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 [decorative delimiter] Class of June 24, 1861

Vol. II
p825
1951

(Born Pa.)

Peter C. Hains

(Ap'd N. J.)

19

Peter Conover Hains: Born July 6, 1840, Philadelphia, PA.

Military History. — Cadet at the Military Academy, July 1, 1857, to June 24, 1861, when he was graduated and promoted in the Army to

Second Lieut., 2d Artillery, June 24, 1861.

First Lieut., 2d Artillery, June 24, 1861.

Served during the Rebellion of the Seceding States, 1861‑66: in the Defenses of Washington, D. C., July, 1861 to Mar., 1862, participating in the Manassas Campaign of July, 1861, and engaged in the Battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1861; in the Virginia Peninsular Campaign (Army of the Potomac), Mar. to Aug., 1862, being engaged in the Siege of Yorktown, Apr. 5 to May 4, 1862, — Skirmish near Grove Wharf, May 4, 1862, — Battle of Williamsburg, May 5, 1862, — Action of Hanover C. H., May 27, 1862, — Battle of Malvern Hill, July 1, 1862, — and Action

(Bvt. Captain, May 27, 1862, for Gallant and Meritorious Services at the Battle of Hanover C. H., Va.)

(Transferred to Top. Engineers, July 24, 1862:
Corps of Engineers, Mar. 3, 1863)

of Malvern Hill, Aug. 5, 1862; in the Maryland Campaign (Army  p826 of the Potomac), Sep. to Nov., 1862, being engaged, in command of Battery, in Skirmish at Poolesville, Sep. 10, Catoctin, Sep. 13, and Middletown, Sep. 13, 1862, — Battle of South Mountain, Sep. 14, 1862, — Battle of Antietam, Sep. 17, 1862, — Skirmishes at Shepardstown, Sep. 19, and Williamsport, Sep. 20, 1862, — and as Asst. Top. Engineer on the March to Falmouth, Va., Oct.‑Nov., 1862; in the Rappahannock Campaign, as Chief Top. Engineer of Centre Grand Division (Army of the Potomac), Nov. 24, 1862, to Mar. 11, 1863, being engaged in the Battle of Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862; as Chief Engineer of 13th Corps (Army of the Tennessee), Mar. 20 to July 4, 1863, in the Vicksburg

(Bvt. Major, July 4, 1863, for Gallant and Meritorious Services during the Siege of Vicksburg, Mis.)

Campaign, being engaged in the Movement to Bruinsburg and turning Grand Gulf, Apr., 1863, — Battle of Port Gibson, May 1, 1863, — Skirmish at Fourteen-Mile Creek, May 12, and at Bolton Station, May 15, 1863, — Battle of Champion Hill, May 16, 1863, — Battle of Black River Bridge, May 17, 1863, — Assault of Vicksburg, May 19, 1863, — and Operations against the relieving forces, July 5‑20, 1863, including the Skirmish at Clinton, July 6, and Capture of Jackson, July 16, 1863;

(Captain, Corps of Engineers, July 18, 1863)

as Superintending Engineer of the construction of the Defenses of Natchez, Aug. 8, 1863, to Apr. 11, 1864, — and of field-works at Morganzia, La., May 26 to July 6, 1864; as Chief Engineer of the Department of the Gulf, July 6, 1864, to July, 1865, having charge of all Field

(Bvt. Lieut.‑Colonel, Mar. 13, 1865, for Gallant and Meritorious Services during the Rebellion)

Fortifications in Louisiana and Texas; on examination of the condition of Fts. Macon and Caswell, N. C., Aug. 24, 1865, to July 6, 1866; and on leave of absence, July 6 to Aug. 3, 1866.

Served: as Assistant Engineer on the Improvement of the Des Moines and Rock Island Rapids of the Mississippi River, Aug. 3, 1866, to Sep. 20, 1867; in command of Engineer Depot and Post of Jefferson Barracks, Mo., Sep. 20, 1867, to Nov. 5, 1870; as Associate Member of Small Arms

(Major, Corps of Engineers, Sep. 22, 1870)

Board, Oct. 23, 1869, to Nov. 5, 1870; as Superintending Engineer of Fifth Light-house District, Nov. 11, 1870, to May 21, 1874, — of Sixth Light-house District, June 21, 1871, to May 21, 1874, and July 1, 1879, to Aug. 24, 1882; as Engineer Secretary of the Light-house Board, June 1, 1874, to July 1, 1879; as Superintending Engineer of the Improvement of the Potomac River in the vicinity of Washington, and establishing harbor lines and raising the river flats, since Aug. 24, 1882, — of Improvement of Washington and Georgetown Harbors, D. C., Sep. 1, 1882, to Dec. 31, 1887, — of Fts. Foote and Washington, since Nov. 22, 1882, — of Improvement of James River, Va., July 24, 1884, to Aug. 20, 1886, and of the Shenandoah River, W. Va., July 29, 1884, to Aug. 7, 1888; to examine into the feasibility of a Bridge across the Potomac to the National Cemetery Grounds, Washington, D. C., May 27 to June 21, 1886;

