Ord, Edward Otho Cresap, 1818-1883

American army officer.

Edward Otho Cresap Ord, born in Maryland about 1818, was an army officer who participated in several territorial surveys and expeditions. Ord also commanded troops during the Civil War. He retired from active service in 1880 and died in Havana, Cuba in 1883.

Edward Otho Cresap Ord (October 18, 1818-July 22, 1883) was the designer of Fort Sam Houston, and a United States Army officer who saw action in the Seminole War, the Indian Wars, and the American Civil War. He commanded an army during the final days of the Civil War, and was instrumental in forcing the surrender of Confederate General Robert E. Lee. He retired In 1880 and accepted the position of engineer in the construction of the Mexican Railway. En route from Vera Cruz, Mexico to New York, General Ord contracted yellow fever aboard ship. He was taken ashore in Havana, Cuba, where he died on July 22, 1883. He is buried in Arlington Cemetery.

Born to James Ord and Rebecca Ruth Cresap in Cumberland, Maryland, Edward Otho Cresap (E. O. C.) Ord (1818-1883) enrolled in the West Point Military Academy in 1835. Ord was appointed a second lieutenant in the Third Artillery Regiment following his graduation in 1839, and was promoted to first lieutenant in 1841 as a result of his efforts fighting the Florida Seminoles. Shortly after the Mexican War, he was promoted to captain while stationed in California. During the Civil War, Ord served as brigadier general in the U. S. Army, commanding several different corps, including the Thirteenth, Eighth, and Eighteenth. Following the war, he assumed command of the military departments of California and Texas as well as the Fourth Military District. Additionally, Ord directed the construction of Fort Sam Houston while stationed in San Antonio, Texas.

Source:

Cutrer, Thomas W. Ord, Edward Otho Cresap. Handbook of Texas Online . Accessed July 27, 2011. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/for01 .

Born to James Ord and Rebecca Ruth Cresap in Cumberland, Maryland, Edward Otho Cresap (E. O. C.) Ord (1818-1883) enrolled in the West Point Military Academy in 1835.

Ord was appointed a second lieutenant in the Third Artillery Regiment following his graduation in 1839, and was promoted to first lieutenant in 1841 as a result of his efforts fighting the Florida Seminoles. Shortly after the Mexican War, he was promoted to captain while stationed in California. During the Civil War, Ord served as brigadier general in the U. S. Army, commanding several different corps, including the Thirteenth, Eighth, and Eighteenth. Following the war, he assumed command of the military departments of California and Texas as well as the Fourth Military District. Additionally, Ord directed the construction of Fort Sam Houston while stationed in San Antonio, Texas.

Biography

Edward Otho Cresap Ord, born in Cumberland, Maryland in 1818, descended from a family of military forebears. His mathematical ability early won for him an appointment to West Point, from which he graduated in 1839. For his first assignment, with the third artillery, he fought the Seminole Indians in Florida in 1840. In 1847 he was sent around the Horn to California, where he aided in maintaining order in Monterey, was made a captain in 1850, and in 1854 married Mary Mercer Thompson. From 1850 he participated in the coast survey, working mainly in the vicinity of San Pedro, California. He led a successful campaign against the Rogue River Indians of Oregon in 1856, and later against the Spokane Indians of Washington.

At the beginning of the Civil War, Ord was stationed at the San Francisco Presidio, He was soon ordered east, defended Washington, D. C. from November 1861 to May 1862, and then headed the Army of Tennessee, taking part in the battle at Iuka, Mississippi. He was wounded while driving back Confederate troops at Hatchie. From June to October 1863, he led the Army of Western Louisiana. In March 1864 he campaigned against Staunton, Virginia and later led operations against Richmond. He was again wounded at the capture of Fort Harrison. He commanded the Army of the James and the Department of North Carolina from January 8, 1865, and actively assisted in the battle of Petersburg, Virginia.

After the war, Ord was sent to various posts - Ohio, Arkansas, California, and Texas. He was retired with the rank of major general in 1880, and while on his way from New York to accept a position as engineer for the construction of a railroad in Mexico, fell ill with yellow fever, dying at Havana, Cuba, when taken ashore, on July 22, 1883.

BIOGRAPHY