Ord, Edward Otho Cresap, 1818-1883

American army officer.

From the description of Autograph letter signed : Omaha, Neb., to William Worth Belknap, 1872 Jan. 9. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270610636

From the description of Autograph letter signed : Omaha, Neb., to "Dear Genl" [William W. Belknap?], 1872 Nov. 15. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270610635

From the description of Autograph letter signed : San Francisco, to "Dear Genl." [William Worth Belknap?], 1870 Jan. 19. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270610820

From the description of Autograph letter signed : City Point, to Gen. Turner, 1865 Jan. 31. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270609890

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.

From the description of Letters, 1854-1885. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122447932

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.

From the description of Edward Otho Cresap Ord papers, 1840-1887. (University of California, Berkeley). WorldCat record id: 50012567

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 .

From the guide to the Ord, E. O. C. Item 70-024., undated, (Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin)

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.

From the description of Ord, E. O. C., Item, undated (University of Texas Libraries). WorldCat record id: 754848455

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.

From the guide to the Edward Otho Cresap Ord Papers, 1850-1883, (The Bancroft Library)

BIOGRAPHY

• 1818: Born Maryland
• 1835 - 39 : Cadet, Military Academy
• 1839, July 1: 2nd Lt., 3rd Artillery
• 1839 - 42 : Florida War against Seminole Indians
• 1841, July 1: 1st Lt., 3rd Artillery
• 1842 - 44 : Ft. Macon, North Carolina
• 1845 - 46 : Coast Survey
• 1846: Recruiting Service
• 1846 - 47 : Voyage to California
• 1847 - 48 : Mexican War--serving in California
• 1847 - 50 : Monterey, California
• 1850, Sept. 7: Capt., 3rd Artillery
• 1851 - 52 : Ft. Independence, Massachusetts
• 1852 - 55 : Coast Survey
• 1855: Benicia, California
• 1855: Yakima Expedition
• 1856: Benicia, California
• 1856: Rogue River Expedition; action of Mackanootney Villages and Chefeco Creek
• 1856 - 58 : Benicia, California
• 1858: Ft. Miller, California; frontier duty
• 1858: Spokane Expedition; combat of Four Lakes and Spokane Plain, skirmish of Spokane River
• 1859: Ft. Monroe, Virginia (Artillery School for Practice)
• 1859: On Harper's Ferry Expedition to suppress John Brown's Raid
• 1859 - 60 : Ft. Monroe, Virginia
• 1861: Ft. Vancouver Washington; frontier duty
• 186l: Benicia, California and San Francisco
• 1851 - 62 : In command of a brigade of the Army of the Potomac
• 1861, Sept. 14: Brig. General, U.S. Volunteers
• 1861, Nov. 21: Major, 4th Artillery
• 1861, Dec. 20: In command of engaged troops at Drainsville, Virginia
• 1861, Dec.: Bvt. Lieut. Col. for gallant and meritorious service at Battle of Drainsville.
• 1862, May - 1862 June : In command of division in the Department of the Rappahannock
• 1862, May 2: Major General, U.S. Volunteers
• 1862, June - 1862 Aug. : In command of Corinth, Mississippi
• 1862, Aug. - 1862 Sept. : In Major General Grant's operations in Mississippi, commanding left wing of army
• 1862, Sept. 19: Battle of Iuka; Bvt. Colonel for gallant and meritorious services
• 1862, Sept. - 1862 Oct. : In command of the District of Jackson, Tennessee
• 1862, Oct. 5: Battle of the Hatchie, severely wounded while commanding
• 1862 - 63 : Military Commission investigating Gen. Buell's Campaign in Kentucky and Tennessee
• 1863, June - 1863 Oct. : In command of 13th Army Corps--engaged in Siege of Vicksburg, capture of Jackson
• 1864, Jan. - 1864 Feb. : Commanded 13th Army Corps in the Department of the Gulf
• 1864, April - 1864 July : Commanded troops in West Virginia
• 1864, July: Commanded 8th Army Corps and all troops in Middle Department
• 1864, July - 1864 Sept. : Commanded 18th Army Corps; in operations against Richmond; wounded in assault and capture of Ft. Harrison (Sept. 29)
• 1865, Jan. - 1865 Feb. : Commanded Department of Virginia and North Carolina
• 1865, Feb. - 1865 June : Commanded Department of Virginia; engaged Siege of Petersburg, pursuit of Rebel Army to capitulation of Lee at Appomattox
• 1865, March 13: Bvt. Brig. General for service at Battle of the Hatchie
• 1865, March 13: Bvt. Major General U.S.A. for services in assault on Ft. Harrison
• 1865 - 66 : Commanded Department of the Ohio
• 1866 - 67 : Commanded Department of the Arkansas
• 1866, Sept. 1: Mustered out of Volunteer Service
• 1867 - 68 : Commanded: Fourth Military District (Arkansas and Mississippi)
• 1868 - 71 : Commanded: Department of California
• 1871 - 75 : Commanded: Department of the Platte
• 1875 - 80 : Commanded: Department of Texas
• 1880, Dec. 6: Retired from active service
• 1881, Jan. 28: Major General
• 1883, July 22: Died at Havana Cuba

From the guide to the Edward Otho Cresap Ord Letters, 1854-1885, (Stanford University. Libraries. Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives.)