigns. He defended Chief Leschi's innocence in the 1857 murder trial.

While stationed at Fort Steilacoom in 1857, he made a well documented attempt to climb Mount Rainier with four soldiers, a Nisqually Indian guide and the Post Doctor. He reached a point about 400 feet shy of the summit and had to turn back.

Europe

During 1859 and 1860 Kautz traveled in Europe, returning just prior to the beginning of the U.S. Civil War.

U.S. Civil War

With the reorganization of the Regular Army in May 1861 he was made a Capt. of the new 6th U.S. Cavalry, and served in the Washington, DC defense.

In Sep 1862, he was made Colonel of the 2nd Ohio Cavalry Volunteer Regiment and was sent to Fort Scott on the Kansas frontier. In the following year, after some duty in command of Camp Chase, Ohio, he took part in the pursuit and capture of Confederate General John Hunt Morgan in the course of latter's raid into Kentucky and Indiana.

From Apr 1864 to Mar 1865 he commanded a Division of Cavalry in Benjamin F. Butler's Army of the James, having been made Brigadier General of Volunteers 7 May 1864. He took part in a number of operations against various Confederate lines of supply coming into Richmond and Petersburg, including the fight at Ream's Station on 29 Jun 1864, during James Harrison Wilson's raid. In Mar 1865 was shifted to command of a Division of Negro troops at the head of which he entered the Confederate capital on 3 Apr 1865.

Post War

In May and June 1865 he had dubious distinction of being one of members of military commission which tried the conspirators in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

He was appointed lieutenant colonel of the 34th U.S. Infantry in 1866, 14th U.S. Infantry in 1867, and transferred to the 15th U.S. Infantry in 1869. He commanded this regiment on the New Mexico frontier until 1874, establishing the Mescalero Apaches on their reservation from 1870 to 1871. In Jun 1874 he was promoted to colonel of the 8th U.S. Infantry, and was placed in command of the Department of Arizona in 1875. He served in California from 1878 to 1886, and in Nebraska from 1887 until his retirement in 1892.

During his years at various Indian posts on frontier he wrote several military books including The Company Clerk (1863), Customs of Service for Non-commissioned Officers and Soldiers (1864), and Customs of Service for Officers (1866).

He was the brother of Rear Admiral Albert Kautz. His retirement years were spent in Seattle, Washington. He died in Seattle 4 Sep 1895.

He is interred in Arlington National Cemetery, Section 2, Grave 992.

Genealogy

Father: George Kautz (1800-????) - Born 6 Nov 1800, Ispringen, Baden, Germany. Died ????.

Mother: Dorthea Lewing (1800-????) - Born 16 Oct 1800, Hesse-Kassel, Germany

Marriage:

  • Tenas Puss (1838-1???) - Born about 1838 in Pierce County, Washington. Married about 1856, Pierce County, Washington Territory.
  • Charlotte Delamater Tod (1845-1???) - Born 1845 in Brier Hill, Mahoning County, Ohio. Married 7 Sep 1865.
  • Fannie Markbreit (1850-1913) Born Jun 1850, Baden, Germany. Died 11 Aug 1913 and is buried with her husband. Married 27 Nov 1872, Hamilton County, Ohio.

Children:

  • By Tenas Puss
    • Nugent Kautz (1857-1???) - Born 17 Mar 1857, Fort Steilacoom, Pierce County, washington.
    • Augustus Kautz (1859-1???) - Born 1859. Shown in 1888 Indian Census.
  • By Charlotte Delamater Tod
  • By Fannie Markbreit
    • Austin Kautz (1873-1???) - Born 11 Sep 1873, Kentucky.
    • Francisca Kautz (1878-1???) - Born Apr 1878, Arizona Territory.
    • Navarra Kautz (1882-1???) - Born 14 Jul 1882, Angel Island,Marin County, California.

Assignments: (incomplete)

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