(Lieut.‑Colonel, Corps of Engineers, Sep. 16, 1886)

in charge of reconstruction of the Aqueduct Bridge, Washington, D. C., Dec. 23, 1886, to Dec., 1888, and of building bridge across Eastern Branch of the Potomac, since Mar. 26, 1887, — of Ft. Wool, Va., since May 23, 1888, and of various constructions at Ft. Monroe, Va., since Apr. 4, 1887, — and of building bridge across Mill Creek, Va., since Apr. 13, 1889; and as Member of various Engineer Boards on rivers, harbors, bridges, etc., 1884‑90.

Vol. IV
p131
[Supplement, Vol. IV: 1890‑1900]

Military History. — Served: In charge of construction of bridge across Eastern Branch of Potomac River, from March 26, 1887 to July 10, 1890; of survey of road from the Aqueduct Bridge to Mount Vernon, Va., from March 13, 1889 to July 10, 1890; of examination of most suitable kind of bridge across Potomac River, from Washington to Arlington, March 8, 1890 to July 10, 1890; of bridge across Mill Creek, Va., April 13, 1889 to Sept. 30, 1890; of project for an avenue from Washington Monument to Columbian Park and Soldiers's Home, D. C., July 19 to Aug. 31, 1890; of improvement of Chickahominy and Staunton rivers, from July 10 to Oct. 23, 1890, and of Totusky River, Va., and Dan River, Va. and N. C., from July 10 to Oct. 26, 1890. — In charge of survey of St. Leonard's Creek, Md., to Jan. 2, 1891, and of Newport Creek, Md., to April 1, 1891. — In charge of the defensive works at Forts Foote and Washington, Md., and Wool and Monroe, Va.; of the improvement of Potomac River in vicinity of Washington; of the establishment of harbor lines and the raising of the river flats; of channel in the Eastern Branch of Potomac River; of new wharf and sewerage system at Fortress Monroe, Va.; of improvement of harbors of Breton Bay and Leonardtown, of St. Jerome's Creek, and of Patuxent River, Md., of the rivers Rappahannock, Mattaponi, York, and Pamunkey, Va., of channel through flats in Potomac River in front of Mount Vernon, and of Nomini, Urbana, Occoquan, and Aquia creeks, Va.; of examination of Piscataway and Smith creeks, Md., Potomac Creek, Chickahominy, and Wicomico rivers, Upper Machodoc, Cranes, Nandua, and Piscataway creeks, Va., and of breakwater for harbor of refuge in Lynn Haven Bay, Va., to Oct. 23, 1891. — In charge of the harbors at Rockport and York, and Pleasant River, Me., and survey of Kennebec River, Nov. 1, 1891 to Oct. 1, 1892; of examination of Rockland, Tennant, Carver, Owl Head, French's Beach, Lincolnville, and Portland harbors, Vinal Haven, South Fork of Bagaduce River, Georges River and channel, near Hardy's Point, below Pembroke, Me., July 14 to Nov. 30, 1892. — Member of Board of Engineer Officers to report upon proposed deep water harbor of San Pedro and Santa Monica bays, July 27 to Nov. 30, 1892. — In charge of defensive works at Forts Knox, Popham, Georges, Scammel, Preble, and McClary, and batteries at Portland Head and Gerrish Island, Me., and Fort Constitution and Jerry's Point, N. H.; of the improvement of the harbors at Belfast, Camden, Rockland, Portland, and Back Cove, Me., Portsmouth and Harbor of Refuge at Little Harbor, N. H.; of breakwater from Mount Desert to Porcupine Island, Me.; of the improvement of the rivers Penobscot, Kennebunk, Saco, Narraguagus, Bagaduce, Kennebec, Harraseeket, and St. Croix, Me., Cocheco and Bellamy, N. H., Lubec Channel and Moosabec Bar, Me., from Nov. 1, 1891 to Nov. 7, 1894; of surveys of Machias and Sasanoa rivers, Me., and examination of Glen Cove, Parkers' Head, and Cape Porpoise harbors, and Royals River, Me., from Oct. 31, 1894 to Nov. 7, 1894. — Engineer Third Lighthouse District, Nov. 7, 1894 to May 22, 1895. — Member Board of Engineers, Nov. 13, 1894 to June 10, 1895, and of Board of Engineer Officers to report upon the subject  p132 of the harbor lines of New York, Feb. 5, 1895 to June 10, 1895. — Member of Board of Visitors to the U. S. Engineer School, Feb. 5, 1895 to July 31, 1895. — Member of Board of Engineer Officers to report upon the subject of the harbor lines of Philadelphia since Feb. 5, 1895. — Division Engineer of the Southeast Division since May 18, 1895. — In charge of the improvement of James River, Va., and protecting Jamestown Island, Va., from May 22, 1895

