Overview
Edward Richard Sprigg Canby (1817–1873) was a U.S. military officer born in Kentucky. He was known for his steady leadership during the Civil War, Reconstruction, and the Indian Wars. He graduated from West Point in 1839 and served in the Second Seminole War, the Mexican-American War, and the Utah War. He contributed to Union victories in New Mexico during the Civil War and later managed Reconstruction in the South. Promoted to brigadier general in 1866, Canby oversaw operations in the Pacific Northwest until his death in 1873 during peace talks with the Modoc. He remains the only American General killed in the Indian Wars.
Personal Facts
- Full Name: Edward Richard Sprigg Canby
- Birth Date: November 9, 1817
- Birthplace: Piatt’s Landing, Kentucky
- Parents: Israel T. and Elizabeth (Piatt) Canby
- Education: Wabash College, United States Military Academy (1839)
- Occupation: Military officer
- Positions: Brigadier General (USA), Major General (USVA), Brevet Major General (USA)
- Spouse: Louisa Hawkins (1839)
- Died: April 11, 1873, Near Lava Beds, Oregon
- Buried: Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis, Indiana
Biography
Early Life and Education
Edward Richard Sprigg Canby was born in Piatt’s Landing, Kentucky, on November 9, 1817. He was the first of seven children born to Israel T. and Elizabeth (Piatt) Canby. Early in Edward’s life, Israel Canby moved his family to Indiana, where he practiced medicine and was active in politics. In 1826, voters elected Canby to a three-year term as a State Senator, resigning in 1828 to make an unsuccessful bid for the governorship of Indiana.
After attending local schools, Edward Canby enrolled at Wabash College in 1834. He soon developed a desire to pursue a military career, and he received an appointment to the United States Military Academy. Canby enrolled at West Point on July 1, 1835. Among his classmates were Henry W. Halleck and Edward Ord, who became prominent Union generals during the Civil War. Not a very strong student academically, Canby ranked thirtieth in his class of thirty-one cadets, graduating on July 1, 1839.
Marriage
Upon graduating from West Point, Canby received a brevet commission as a second lieutenant in the 2nd U.S. Infantry. Before reporting for active duty, he married Louisa Hawkins of Crawfordsville, Indiana, on August 1, 1839. Their union produced one daughter, who was born circa 1843.
U.S. Army Officer
Following his marriage, Canby joined his regiment in Florida during the Second Seminole War (December 23, 1835–August 14, 1842). At the conclusion of this conflict, Canby took part in the forced removal of American Indians from Arkansas to Oklahoma. He next served on garrison and recruiting duties at Fort Niagara, New York, at Detroit Barracks, Michigan, and at Newport, Kentucky, from 1842 through 1846. On June 18, 1846, the army promoted Canby to first lieutenant with the 2nd Infantry.
Mexican-American War
Like many future American Civil War general officers, Canby’s first combat experience came during the Mexican-American War (April 25, 1846–February 2, 1848). Serving as a brigade staff officer in General Winfield Scott‘s expeditionary force, Canby received brevet promotions to captain and major for his actions at the Battle of Contreras and the Battle of Churubusco in August 1847. On September 13, the army brevetted Canby to lieutenant colonel “for Gallant Conduct at the Belen Gate of the City of Mexico.”
Western Service
Following the Mexican-American War, the War Department transferred Canby to California, where he served as Assistant Adjutant-General of the Pacific Division from February 27, 1849, to February 22, 1851. After leaving California, Canby spent three years assigned to the Adjutant-General’s Office in Washington, D. C., from February 22, 1851 to March 3, 1855. On June 11, 1851, army officials promoted him to captain. From 1855 through 1860, Canby served at various stations, most of them in the American West. On March 3, 1855, he received a promotion to the rank of major with the 10th U.S. Infantry. Between 1857 and 1858, Canby took part in the Utah War.
Department of New Mexico Commander
When the Civil War erupted, Canby was in command of Fort Defiance in the New Mexico Territory. When the War Department began making wartime assignments, Canby received a promotion to the rank of colonel with the 19th U.S. Infantry on May 14, 1861. On November 9, 1861, the War Department issued General Orders No. 97, creating the Department of New Mexico “to consist of the Territory of New Mexico—to be commanded by Colonel E.R.S. Canby, U.S.A.” As department commander, Canby dashed Confederate designs to occupy the New Mexico Territory when troops under his command severed Confederate supply trains during the Battle of Glorieta Pass (March 26–28, 1862). On June 10, 1862, the War Department rewarded Canby’s success when it Issued General Orders No. 62, promoting him to brigadier-general in the Volunteer Army, effective Mar. 31, 1862.
Eastern Assignments
On November 7, 1862, Canby reported to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where he commanded a draft rendezvous (a military post where draftees reported). On January 15, 1863, officials ordered him to Washington, DC, for special duty with the War Department. While stationed there, the army detached Canby from July 15 to November 15, 1863, and sent him to New York City to help quell the infamous draft riots in that city.
Department of West Mississippi Commander
Shortly after Canby returned from New York, Army Chief-of-Staff Henry Halleck ordered Major General Nathaniel Banks (commander of the Department and Army of the Gulf) to launch a campaign against the remaining Confederate forces in Louisiana. Despite Banks’ reservations about the operation the Army of the Gulf, supported by Rear Admiral David Dixon Porter’s United States Naval forces, embarked upon the Red River Campaign on March 12, 1864. Two months later, Banks limped back to Louisiana after suffering decisive defeats at the Battle of Mansfield (April 8, 1864), and the Battle of Pleasant Hill (April 9, 1864).
