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Union Provost Took On the Thankless Tasks |
| Section: CULTURE / CIVIL WAR |
| Author: John E. Carey |
| Publication:
The World & I Online |
| Issue Date: 2/1/2005 |
| Size: 1,651 Words, 10,163 Characters |
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Generally unknown, unnoticed, and little honored, the provost marshal general of the Army of the Potomac proved his worth as an invaluable right-hand man to the commanding general.
During a myriad of sometimes messy, often ugly, and usually distasteful assignments, one man acted aggressively, diligently, and with integrity, plus a dash of God-fearing, Bible-thumping religion: Marsena Rudolph Patrick (1811-1888).
Before the war, Patrick worked on the Erie Canal, taught school, and attended the U.S. Military Academy. He served in both the Seminole War and the Mexican War. During the 1850s, he became an expert farmer, intrigued by the science of agriculture. Ultimately, he became president of the New York State Agricultural College.
When the Civil War began, Patrick offered his services to New York, and the governor appointed him brigadier general and inspector general of the state militia. By March 1862, he was in command of James Wadsworth's brigade in Rufus King's division of Irvin McDowell's...
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...n command of the minutiae no other general needed or wanted.
As provost marshal general of the Army of the Potomac, Patrick had served Gens. McClellan, Burnside, Hooker, and Meade, the enforcer of discipline, the repairman of messes, the handler of the distasteful. He did his duty honorably and well. Every large military unit requires a man like him.
© 2004 News World Communications Inc.
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Publication Details
(The World & I Online) |
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The World & I Online is a
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Liberal Arts, Fine & Applied Arts, General Science, and Spanish.
Originally published monthly in print as The World & I, our site
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