General Patterson
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JULY 20, 1861.] HARPER'S WEEKLY. 461 MAJOR-GENERAL PATTERSON.—FROM A PHOTOGRAPHSPEAKER GROW.-PHOTOGRAPHED BY BRADY.-[SEE PAGE 463.]MAJOR-GENERAL PATTERSON.GENERAL PATTERSON, whose portrait we give above, was born in the County of Tyrone, Ireland, in 1792. His father, being implicated in the rebellion of 1798, was obliged to leave the country; he came here with his family, settling in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. In 1811 the father removed to Tennessee; Robert had previously been placed in the counting-house of Edwin Thompson, the great East India merchant of the day, at Philadelphia. He was at his desk in the counting-house at the breaking out of the war of 1812. Entering this war as a Lieutenant of the Twenty-second Infantry, he left it at its close a Captain, and again returned to his post in the counting-house. He became an acting officer of Volunteer soldiery, rising through all the grades to a Major-General. At the breaking out of the Mexican war, being appointed a Major-General by President Polk, he took command of the Volunteers upon what is known as General Taylor's lines, serving through the war. He had sole command of an expedition against Tampico, with 9000 men. After the occupation of this place he was ordered to join the column of General Scott, with whom he landed at Vera Cruz. The Volunteer division under his command did their full share of the work ; the famous naval batteries, which proved themselves so effectual in the breaching of the Mexican fortifications, were manned by men under General Patterson's command. These guns were ship-guns of heavy calibre, and were dragged to their position at night by the soldiers and sailors: so secretly was this done, that the Mexicans were not aware of the position of any battery until a most fearful fire was opened from the concealed batteries upon them. Returning home with his Volunteers, who were twelve-months' men, he again repaired to Mexico, after an absence of a few weeks only, and took command of the Volunteer division at the city of Mexico, remaining at this place until the declaration of peace. Again returning home, he entered the counting-house, in which by this time he had long been a partner. At the breaking out of the rebellion he was called upon to hold himself in readiness, by a telegram the 10th of April from Governor Curtin. In a very short space of time we find him ready for active service. Eight regiments of his division are now in the field, and others are daily expected. The General was married in 1817 to the daughter of the late Judge Engle, by whom he has now six children—three sons and three daughters. Of the sons two are in the field. MILITARY OCCUPATION OF MONUMENT SQUARE, BALTIMORE, MD., BY UNITED STATES ARTILLERY, BY ORDER OF MAJOR-GENERAL BANKS.—[PHOTOGRAPHED BY WEAVER.] |
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