Class of 1880

Vol. IV
p329 [Supplement, Vol. IV: 1890‑1900]

(James Brailsford Erwin)

Military History. — Served: In Department of Arizona (Adjutant, 4th Cavalry), to June, 1890. — At Fort Walla Walla, Wash., Department of Columbia, to July, when relieved as Adjutant on the expiration of four years, and assigned to command of Troop K, Presidio of San Francisco, Department of California, to Jan., 1891. — Duty with Alabama State Troops, Montgomery, Ala., to Oct., 1894; relieved at his own request and on leave to Jan., 1895; on duty with regiment, Fort Walla Walla, Wash.

(Captain of Cavalry, 4th Cavalry, Feb. 25, 1896)

— Commanding squadron, 4th Cavalry, on march from Fort Walla Walla to Fort Yellowstone, Wyo. — At latter place until March 15, 1897. — Acting Superintendent of Yellowstone National Park and commanding post, Nov. 15, 1896 to March 15, 1897. — Member of Board for examination of non‑commissioned officers for promotion at Fort Snelling, Min., to April 25. — On duty in Georgia in connection with organizing volunteer regiments to July 1.​b — Acting Superintendent of Yellowstone National Park and commanding post and troop to May 25, 1899. — Appointed Regimental Adjutant, May 15; en route to Manila, P. I., June 28; relieved as Adjutant at his own request and assigned to command of Troop H, Aug. 12; appointed commanding officer, 2d Squadron, 4th Cavalry, Aug. 22, and commanded it in the Philippine Islands to –––––

Vol. V
p307 [Supplement, Vol. V: 1900‑1910]

Military History. — Unknown, no information having been received.

(Major, 9th Cavalry, April 22, 1903)

— Inspector-General, by detail, July 5, 1906 to –––––.

Vol. VI
p294 [Supplement, Vol. VI: 1910‑1920]

(James Brailsford Erwin, Born July 11, 1856.)

Military History. —

Captain, 4th Cavalry, Feb. 25, 1896.

At Manila, P. I., and vicinity, commanding Squadron, Aug. 23 to Nov. 6, 1899; commanding Troop and Regimental Adjutant, Nov. 7, 1899, to March, 1900; en route to U. S. and on sick leave, March to June 26, 1900; at Omaha, Neb., Acting Assistant Adjutant General, Department of the Missouri, June 27 to Dec. 4, 1900; Judge Advocate, Department of the Missouri, Dec. 5, 1900, to Jan. 12, 1902; at Fort Riley, Kans., commanding Troop, Jan. 13 to Oct. 10, 1902; Regimental Adjutant, Oct. 11, 1902, to

(Major, 9th Cavalry, April 22, 1903)

May 22, 1903; at Fort Walla Walla, Wash., with regiment, May 26, 1903, to October, 1904; at Fort Leavenworth, Kans., commanding squadron, October, 1904, to

(Inspector-General, by Detail, July 5, 1906)

Aug. 3, 1906; en route to Philippines, Aug. 4 to Sept. 10, 1906; at Iloilo, P. I., in office of Inspector-General, Department of the Visayas, Sept. 30, 1906, to July 20, 1907; at Zamboanga, P. I., Inspector-General, Department of Mindanao, Aug. 5, 1907, to April 13, 1908; en route to U. S. and on leave of absence, April 14 to Aug. 8, 1908; at Omaha, Nebr., Inspector-General, Department of the Missouri, Aug. 11, 1908, to

(Relieved From Detail as Inspector-General, May 18, 1910)

(Assigned to 13th Cavalry, May 18, 1910)

May 20, 1910; at Dale Creek, Wyo., Chief of Staff, Maneuver Camp, May 22 to

(Transferred to 9th Cavalry, July 7, 1910)

Aug. 11, 1910; at Fort D. A. Russell, Wyo., commanding squadron, Aug. 22, 1910, to

(Lieut.‑Colonel of Cavalry, March 3, 1911)

(Inspector-General, by Detail, April 11, 1911)