(Colonel, Corps of Engineers, Aug. 13, 1895)

to July 31, 1896, and of the improvement of Gauley, Great Kanawha, and Elk rivers, W. Va., from May 22, 1895 to April 30, 1897. — In charge of the defensive works at Baltimore, Md., of the improvement of the harbor at Baltimore, Md., since May 18, 1895, except during temporary absence as member of Nicaragua Canal Commission, from Oct. 16, 1897 to June 8, 1899, and in campaign in war with Spain, from May 27, 1898 to Nov. 30, 1898. — Member of Board of Ordnance and Fortification since Aug. 19, 1895, and of Board of Officers for examination of certain officers of the Corps of Engineers for promotion from Aug. 27, 1895 to Nov. 29, 1895. — In charge of the improvement of the harbor of southwest Baltimore (Spring Garden), Md., since July 31, 1896. — Engineer Member of the Nicaragua Canal Commission, from Oct. 16, 1897 to June 8, 1899. — On duty with the Nicaragua Canal Commission in Nicaragua and elsewhere, from Oct. 22, 1897 to March 31, 1898.

(Brig.‑General U. S. Volunteers, May 27, 1898)

— In command of the 3d Division, 1st Army Corps, at Camp Thomas, Chickamauga Park, June 20 to 28, 1898; of 2d Brigade, 1st Division, 1st Army Corps, June 28 to Aug. 25, 1898; serving in Porto Rico, from Aug. 1 to Aug. 25, 1898. — Engaged enemy Aug. 5, capturing town of Guayama, Porto Rico, and Aug. 8 at Las Palmas, Porto Rico. — Returned to the United States, Sept. 7, 1898.

(Honorably discharged from Volunteer Service, Nov. 30, 1898)

— Member of various Engineer Boards on rivers, harbors, bridges, etc., 1890‑1900. — Member of Commission to determine a route for a canal across the Isthmus of Panama, June 9, 1899 to ––––

Vol. V
p103
[Supplement, Vol. V: 1900‑1910]

Military History. — Member of Isthmian Canal Commission provided for in Harbor and River bill approved March 3, 1899, to determine the most feasible route of a canal across the Isthmus of Panama, from June 9, 1899 to March 3, 1904. — March 26, 1903, appointed by the President member of the Committee of the Isthmian Canal Commission to visit Panama and arrange for continuance of work being done by the new Panama Canal Company of France. — Appointed member of Isthmian Canal Commission provided for by Act approved June 28, 1902, known as the "Constructing Commission," April 1, 1905, and remained on it until March 5, 1907, Cartagena frequent visits to the Isthmus.

(Brigadier-General, U. S. Army, April 22, 1903)

Retired from Active Service July 6, 1904,
he being 64 Years of Age.

Civil History. — Author of several publications advocating a lock canal at Panama rather than a sea‑level one, also advocating the neutrality  p104 of the canal and abstention by the United States from constructing fortifications for its defense. — A lecture on the Neutrality of the Canal was delivered before the Army War College, Washington, D. C., and is published in the annals of the American Society of International Law for the year 1908. — Residence, Washington, D. C.

Vol. VI
p97
[Supplement, Vol. VI: 1920‑1930]

(Peter Conover Hains, Born July 6, 1840.)

Military History. —

Brigadier-General, U. S. A., April 21, 1903.

Brigadier-General, U. S. A., Retired, July 6, 1904,
By Operation of Law.

Major General, U. S., Retired, Aug. 29, 1916,
by Act of Congress of Aug. 29, 1916.

Upon declaration of War with Germany, volunteered his services for any duty to which the Government might see fit to assign him. Placed on active duty Sept. 18, 1917, by direction of the President, and assigned as Engineer of the Norfolk Harbor and River District, in charge of the defensive works at Hampton Roads, Va.; of the improvement of the harbor at Norfolk and its approaches, including Thimble Shoal and the channel to Newport News; of the harbor at Cape Charles City and approaches; Nansemond, James, Pagan, Appomattox, Onancock, and Blackwater Rivers, Va.; waterways from Norfolk, Va. to the Sounds of North Carolina; inland waterways from Norfolk, Va., to Beaufort Inlet, N. C.; Roanoke and Meherrin Rivers, N. C.; member of the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors; relieved from further active duty and ordered to his home, Sept. 2, 1919.

Vol. VIII
p69
[Supplement, Vol. VIII: 1920‑1930]

Military History. —

Brigadier-General, U. S. A., April 21, 1903.

Brigadier-General, U. S. A., Retired, July 6, 1904,
By Operation of Law.

Major General, U. S., Retired, Aug. 29, 1916,
by Act of Congress of Aug. 29, 1916.

Died, Nov. 7, 1921, at Washington, D. C.: Aged 81.

Portrait and obituary in Annual Report, Association of Graduates, for 1924.

Buried, Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA.


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