Shortly after Banks returned to southern Louisiana, officials promoted Canby to major general of volunteers on May 7, 1864. On the same day, the War Department issued General Orders, No. 192, placing the Department of the Gulf under the dominion of the newly created Military Division of West Mississippi, commanded by Canby. On May 11, Canby arrived in Louisiana and assumed command of the division.
As commander of the Division of West Mississippi, Canby oversaw the Union troops that took part in the siege and capture of Fort Spanish (March 27-April 8, 1865) and Fort Blakely (April 2-9, 1865), which eventually led to the occupation of Mobile, Alabama. Historians often cite the storming of Fort Blakely as the last major infantry action of the Civil War east of the Mississippi River. For his leadership in those engagements, officials later brevetted Canby to major general in the regular army, effective March 13, 1865.
Post-War Service
Amid the reorganization of federal divisions and departments following the Civil War, Canby commanded the Department of the Gulf from June 3 to July 17, 1865, the Department of Louisiana and Texas from July 17 to August 5, 1865, the Department of Louisiana, August 5, 1865 to May 27, 1866, and the Department of Washington from August 13, 1866 to August 26, 1867. On July 28, 1866, the War Department promoted Canby to brigadier general in the regular army. Almost one month later, on September 1, 1866, he mustered out of volunteer service but continued his career in the U.S. Army.
For the next three years, Canby served in various administrative capacities. In August 1870, the War Department dispatched Canby to the West Coast and placed him in command of the Department of Columbia until January 1873. On April 11, 1873, Canby assumed command of the Division of the Pacific.
Death
On that same day, Canby met with Modoc Chief Kintpuash—known to white Americans as Captain Jack—at the Lava Beds near Tule Lake, in northern California, to negotiate a peaceful settlement to the Modoc War (1872–1873). During the meeting, Captain Jack pulled a revolver and shot the unarmed Canby at close range, as other Modoc warriors opened fire on Canby’s two aides. Some accounts claim that another Modoc warrior may also have knifed Canby during the attack. Canby was the only U.S. Army general officer killed during the Trans-Mississippi Indian wars. (Although George Armstrong Custer achieved the rank of major general in the volunteer army during the Civil War, his rank in the regular army was lieutenant colonel).
Following memorial services on the West Coast, the army returned Canby’s body to Indiana for burial. Generals William T. Sherman, Philip Sheridan, Lew Wallace, and Irvin McDowell honored their former comrade by attending funeral services in Indianapolis, where Canby was buried at Crown Hill Cemetery.
Accomplishments and Timeline
- 1817, November 9 — Born in Piatt’s Landing, Kentucky, as the eldest of seven children.
- 1834 — Attended Wabash College in Indiana.
- 1835–1839 — Edward Canby enrolled at the United States Military Academy; graduated 30th out of 31 cadets in his class.
- 1839, July 1 — He was commissioned as second lieutenant in the 2nd U.S. Infantry.
- 1839, August 1 — Canby married Louisa Hawkins; the couple had one daughter born circa 1843.
- 1839–1842 — He campaigned in Florida during the Second Seminole War.
- 1843 — Canby participated in the forced removal of American Indians from Arkansas to Oklahoma.
- 1846–1848 — He served in the Mexican-American War as a brigade staff officer under General Winfield Scott, earning three brevet promotions for gallant service.
- 1849–1851 — Canby acted as Assistant Adjutant-General of the Pacific Division.
- 1855, March 3 — He was promoted to major with the 10th U.S. Infantry.
- 1857–1858 — Canby participated in the Utah War.
- 1861 — He was stationed at Fort Defiance in the New Mexico Territory when the Civil War began.
- 1861, May 14 — Canby was promoted to colonel of the 19th U.S. Infantry.
- 1861, November 9 — He was appointed commander of the Department of New Mexico, helping to thwart Confederate efforts to control the region.
- 1862, March 26–28 — Canby played a pivotal role in the Union victory at the Battle of Glorieta Pass, effectively ending Confederate ambitions in the New Mexico Territory.
- 1862, June 10 — He was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers.
- 1863, July–November — Canby commanded federal troops in New York City to suppress the Draft Riots.
- 1864, May 7 — He was promoted to major general of volunteers and placed in command of the Military Division of West Mississippi.
- 1865, April 2–9 — Canby oversaw the storming of Fort Blakely, the last major infantry engagement east of the Mississippi during the Civil War.
- 1865, June–1867 — He held multiple Reconstruction-era commands, including the Departments of the Gulf, Louisiana, and Washington.
- 1866, July 28 — Canby was promoted to brigadier general in the regular army.
- 1870–1873 — He commanded the Department of Columbia, overseeing military operations in the Pacific Northwest.
- 1873, April 11 — Canby was killed by Modoc Chief Captain Jack during peace negotiations in California, becoming the only general officer killed in the Indian Wars.
- 1873 — Funeral services were held in Indianapolis, attended by prominent military figures including Generals Sherman, Sheridan, and McDowell.
