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Civil War Soldiers - Carter

Carter, Samuel P., brigadier-general, U.S. Army, was born in Elizabethtown, Carter county, Tenn., Aug. 6, 1819. He studied at Princeton college, but never graduated, leaving college in 1840 to accept an appointment as midshipman in the U. S. navy. He was promoted to passed midshipman in 1846, assigned to duty on the "Ohio" and served on the eastern coast of Mexico during the Mexican war, being present at the capture of Vera Cruz. He was attached to the U. S. naval observatory in Washington in 1847 and 1848, was assistant instructor at the U. S. naval academy in 1851-53, was promoted master in 1854 and lieutenant in 1855, and from 1855 to 1857 was attached to the "San Jacinto" of the Asiatic squadron, participating in the capture of the Barrier forts in the Canton river. Returning to America, he was for two years assistant instructor at West Point, and on July 11, 1861, was ordered to the special duty of organizing troops from east Tennessee. He was commissioned brigadier-general, May 1, 1862, was provost-marshal of east Tennessee during 1863 and 1864, was brevetted major-general of volunteers, March 13, 1865, and mustered out in Jan., 1866. He distinguished himself during the war for gallantry at Wild Cat, Ky., Mill Springs, and in the capture of Cumberland gap. In Dec, 1862, he commanded a cavalry expedition which cut the east Tennessee railroad, destroying nearly 100 miles of track, and doing other damage. He commanded the left wing of the army at Kinston, N. C, March 10, 1865, and defeated the Confederates at Goldsboro. At the close of the war he returned to naval duty, was promoted captain and commodore, was retired Aug. 6, 1881, and promoted rear- admiral on the retired list, May 16, 1882. He was commandant at the U. S. naval academy during 1869-72, and was a member of the light-house board from 1867 to 1880. He died in Washington, D. C, May 26, 1891.

Source: The Union Army: A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal States 1861-1865, Volume 8 Biographical, 1908
 


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