Jesup, Thomas Sidney, 1788-1860

Quartermaster-general of the U.S. army, 1818-1860. Appointed commander of U.S., Georgia, and Alabama troops fighting the Creeks in Alabama, May 19, 1836, and of the army in Florida during the Second Seminole War, Dec. 6, 1836.

From the description of Letter : Tampa Bay, [Fla.], to C.C. Clay, Governor of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Ala., 1836 Nov. 17. (Newberry Library). WorldCat record id: 38110737

Thomas Sidney Jesup was a soldier in the U.S. Army. He rose to the rank of Major General. He served in the War of 1812 and was appointed Quarter Master General in 1818. In 1836 he was assigned to command U.S. troops and troops from Georgia and Alabama operating against the Creek Indians. In December of that year he succeeded to the command of the army in Florida. He was wounded in 1838 in a fight with the Seminole Indians, after which he assumed his duties as Quarter master General, a position he held for the remainder of his life. John Munroe was a Lieutenant at the time. He served in three campaigns against the Indians in Florida and in the War with Mexico. He rose to the rank of Colonel. He was the military and civil governor of Mexico, October 1849 - December 1850.

From the description of Thomas Sidney Jesup letter, 1822. (Georgia Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 85450345

T.S. Jesup (1788-1860) was a career Army officer. He served as Quartermaster from 1818-1826 and again from 1836 until his retirement. He served in Florida during the Seminole War (see DAB). He is responsible for setting up the office of the Quartermaster General.

From the description of Jesup bills and receipts, 1818-1826. (District of Columbia Public Library). WorldCat record id: 42712258

Army officer, from Berkeley County, Va. (now W. Va.).

From the description of Papers, 1787-1850. (Duke University Library). WorldCat record id: 19933907

From the description of Papers, 1787-1860. (Duke University Library). WorldCat record id: 41631482

U.S. Army officer and quartermaster general.

From the description of Thomas Sidney Jesup papers, 1780-1907. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 81153358

General Thomas Sidney Jesup (1788-1860) was the third general to command Florida troops during the Second Seminole War. Jesup, a career military man, served 18 years as Quartermaster General before President Andrew Jackson called him to active duty during the Indian Wars.

He was assigned to go to Alabama, where he led a successful campaign to capture and remove hostile Creek Indians from the frontier. In Florida during this time, Governor-General Richard K. Call was having difficulties organizing and launching a campaign against the Seminole Indians. President Jackson directed Jesup to proceed to Florida upon completion of his business in Alabama and take command "unless General Call is in the field." When Jesup arrived in Florida in September of 1836, Call had finalized arrangements for a campaign against the Seminoles. Not willing to usurp Call's position, Jesup declined command but volunteered to serve under him. In December, however, the command was officially transferred to Jesup, and Governor Call returned to the duties of his office.

In a directive from General Benjamin Butler, then Secretary of War, Jesup was ordered to attack hostile Indians in their stronghold on the banks of the Withlacoochee and drive them from established posts at or near the mouth of the Withlacoochee, at Fort King, and at Volusia. Ultimately, he was to see to the "subrogation and removal" of the Indians. This "removal" referred to the migration of Indians to reservations west of the Mississippi River.

From the description of Diary, 1836-1837. (Florida State Archive). WorldCat record id: 32413159

Quartermaster General.

As Major General (1836-1838) General Jesup superseded Brigadier-General Richard Keith Call in command of the army in Florida, having at his command some eight thousand troops, after many exasperating experiences in which he was severely wounded in the face, Jesup finally took Osceola prisoner and confined him to Fort Moultrie until his death in January 1838. Relieved by General Zachary Taylor in May 1838, General Jesup resumed his duties as quartermaster general at Washington.

From the description of Papers, 1847. (Florida State University). WorldCat record id: 50678093

Biographical Note

• 1788, Dec. 16: Born, Berkeley County, Va.
• 1808: Commissioned second lieutenant, 7th Infantry
• 1809: Commissioned first lieutenant, 7th Infantry
• 1813: Commissioned captain, 19th Infantry Commissioned major, 19th Infantry
• 1814: Brevetted lieutenant-colonel for distinguished and meritorious service at Battle of Chippewa Brevetted colonel for gallant conduct and distinguished skill at Battle of Fort Niagara (Lundy's Lane) Sent to Hartford, Conn., on recruiting duty
• 1817: Promoted to lieutenant-colonel, 3rd Infantry
• 1818: Promoted to colonel and adjutant general of the army Promoted to brigadier-general and appointed quartermaster general of the army Organized and defined the objectives of the quartermaster’s department
• 1826: Acted as second to Henry Clay in latter’s duel with John Randolph of Roanoke, Va.
• 1828: Promoted to major-general
• 1836: Assigned to command United States troops and troops of Alabama and Georgia in the Creek War Assigned to command all United States troops in Florida during Second Seminole War
• 1838: Wounded at Battle of Jupiter Inlet, Florida Relieved of command of the army in Florida by Zachary Taylor Resumed his duties as quartermaster general in Washington, D.C.
• 1860, June 10: Died, Washington, D.C.

From the guide to the Thomas Sidney Jesup Papers, 1780-1907, (Manuscript Division Library of Congress)