Personal Facts
- Full Name: John Joseph Abercrombie.
- Born: March 4, 1798, in Baltimore, Maryland.
- Spouse: Mary Engle Patterson.
- Died: January 3, 1877, in Roslyn, New York. 78 years old.
- Buried: The Woodlands Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- Significance: John J. Abercrombie is important to American History for his service in the Union Army during the Civil War.
Biographical Sketch
John J. Abercrombie graduated from West Point in 1822. Afterward, he served as adjutant in the 1st Infantry from 1825 to 1833 and was promoted to captain in 1836.
He served in the Seminole Wars and received the brevet rank of major for his gallant conduct at the Battle of Lake Okechobee. Afterward, he was involved in frontier duty in the West until the outbreak of the Mexican-American War (1846–1848).
During the Mexican-American War, he fought actively and was brevetted lieutenant colonel for his bravery at the Battle of Monterey, where he was wounded. He also saw action at the Siege of Veracruz and the Battle of Cerro Gordo. In 1847, he served as aide-de-camp to General Robert Patterson, his father-in-law.
At the start of the Civil War, he was stationed in Minnesota. On December 5, 1861, the War Department issued General Orders No. 106, promoting him to the rank of brigadier general, retroactive to August 20, 1861.
He participated in the Shenandoah Campaign and commanded troops in the Battle of Hoke’s Run. During the Peninsula Campaign, he served as a brigadier general of volunteers, was wounded at the Battle of Seven Pines, and fought at the Battle of Malvern Hill as well as in several skirmishes during the retreat to Harrison’s Landing.
In 1862 and 1863, he helped defend Washington, D.C., oversaw supply depots at Fredericksburg, Virginia, in May 1864, and joined in the defense against Hampton’s Legion in June. He was brevetted brigadier general, U.S.A., on March 13, 1865, and retired on June 12 of that year.
Appendix
Mexican-American War
Battle of Monterrey (September 21–24, 1846) — U.S. General Zachary Taylor attacked and defeated General Pedro de Ampudia at Monterrey. Taylor’s victory secured U.S. control of northern Mexico.
Siege of Veracruz (March 9-29, 1847) — After General Zachary Taylor’s string of victories in Mexico failed to force Mexico’s surrender, President James K. Polk sent General Winfield Scott to capture Veracruz, Mexico’s largest seaport. Scott attacked and laid siege to the city for nearly three weeks, forcing its surrender. This opened the way for Scott to invade the interior of Mexico and march toward Mexico City.
Battle of Cerro Gordo (April 17–18, 1847) — Mexican and American forces clashed at Cerro Gordo, Mexico, as General Winfield Scott marched toward Mexico City. A prominent hill, officially called El Telégrafo, was locally known as Cerro Gordo and was the site of the battle. General Antonio López de Santa Anna tried to lure Scott into a trap, but failed when Scott’s advance force, led by General Robert Patterson, halted. When Scott arrived, Captain Robert E. Lee found a route around Santa Anna’s forces. Scott took advantage and attacked Santa Anna’s flanks, eventually routing the Mexicans. The victory allowed Scott to continue his march to Mexico City.
Civil War
Battle of Hoke’s Run (July 2, 1861) — Union forces under General Robert Patterson crossed the Potomac River and advanced toward Martinsburg, encountering Confederate troops near Hoke’s Run. Brigades led by Abercrombie and George H. Thomas engaged and gradually forced back Confederate regiments under the command of Thomas J. Jackson. Jackson, tasked with delaying the Union advance, executed an organized retreat in front of the larger Federal force. Patterson occupied Martinsburg for nearly two weeks and then withdrew to Harpers Ferry. This move allowed General Joseph Johnston (CSA) to support General P.G.T. Beauregard at Manassas (CSA) during the First Battle of Bull Run (July 21, 1861). The battle of Hoke’s Run is also known as the Battle of Falling Waters or the Battle of Hainesville.
Battle of Seven Pines (May 31, 1861) — Union forces, led by General George B. McClellan, landed in southeastern Virginia and marched up the peninsula toward Richmond. On May 31, General Joseph Johnston led Confederate forces in an attack on McClellan’s army near Seven Pines and Fair Oaks, Virginia. The Federals repelled the attack. During the battle, Johnston was wounded. President Jefferson Davis (CSA) appointed General Robert E. Lee to replace him as the commanding officer of the Army of Northern Virginia (CSA). Soon after, Lee launched a series of attacks on McClellan, which are known as the Seven Days’ Battles (June 25 to July 1, 1862).
Battle of Malvern Hill (July 1, 1862) — Malvern Hill was the last engagement in the Seven Days’ Battles. Confederate forces launched a series of unsuccessful attacks on Union positions on Malvern Hill. Despite the victory, Union forces withdrew to Harrison’s Landing on the James River, ending the Peninsula Campaign. General Robert E. Lee (CSA) responded by sending General Stonewall Jackson to harass General John Pope (USA), starting the Northern Virginia Campaign.
