Balladeer's Blog

Tomorrow is Presidents Day, so here’s another seasonal post.

ANDREW JOHNSON

Conflict – U.S. Civil War: Service – From 1862-February 1865 Johnson held the rank of general in the Union Army. He held that position as Military Governor of Tennessee and saw no action in the field.

ULYSSES S. GRANT

NOTE: As I observed previously, Washington, Grant and Eisenhower would require thousands of words to capture their full military careers. I will write such blog posts in the near future but for this post I’ll be very brief.

Conflict – Mexican War: Service – From 1846 to 1848 Lieutenant Grant served in Zachary Taylor’s campaigns in northern Mexico and later in Winfield Scott’s campaign to take Mexico City to the south.

Conflict – U.S. Civil War: Service – The heroic Grant rose to command of all the Union’s armies during the 1861-1865 conflict and defeated Confederate General Robert E. Lee. A future blog post will cover his extensive service in the war.    Continue reading →

With Presidents Day coming up fast here’s another seasonal post.

FRANKLIN PIERCE

From 1831-1847 Pierce served in the peacetime New Hampshire Militia, rising to the rank of colonel.

Conflict – Mexican War: Service – Because of his experience with military norms and exercises Franklin Pierce was named a General of Volunteers. In 1847 he led his men to Vera Cruz, which had been taken in an amphibious operation in March by General Winfield Scott. He then led his 2,500-strong troop in transporting additional supplies for Scott despite guerilla attacks and fighting in his ongoing campaign to take Mexico City.

General Pierce saw further action in battles at Contreras, Churubusco, Molina del Ray, Chapultepec and Mexico City itself. Pierce had an unfortunate tendency toward undignified injuries, and an early bashing of his testicles caused complications which surfaced again and again throughout the war. Continue reading →

Another seasonal post from Balladeer’s Blog with Presidents Day approaching.

JAMES K. POLK

Conflict – Tennessee Unrest: Service – From 1821-1825 Polk served in the Maury County Cavalry unit of the Tennessee Militia. He retained his law practice and political activities throughout his service.

No official wars were fought during this period, so Polk and his comrades policed internal tribal violence among the Cherokee and the Creek. Periodic clashes between Native Americans and settlers had to be dealt with, too.

ZACHARY TAYLOR

Conflict – War of 1812: Service – In May 1808 Taylor enlisted in the U.S. Army as a lieutenant and by the June outbreak of the War of 1812 was a captain. Fort Harrison was under Taylor’s command and in September he led his men to victory defending the fort, the first American land victory of the war.

Promoted to major, Zachary took part in September campaigns into Illinois Territory and Indiana, fighting in November’s Battle of Wildcat Creek and other actions. Taylor spent 1813 at Fort Knox and in the spring of 1814 led troops in the Battle of Credit Island in Iowa. Continue reading →