Key facts about Major General Edward R. Canby, a career United States Army officer who commanded the victorious Union troops during the Battle of Fort Blakely.
- Edward Richard Sprigg Canby
- November 9, 1817
- Piatt’s Landing, Kentucky
- Israel T. and Elizabeth (Piatt) Canby
- Wabash College
- United States Military Academy (1839)
- Military officer
- Brigadier General (USA)
- Major General (USVA)
- Brevet Major General (USA)
- Louisa Hawkins (1839)
Place of Death:
- near Lava Beds, Oregon
Date of Death:
- April 11, 1873
Place of Burial:
- Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis, Indiana
- Edward Canby was the first of seven children born to Israel T. and Elizabeth (Piatt) Canby.
- Edward Canby attended Wabash College in 1834.
- Edward Canby attended the United States Military Academy from July 1, 1835 to July 1, 1839.
- Edward Canby placed thirtieth in his class of thirty-one cadets at the United States Military Academy.
- Among Edward Canby’s classmates at the United States Military Academy were Henry Halleck and Edward Ord who went on to become prominent Union generals during the Civil War.
- Upon graduating from the United States Military Academy, Edward Canby was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 2nd U.S. Infantry.
- On August 1, 1839, Edward Canby married Louisa Hawkins of Crawfordsville, Indiana,. Their union produced one daughter who was born circa 1843.
- Edward Canby campaigned against the Seminole Indians in Florida during the Second Seminole War (December 23, 1835–August 14, 1842).
- Edward Canby participated in the forced removal of American Indians from Arkansas to Oklahoma in 1843.
- On June 18, 1846, Edward Canby was promoted to first lieutenant with the 2nd Infantry.
- Edward Canby served as a brigade staff officer in General Winfield Scott’s expeditionary force, during the Mexican-American War.
- Edward Canby was brevetted to captain and major for his actions at the Battles of Contreras and Churubusco in August 1847.during the Mexican-American War.
- On September 13, 1847, Edward Canby was brevetted to lieutenant colonel for “for Gallant Conduct at the Belen Gate of the City of Mexico” during the Mexican-American War.
- Edward Canby served as Assistant Adjutant-General of Pacific Division, from February 27, 1849 to February 22, 1851.
- On June 11, 1851, Edward Canby was promoted to captain.
- On March 3, 1855, Edward Canby was promoted to the rank of major with the 10th U.S. Infantry.
- Between 1857 and 1858, Edward Canby participated in the Utah War.
- When the Civil War erupted, Canby was in command of Fort Defiance, in the New Mexico Territory.
- Edward Canby was promoted to the rank of colonel with the 19th U.S. Infantry on May 14, 1861.
- On November 9, 1861, the U.S. War Department issued General Orders No. 97, placing Edward Canby in command of the newly created Department of New Mexico.
- Edward Canby was credited with dashing Confederate designs to occupy the New Mexico Territory when troops under his command severed Rebel supply trains during the Battle of Glorieta Pass (March 26–28, 1862).
- Edward Canby was promoted to Brigadier General in the Volunteer Army on June 10, 1862.
- From July 15 to November 15, 1863, Edward Canby commanded federal troops sent to quell the infamous draft riots in New York City.
- On May 7, 1864, Edward Canby was promoted to major general of volunteers.
- On May 7, 1864, the U.S. War Department issued General Orders No. 192, placing On May 7, 1864, Edward Canby in command of the newly created Military Division of West Mississippi.
- As commander of the Division of West Mississippi, Edward Canby oversaw the Union troops that participated 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.
- The storming of Fort Blakely is often cited as the last major infantry action of the Civil War east of the Mississippi River.
- Edward Canby was brevetted to major general in the regular army, effective March 13, 1865.
- During Reconstruction Edward 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, Edward Canby was promoted to brigadier general in the regular army.
- On September 1, 1866, Edward Canby mustered out of volunteer service but continued his career in the U.S. Army.
- Roughly one month later, on September 1, 1866, he mustered out of volunteer service but continued his career in the U.S. Army.
- In August 1870, Edward Canby was placed in command of the Department of Columbia until January 1873.
- On April 11, 1873, Canby assumed command of the Division of the Pacific.
- On April 11, 1873, Modoc Indian Chief Captain Jack murdered Edward Canby.
- Edward Canby was the only U.S. Army general officer killed during the Trans-Mississippi Indian wars.
- Generals William T. Sherman, Philip Sheridan, Lew Wallace, and Irvin McDowell honored their former comrade by attending Edward Canby’s funeral services in Indianapolis.