Curtis, Newton Martin, 1835-1910

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Curtis was born in De Peyster, New York. Upon graduating from the Gouverneur Wesleyan Seminary, Curtis became a teacher, lawyer, and postmaster of De Peyster. In the year prior to the Civil War, he was working as a farmer.

Curtis stood an impressive 6' 7" tall and weighed 225 pounds. His enormous size for the time period prompted even Abraham Lincoln to quip, "Mr. Curtis, how do you know when your feet are cold?" His stature became an issue of concern to his family when the Civil War began as they felt he would surely be an easy target for enemy bullets.

On May 15, 1861, Curtis volunteered in the Union Army as a captain in Company G of the 16th New York Infantry. He fought in the Peninsula Campaign and was wounded in a minor engagement at West Point, Virginia. On October 23, 1862, he transferred to the 142nd New York Volunteer Infantry, serving as lieutenant colonel until his promotion to colonel on January 21, 1865. As commander of the 142nd New York Infantry, he fought in the Bermuda Hundred Campaign of May 1864. He took command of the 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, X Corps, during the Siege of Petersburg. Curtis received a brevet promotion to brigadier general on October 28, 1864, for his actions at the Battle of New Market Heights.

His brigade became part of the expedition against Fort Fisher in December 1864. Curtis' brigade was among the few troops to go ashore yet the first attack against Fort Fisher was defeated. He took part in the second attack in January 1865, in which his brigade played a key role in the Union victory. During the fighting a suggestion of entrenching reached Curtis. He angrily grabbed a handful of shovels and threw them over the traverse shouting "Dig Johnnies! I'm coming for you!" Curtis made good on his promise and continued the attack. He was wounded at the head of his brigade and received a full promotion to brigadier general of volunteers and was also received the Medal of Honor. He remained in the army until January 1866, receiving a brevet to major general of volunteers on March 13, 1865.

After the war, Curtis was a collector of customs in the district of Oswegatchie, New York, in 1866 and then a Special Agent for the United States Treasury Department from 1867 until 1880. He was in the Department of Justice from 1880 until 1882. He was a member of the New York State Assembly (St. Lawrence Co., 1st D.) in 1884, 1885, 1886, 1887, 1888, 1889 and 1890.

Curtis was elected as a Republican to the 52nd Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Leslie W. Russell. He was re-elected to the 53rd and 54th Congresses, holding office from November 3, 1891, to March 3, 1897. He was Chairman of the House Committee on the Election of the President, Vice President and Representatives in Congress (54th Congress).

He wrote a book titled From Bull Run to Chancellorsville, published in 1906. In 1910, he was the assistant inspector general of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. He died in New York City and is buried at Ogdensburg Cemetery in Ogdensburg, New York, where a statue stands in his honor.

The General Newton Martin Curtis Camp #142 of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War was named for Curtis.

Medal of Honor citation

At the Second Battle of Fort Fisher: the first man to pass through the stockade, he personally led each assault on the traverses and was 4 times wounded.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Terry family. Terry family papers, 1795-1939 (inclusive). Yale University Library
referencedIn Terry family papers, 1795-1939 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States Commandery of the State of Massachusetts Civil War collection, 1724-1933 (inclusive); 1861-1912 (bulk). Houghton Library
referencedIn Curtis, N. Martin - Commission of Pensions - U. S. Pension Office United States. National Archives and Records Administration
referencedIn Philip Case Lockwood memorial collection of Civil War portraits and autographs, 1862-ca. 1886. Houghton Library
creatorOf Papers, 1812-1915, 1861-1915 (bulk) New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Photographic Portrait File The Huntington Library
referencedIn Curtis, N.M. -- Brigadier General United States. National Archives and Records Administration
referencedIn Cronly family. Papers, 1806-1944. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
referencedIn Consolidated Military Officer's File of General Newton Martin Curtis, 142nd New York Infantry Regiment United States. National Archives and Records Administration
referencedIn Frederick M. Dearborn collection of military and political Americana, Part III: The Civil War: The Union, 1804-1915. Houghton Library
referencedIn Congressional Medal of Honor File of Brigadier General Newton Martin Curtis, U.S. Volunteers United States. National Archives and Records Administration
creatorOf Stone, Cyrus R. (Cyrus Richard). Cyrus R. Stone papers, 1861-1918. Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
Role Title Holding Repository
contributorOf 1865 - Curtis, N Martin - File No. C555 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf 1865 - Curtis, N M - File No. C916 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf 1865 - Curtis, N M - File No. C1078 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf 1865 - Curtis, N M - File No. C761 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf 1865 - Curtis, N M - File No. C1510 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf 1864 - Curtis, N Martin - File No. C1496 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf 1866 - Curtis, N M - File No. C18 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf Consolidated Military Officer's File of N M Curtiss, Virginia, 1865 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf Consolidated Military Officer's File of N Martin Curtis, Virginia, 1865 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf 1865 - Curtis, N M - File No. C1378 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf 1865 - Curtis, N M - File No. C1424 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf 1864 - Curtis, N Martin - File No. C282 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
referencedIn [New York] Curtis, N M - Unit: 142nd Infantry, Company: [Blank] - Enlistment Rank: Lt Col, Discharge Rank: Col United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf 1865 - Curtis, N M - File No. C857 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf 1865 - Curtis, N M - File No. C1271 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
referencedIn [New York] Curtis, N Martin - Unit: 16th Infantry, Company: G - Enlistment Rank: Capt, Discharge Rank: Capt United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf Consolidated Military Officer's File of N M Curtis, Virginia, 1865 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf Consolidated Military Officer's File of N M Curtis, Virginia, 1864 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf Consolidated Military Officer's File of N M Curtis, Virginia, 1864 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
Place Name Admin Code Country
Washington City DC US
Petersburg VA US
Manhattan NY US
Fort Fisher State Historic Site NC US
Gouverneur NY US
Henrico County VA US
Richmond VA US
Lynchburg VA US
St. Lawrence County NY US
Albany NY US
Oswegatchie NY US
King William County VA US
Subject
Slavery
Civil War, 1861-1865
Civil War, 1861-1865
Courts-martial and courts of inquiry
Customs administration
Customs administration
Fort Fisher (N.C.), Battle of, 1864
Medal of Honor
Peninsula Campaign, 1862
Reconstruction
Republican Party
Siege of Petersburg, Va. (Richmond--Petersburg Campaign), 1864-1865
Occupation
Teachers
Authors
Civil servants
Farmers
Lawyers
Legislators
Politicians
Soldiers
Activity

Person

Birth 1835-05-21

Death 1910-01-08

Male

Americans

English

Information

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