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 [decorative delimiter] Class of 1812

Vol. I
p104
76

(Born N. Y.)

John R. Bell

(Ap'd N. Y.)

Military History. — Cadet of the Military Academy, June 15, 1808, to Jan. 3, 1812, when he was graduated and promoted in the Army to

Second Lieut., Light Artillery, Jan. 3, 1812.

Served: in the War of 1812‑15 with Great Britain, and was engaged

(First Lieut., Light Artillery, Aug. 24, 1812)

in the Campaign of 1812, on the Niagara Frontier, — in 1813, on the St. Lawrence River, participating in the Capture of Ft. George, U. C., May 27,

(Major, Staff — Asst. Inspector-General, July 29, 1813)

1813, — and in 1814, with the division of General Izard; in garrison

(Captain, Light Artillery, Oct. 10, 1814)

(Colonel, Staff — Inspector-General, Oct. 28, 1814)

at Castine, Me., 1815‑16, — and at Boston harbor, Mas., 1816‑18; as Superintendent of the Recruiting Service, 1818; in garrison at Boston harbor, Mas., 1818‑19; at the Military Academy, as Commandant of Cadets and Instructor of Military Tactics, Feb. 8, 1819, to Mar. 17, 1820; on special duty in Missouri, 1820‑21,​a and in garrison at Savannah

(Captain, 4th Artillery,
in Re-organization of Army, June 1, 1821)

(Bvt. Major, Oct. 10, 1824,
for Faithful Service Ten Years in one Grade)

harbor, Ga., 1822‑24, — and Ft. Moultrie, S. C., 1824.

Died, Apr. 11, 1825.


Thayer's Note:

a The second half of what was probably the most important of Major Stephen H. Long's expeditions: at St. Louis, Long designed and built a steamboat, the Western Engineer, with which he then ascended the Missouri to Council Bluffs where he wintered; in the spring, the expedition was the first to explore the upper course of the Platte River. According to Waugh (p90), Captain Bell was one of the astronomers; that is, his duty was that of a topographical engineer mapping the area.


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