Class of 1842

James William Abert: Born Nov. 18, 1820, Mount Holly, NJ.

Military History. — Cadet at the Military Academy, Sep. 1, 1838, to July 1, 1842, when he was graduated and promoted in the Army to

Bvt. Second Lieut., 5th Infantry, July 1, 1842.

Served: in garrison at Detroit, Mich., 1842‑43; as Asst. Topographical

(Transferred to Top. Engineers, May 24, 1843)

Engineer on Survey of the Northern Lakes, 1843‑44, — and in Topographical Bureau, Washington, D. C., 1844‑45; on Expedition to New Mexico, and preparing maps, etc., in Washington, D. C., 1846‑47; at

(Second Lieut., Top. Engineers, May 27, 1846)

the Military Academy, as Asst. Professor of Drawing, June 27, 1848, to Aug. 23, 1850; in waiting orders at Louisville, Ky., 1850‑51; as Asst. Topographical Engineer in the Improvement of the Western Rivers, 1851‑56; in Florida Hostilities against the Seminole Indians, 1856‑57,

(First Lieut., Top. Engineers, Mar. 3, 1853)

(Capt., Top. Engineers, July 1, 1856, for Fourteen Years' Continuous Service)

1857‑58; as Asst. Topographical Engineer in the Improvement of the Western Rivers, 1858‑60; and on leave of absence, in Europe, 1860‑61.

 p152  Served during the Rebellion of the Seceding States, 1861‑64: on the Staff of Major-General Patterson, and of Major-General Banks, on the Upper Potomac, in Shenandoah Valley, and in the Northern Virginia Campaign, June 21, 1861, to Sep. 2, 1862, being engaged in several Skirmishes; on the advance to Frederick, Md., Sep., 1862, where he was injured by the fall of his horse; on sick leave of absence, Sep., 1862, to

(Major, Corps of Engineers, Mar. 3, 1863)

July 23, 1863; before Retiring Board, July 23 to Sep. 3, 1863; and on the Staff of Major-General Gillmore, at Morris Island, S. C., Sep. 2, 1863, to May 14, 1864.

Bvt. Lieut.‑Colonel, June 25, 1864, for Faithful and Meritorious Services.

Resigned, June 25, 1864.

Civil History. — Merchant, Cincinnati, O., 1864‑69. Examiner of Patents, Washington, D. C., 1869‑71. Professor of English Literature, Missouri State University, 1871‑78. President of the Board of Examiners of Teachers of Public Schools, Newport, Ky., 18–––. Author of various professional and miscellaneous papers, 1846‑80.

Buried, Evergreen Cemetery, Southgate, KY.