April, 1911; at San Antonio, Texas, Inspector-General, Cavalry Brigade, to July 26, 1911; at Chicago, Ill., Inspector-General, Central Department, July 29, 1911, to March 1, 1912; en route to Philippines, March 2 to 31, 1912; at Manila, Inspector-General, Philippines Division, April 1, 1912, to

(Colonel of Cavalry, Jan. 4, 1914)

July 1, 1914; at Camp Stotsenburg, P. I., commanding 8th Cavalry, July 2 to

(Adjutant-General, by Detail, Sept. 4, 1914)

Sept. 6, 1914; at Manila, Adjutant-General, Philippines Division, Sept. 7, 1914, to Jan. 4, 1915; en route to U. S., Jan. 5 to Feb. 14, 1915; at San Francisco, Cal., Adjutant-General, Western Department, and Adjutant, 3rd Brigade, Feb. 15 to Aug. 24, 1915; (relieved from detail as Adjutant-General, Aug. 8, 1915); on leave of absence to Oct. 6, 1915; at San Francisco, Cal., as a witness, Oct. 7 to Nov. 10, 1915;

(Assigned to 7th Cavalry, Nov. 15, 1915)

at Douglas, Arizona, with 9th Cavalry, Nov. 15, 1915, to March 16, 1916; in Mexico, with Punitive Expedition with 9th Cavalry, March 17 to Nov. 16, 1916; on sick leave to Feb. 27, 1917; at Fort Bliss, Texas, with regiment, to March 21, 1917; at Scranton, Pa., with National Guard of Pennsylvania, March 23 to July 12, 1917; at Governor's Island, N. Y., in charge of Militia Affairs, Eastern Department, July 13 to

 p295  Brigadier-General, National Army, Aug. 5, 1917)

August, 1917; at Camp Gordon, Ga., commanding 157th Depot Brigade, Aug. 20 to Dec. 26, 1917; at Chickamauga Park, Ga., with 12th Infantry Brigade, Dec. 29, 1917, to May 9, 1918; at Camp Wadsworth, S. C., May 10 to June 27, 1918; en route to Châteauvillain, France, June 28 to July, 1918; in command of 6th Division to Sept. 1, 1918, then in command of 12th Brigade, 6th Division; with Brigade taking part in two Major Offensives against the Germans, to Dec. 15, 1918, when he was assigned to command of 92nd Division; en route to U. S. to Feb. 17, 1919; commanded 92nd Division until it was demobilized at Camp Meade, Md., February, 1919; at El Paso, Texas, commanding District, March 25 to Sept. 1, 1919; ordered troops across the border to protect lives and property of citizens of El Paso when fired upon by Villistas in attempted capture of Juarez, June 15‑16, 1919;

(Returned to Grade of Colonel, Sept. 1, 1919)

at Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., commanding 6th Cavalry, Oct. 30, 1919, to Jan. 12, 1920; at Presidio of Monterey, Cal. commanding 11th Cavalry, to July 11, 1920.

Colonel, U. S. A., Retired, July 11, 1920,
By Operation of Law.

Vol. VII
p168 [Supplement, Vol. VII: 1920‑1930]

Military History: —

Colonel, U. S. A., Retired, July 11, 1920,
By Operation of Law.

Awarded

Distinguished Service Medal.

"For exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services in positions of great responsibility. With sound technical skill, initiative, and untiring energy, he assisted in the organization and training of the 6th Division, and commanded  p169 with distinction the 12th Infantry Brigade during its operations in the Vosges sector, and during the Meuse-Argonne offensive, Nov. 1 to 11, 1918. His rare quality of leader­ship and unremitting devotion to duty were material factors in the success­ful operations of his division, contributing markedly to the accomplishments of the American Expeditionary Forces in France."

Awarded Silver Star and cited for "gallantry in action against Villa's forces at Tomochic, Mexico, Apr. 22, 1916."

Died, July 10, 1924, at Pasadena, Calif.: Aged 68.

Portrait and obituary in Annual Report, Association of Graduates, for 1925.

Brigadier-General, U. S. A., (Posthumously) July 10, 1924,
Act of June 21, 1930.